Oludiran “Diran” Adebayo FRSL (born 30 August 1968) is a British novelist, cultural critic and academic best known for his tales of London and the lives of African diasporans. His work has been characterised by its interest in multiple cultural identities, subcultures, and its distinctive, “musical” use of language. His fans include the writer Zadie Smith, who has praised him for his “humanness”, arguing that he is one of a few English writers who “trade in both knowledge and feeling”. In 2002 The Times Literary Supplement named him as one of the Best Young British Novelists.