Alain Mabanckou grew up in Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo, and studied law in Brazzaville and Paris. A writer of poems and essays, Mabanckou wrote his first novel in 1998, with his fifth text, Broken Glass, ranked as one of the 100 best books of the 21st century by the Guardian. His work has won several prizes, including the Renaudot Prize and has been shortlisted for the International Booker Prize twice. Alain Mabanckou is now a full Professor of Literature at UCLA. He discusses retaining clarity and perspective in an ever-evolving political and cultural landscape with Congolese creative, Nteranya Sanginga.