Binyavanga Wainaina

In kindergarten, we had this Irish Catholic headmistress called Sister Leonie, and I remember she would tell us, say, to put the crayons in the box. I remember thinking, 'Why is everyone finding this so easy? Why should the crayons be in the box?' ”

What is astonishing is that globalised technology, like Whatsapp and Viber, really gives a lot of leeway to negotiating spaces and to keeping one's identity. So people are able to be more receptive as a gay community to be part of an environment that is going to challenge the law. ”

I like the idea of readers feeling a familiarity, whether it's with Africa or childhood. ”

There is no country in the world with the diversity, confidence and talent and black pride like Nigeria. ”

Every human being has a bit of gangster in him. ”

People reach an age... where somebody else's platform is no longer yours. ”

The time we are living in is the greatest opportunity to be queer, and it is almost the most dangerous time because everything is up for grabs. ”

I'm extremely optimistic about rapid transformation and change of things in Africa in general. ”