Narrative Landscape Press has announced the acquisition of Home Rarely Feels Like This, a deeply personal work by Nigerian-American writer and mental health advocate Bassey Ikpi.
The book, which was first released exclusively on Audible, delves into a pivotal period in Ikpi’s life when she returned to Nigeria after her career was disrupted by a bipolar II diagnosis and hospitalization.
Ikpi, whose debut essay collection I’m Telling the Truth, But I’m Lying became an instant New York Times bestseller, is widely recognized for her work in literature and mental health advocacy. She has performed on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and was part of the touring company for its Tony Award-winning Broadway show. She is also the creator of #NoShameDay, an initiative aimed at destigmatizing conversations about Black mental health.
In Home Rarely Feels Like This, Ikpi recounts her return to Nigeria, a journey filled with both hope and despair. During her time in Lagos, she founded BasseyWorld Presents Naija Poetry Slam, Nigeria’s first national poetry slam competition, and began to imagine a new path forward. However, the struggle with her mental health persisted, leading to moments of recklessness and isolation. The memoir captures the tension between longing for renewal and confronting the realities of self-acceptance.
A Nigerian-born American spoken-word artist, writer, and mental health advocate, Bassey Ikpi has appeared on HBO’s Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry five times and her poetry has opened shows for Grammy Award-winning artists. She’s also the New York Times bestselling author of I’m Telling The Truth But I’m Lying. In 2020 she judged the Indiana Review Creative Nonfiction Prize. She also features on the OkayAfrica’s 100 Women campaign 2020 honoree list, which celebrates women building infrastructure for future African generations.
With this acquisition, Narrative Landscape Press brings Ikpi’s gripping memoir to a wider audience, offering a raw and intimate look at mental health, identity, and the complexities of homecoming.
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
