Litmus is a consideration of black joy through the lens of what remains, what survives and what doesn’t—and the small, important signs that resilience and beauty are still happening.

The short story was written and performed by emerging Nigerian-American writer N/A Oparah (Ngozi/Alexis)

As part of our bitesize episode segment we invite students of Loughborough University to share a short story. Ngozi used layered sound and repetition with the static of life underneath to remind listeners that when stolen and stripped from its world, some presences, once free and joyous, can become robotic, corrupted, artificial, and thinned.

The Chronicles of Black Joy podcast is supported and distributed by LU Arts (Loughborough University's art centre) in celebration of Black History Month.

Creative Producer - Rennae Walker

Technical Producer - Reece Ferreira

Graphic Designer - Vuyo Ngwenya