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Episode 37: Sumayya Usmani - Food Writing, Cultural Identity and Creative Evolution
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This week's conversation features Sumayya Usmani, award-winning food writer and author, discussing her remarkable journey from law to becoming a leading voice in food writing and cultural storytelling.
Sumayya shares fascinating insights from her unique childhood spent travelling on merchant ships, and how this influenced her perspective on food, culture and belonging. She discusses her transition from corporate law to food writing, including her groundbreaking 2016 cookbook 'Summers Under the Tamarind Tree', which was listed as one of The Independent's best cookbooks of that year.
Key discussion points include:
- Growing up on merchant ships and its influence on her worldview
- The transition from law to creative writing
- The development of Pakistani cuisine and its cultural narrative
- Writing as a means of exploring displacement and identity
- The role of food in connecting cultures
- Creative evolution and following one's intuition
- Current doctoral research into culinary displacement
- The impact of partition on South Asian foodways
- Contemporary British cultural dynamics
Throughout the conversation, Sumayya reflects on her role as a cultural mediator, using food and writing to bridge understanding between different communities. She emphasises the importance of telling stories that explore the deeper cultural and historical contexts of cuisine.
Links:
- 'Summers Under the Tamarind Tree: Recipes and Memories from Pakistan'
- 'Andaza: A Memoir of Food, Flavour and Freedom'
- The Craft: stories about writing & the writers' spirit- Podcast
- QISSA Writers' Community
About Sumayya Usmani: Sumayya Usmani is an award-winning food writer and author. Her books have garnered international acclaim for their exploration of Pakistani cuisine and culture. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in creative writing at the University of Glasgow, examining themes of culinary displacement and cultural identity.
Episode Credits:
- Host: Samuel Cairnduff
- Guest: Sumayya Usmani
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Presenter and research: Sam Cairnduff
Creative Director: Niloofar Pashmforoosh
Presented in association with Limelight
Decoding Cultural Leadership |
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