Studying English Literature and Language at Oxbridge

Naomi speaks with Maria Motunrayo Adebisi, author of Koku Akanbi and the Heart of Midnight, about studying English Literature and Language at Oxford. 

Maria tells the story of how she almost applied for Medicine before realising that English was a much better fit for her and finding a way to convince her parents of this. She speaks through the content of what she describes as a broad course, touching on her experiences of studying Old English and Middle English as well as Children’s Literature and Abolitionist literature.  

Maria shares how the translation and communication skills that she gained through her degree enabled her to build a career in tech at companies like Bumble and Tinder. She also talks about becoming a full-time author writing fantasy novels based on Nigerian mythology that focus on Black characters in South London. The episode ends with Maria speaking about her journey to getting her first novel published and sharing her tips for Oxbridge hopefuls. 

You can read more about Maria’s work here:  

Koku Akanbi Book 1: https://geni.us/KokuAkanbi  

Koku Akanbi Book 2: https://geni.us/KokuBook2 
Author Website: https://mariamotunrayoadebisi.com/