Richard Ali is a Nigerian lawyer, novelist, editor, and social entrepreneur whose work bridges literature, public policy, and sustainable development. He is the Managing Editor of Jalada Africa, the Nairobi-based pan-African writers’ collective, where he has championed literary collaboration and amplified diverse African voices. Richard co-founded Parresia Publishers in 2013, helping build it into one of Nigeria’s leading independent publishing houses and supporting the emergence of a new generation of African writers.
Beyond publishing, he is the CEO of Tigray Coffee Co., advancing sustainable coffee production in Nigeria, and serves on the Executive Council of the National Coffee and Tea Association of Nigeria (NACOFTAN). As Executive Director of Engaging Borders SRD, he leads research and peacebuilding initiatives that use literature, culture, and civic engagement to address conflict across the Sahel, including the UK FCDO-supported Delimi PROSPER Project under the SPRiNG Programme.
His debut novel, City of Memories, was published in 2013 and was followed by the poetry collection The Anguish and Vigilance of Things (2019). He lives and works in Abuja, Nigeria.
