Yomi Adegoke

Yomi Adegoke is an award-winning British journalist and co-author of the 2018 book Slay in Your Lane.

Early life and education

Adegoke is of Nigerian heritage. She was born in Canning Town, east London, and raised in Croydon. She attended the University of Warwick and studied law. Her sister, Yemisi Adegoke, is a journalist for BBC Africa. She took a year out of university and in 2013 she founded Birthday Magazine, a publication aimed at black teenage girls. The magazine discussed race, pop culture and feminism.

Career

Adegoke has written for The Guardian, The Independent and the Pool. She was selected by The Dots as a woman who was Redefining the Creative Industry. The Evening Standard described her as a Frontline Pioneer. She has called out racism on university campuses. She worked for Channel 4.

Slay in Your Lane

Adegoke collaborated with Elizabeth Uviebinené to write Slay in Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible. Nine publishers fought for the rights to the book, with Adegoke and Uviebinené winning five-figure sums. It was published by 4th Estate (HarperCollins) in 2018. It was described as a 'guide to life for a generation of black women'. To write the book, Adegoke and Uviebineneé interviewed several accomplished black women, including Malorie Blackman, Denise Lewis, jamelia, Laura Mvula, Clara Amfo, Karen Blackett, June Sarpong, Margaret Busby and Estelle. The book covers work, education, money, dating and health, as well as the media representation of black women. It was selected by BBC Radio 4 as Book of the Week in July 2018. They discussed the book at the Southbank Centre for the London Literature Festival. The pair have discussed the success of the book widely, in mainstream media and public discussions.