Lumpy Sympathies: An Interview in Beirut with Teju Cole

After a brief introduction, the following interview with Nigerian-American writer, photographer, and cultural critic Teju Cole addresses a wide range of topics. Cole discusses his novels, social media, travel writing, politics, Lagos, photography, Beirut, and his place in multiple discourses. In terms of African literature, Cole advances the notion of "Lumpy Sympathies," arguing that he does not mind being associated, i.e. lumped, with Afropolitans or other groups as long as his work is not limited to a single characterization. The interview ends with a discussion on race and the expectations of writers from the Global South.