Counterpoints Lecture with Elif Shafak

For this first iteration of the annual Counterpoints lecture, Shafak explores how imagination and artistic practice shape our understanding of the world, followed by a conversation with Zing Tsjeng.

Shafak reflects on the link between creativity and courage, and how creativity can open paths to belonging, imagination and collaboration in times of conflict, fear and political division.

Drawing on academic, literary critic and activist Edward Said’s concept of the ‘counterpoint’ perspective of displaced people, Shafak considers how artists from regions affected by war, violence and political extremism can offer vital insights and new ways of seeing, questioning and imagining. As part of this, Shafak unravels the idea of ‘storyland’ as a motherland.

Elif Shafak is an award-winning and highly acclaimed British-Turkish novelist whose work has been translated into 55 languages. The author of 21 books, including 13 novels, she is a bestselling author in many countries around the world.

Shafak holds a PhD in political science and is President of the Royal Society of Literature and a Public Humanities Fellow at the School of Advanced Studies (SAS). She is a leading voice on freedom of expression, women’s rights and LGBTQIA+ rights.

Zing Tsjeng is an author, journalist and broadcaster. She is the former editor-in-chief of VICE and the writer of the non-fiction book series Forgotten Women. She presents the award-winning BBC Sounds podcast Good Bad Billionaire.

Part of Southbank Centre’s Refugee Week 2026 programme, presented in partnership with Counterpoints Arts. Refugee Week is a nationwide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Inspired by refugees, the theme this year is ‘courage’.