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‘I wanted it to feel both Shakespearean and like Jay-Z’: debut author Sufiyaan Salam on masculinity, rap and meeting Stormzy

Bringing Manchester’s Curry Mile to vibrant life, the #Merky prize-winning author’s cross-genre work focuses on the lives and language of young British men. He discusses identity and inspiration

‘I wanted it to feel both Shakespearean and like Jay-Z’: debut author Sufiyaan Salam on masculinity, rap and meeting Stormzy

TL;DR

  • Sufiyaan Salam's debut novel, 'Wimmy Road Boyz,' chronicles a night on Manchester's Curry Mile, exploring masculinity, violence, love, and language.
  • The novel's style is a deliberate fusion of Shakespearean and Jay-Z influences, incorporating elements of play, poetry, and rap.
  • Salam's background in a deprived, racially segregated town shaped his perspective, driving him to write honestly about identity beyond simple markers.
  • The author aims to bridge the gap between literary fiction and young men's engagement with complex text-driven art forms like rap lyrics.
  • Salam seeks to move beyond the 'good immigrant' narrative, focusing on the messy reality of British men's struggles.

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