Kahiu—who gained international attention for her critically acclaimed film Rafiki—will helm the production, based on the upcoming YA novel of the same name. The Black Kids follows the story of a wealthy African-American teen, whose family gets caught up in the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

Sure to have a busy year, Kahiu is also set to direct Millie Bobby Brown in The Thing About Jellyfish, and is adapting Octavia Butler’s Wild Seed for the silver screen as well. Her previous film Rafiki made its world premiere at Cannes in 2018, and was banned in Kenya.

Kahiu is the co-founder of AFROBUBBLEGUM, a media company that creates “fun, fierce and frivolous African art.” In talks, she shows why this is a political act: seeing African citizens as healthy, financially stable, and fun-loving shows their humanity in refreshing, necessary ways. In 2019, Kahiu was named one of TIME’s “100 Next”, the magazine’s inaugural list putting a spotlight on rising stars shaping the future.

To book speaker Wanuri Kahiu, contact The Lavin Agency, her exclusive speakers bureau.