Voices, Autonomy & Collective Joy: Inside the UK Press Launch of Seeking Sexual Freedom
A night that opened new conversations
There are evenings that linger long after the last glass is cleared and the final guests have departed.
We had the pleasure of co-ordinating the UK Press launch of Seeking Sexual Freedom by acclaimed Ghanaian feminist writer Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, published by Dialogue Books, which was unquestionably one of those nights. Held at The Idler in London's Victoria on Thursday 26 March 2026, the event drew a vibrant crowd of readers, activists, journalists and cultural voices ready to engage with one of the most important books on the African sexual experience to date.
Led by Ariatu PR founder, Ronke Lawal, the launch was designed to mirror the spirit of the book itself: intimate, candid, courageous and unafraid. A relaxed drinks reception and curated bites set the tone, creating space for the kind of honest conversations that Seeking Sexual Freedom demands. We were intentional about not only setting the tone but also curating a guest list that brought together individuals who would create a safe but also joyful space which would allow for freedom of expression. Community spirit was at the heart of the invited guests not just on a superficial level which at times in this digital era can translate as numbers and follower count - we wanted to ensure that the very essence of Nana came across through who was in the room. Centring Blackness was also a central component of the event; we ensured that the Black British African and Caribbean diaspora was well represented in the room.
What the book is about
Seeking Sexual Freedom takes readers on a journey across the African continent from Senegal to Tanzania and beyond. Sekyiamah meets the gurus, "witches" and aunties who guide girls through puberty rites and marital training, exploring practices such as beading and pulling and illuminating the deeply spiritual, gender-fluid nature of many African traditions. This is not a book that flattens or exoticises. It is one that restores complexity and honours the diversity of African women's experiences of their bodies, sexuality and freedom. It is a work of rigorous research and cultural excavation whilst also being very personal to Nana.
Made possible by Purposeful
The evening was made possible through the generous support of Purposeful ; an Africa-rooted global hub for girls' organising and activism, working with girls who are imagining and building more liberated futures together. Their involvement brought meaningful alignment between the book's themes and the wider ecosystem of organisations working to centre girls' voices and agency globally.
Why this press launch mattered
Events like this do more than sell books and generate a buzz, they create space for communities to see their experiences reflected in literature and space for conversations that don't often reach mainstream publishing stages. Seeking Sexual Freedom arriving in the UK is a cultural moment and The Idler on 26 March was a fantastic venue to host this cultural moment.
Ariatu PR is proud to have brought this launch to life. We believe in amplifying stories that expand the imagination of what literature can hold and Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah's work does exactly that.
Photograhy by: Precious Mayowa Agbabiaka - @bfgriote (Instagram)