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Being Human edited by Neil Astley Bloodaxe

Being Human edited by Neil Astley Bloodaxe - ISBN-10: 1852248092 The companion anthology to Staying Alive and Being Alive I love Staying Alive and keep going back to it. Being Alive is just as vivid… But this new book feels even more alive – I think it has a heartbeat’ – Meryl Streep. Being Human is the third book in the Staying Alive poetry trilogy. Staying Alive and its sequel Being Alive have introduced many thousands of new readers to contemporary poetry. Being Human is a companion volume to those two books – a world poetry anthology offering poetry lovers an even broader, international selection of ‘real poems for unreal times’. The range of poetry here complements that of the first two anthologies: hundreds of…

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Ten New poets from Spread the Word (Bloodaxe September 2010)

Ten Anthology (2010) – ISBN: 978-1-852248-79-6 Edited by Bernardine Evaristo and Daljit Nagra This groundbreaking anthology of ten new poets truly reflects the multicultural make-up of contemporary Britain. At a time when less than 1% of all poetry books published in the UK are by black or Asian poets, the work of these writers testifies to the quality and versatility of vital writing that should not be overlooked. These new voices draw on cultural influences and multiple heritages that can only enrich and broaden the scope of contemporary British poetry. This anthology is the culmination of a much needed initiative by literature development agency Spread the Word to support talented Black and Asian poets. The poets’ histories…

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Journeys Home

Edited by Salome Nnoromele and Lisa Day-Lindsey – ISBN: 1592217133 Journeys Home (2009) This is an anthology of Contemporary African Experience. It consists of poems and personal narratives by writers from Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Sudan, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zimbabwe will make readers laugh, cry, smile, and wonder at the life of the immigrant. This collection reflects the blend and clash of cultures, and the pain and triumphs. Residing in various parts of the world, the United States, Netherlands, Wales, Britain, France, and Qatar, these writers give voice to the deep, but often forgotten salient effects of immigration on the African people who have left their family, community, and land of origin. These texts…

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Barbershop Chronicles

Edited by Mahogany L. Browne- ISBN: 978-0978969530 The Barbershop Chronicles (2008) is a collection of poems and essays by men. It brims with an honesty rarely shared outside the sanctuary of the Barbershop. Here, the men have gathered their words for a glance at truth. His story is here. www.penmanshipbooks.com

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The Freedom of Paper and Ink

The Freedom of Paper and Ink Edited by Sundra Lawrence (Salt Publishing 2008) Annotation:  When a student was asked to comment on what he had learnt from the Write Lines project his response was ‘the freedom of paper and ink’ we have taken his bold statement as the title of this anthology. The fruits of our young writers’ efforts lie in this book. Between these pages you will find rich, thoughtful and funny poems that demand to be read and talked about. These poems are not for display purposes only. Read them aloud, share them with a friend, or have one with your breakfast each morning. via The Freedom of Paper and Ink.

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A Storm Between Fingers

Edited by Peter Kahn, Roger Robinson & Jacob Sam-La Rose – ISBN: 978-1905233137 A full anthology of poetry from members of the Malika’s Kitchen writers’ collective, A Storm Between Fingers (2007)reflects the expansive multi-cultural make-up of Malika’s Kitchen, with poems rendered in variations of English that go far beyond standard English – this is poetry awash with the cadences of multilingual exposure. Featured in the London Libraries Development Agency promotion Limited Edition, a storm between fingers is a cultural landmark, a marker of the shape real poetry will take in the future. “Malika’s Kitchen is a literary movement whose impact on British poetry will be felt for a long time to come. These are writers…

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Handmade Fire (Mouthmark)

Edited by Malika’s Kitchen: ISBN: 1905233108 Handmade Fire is a debut anthology featuring work from members of the Intetnational writing group Malika’s Poetry Kitchen. Malika says… Malika’s Kitchen was set up in August 2001 inspired by Kwame Dawes’ ‘Afro Style School’ (held by Spread the Word). Here, Kwame showed a range of poets, who have since gone on to be leading voices in London’s contemporary literary scene, the importance of craft. I wanted to build on this legacy and after reading June Jordan’s ‘Poetry for the People: A Revolutionary Blueprint’ as well as speaking at length to Roger Robinson and Jacob Sam-La Rose, I decided to create the space for writers to develop their craft by writing…

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News

My Father & Other Superheroes – The tour

The tour Begins. Check out the flyer  here My Father & Other Superheroes -Flyer In Birmingham @ Mac In London @ The Albany In Stockton @ Arc In Manchester @ Contact HERO IN YOU

My Father & Other Superheroes @ mac Birmingham

With all ends there is a beginning. What started as an idea in SpokeLab rehearsal room is now a show with legs. It’s a true story. I should know, because I lived it. Its got good guys, bad guys and more. I am working with the Jedi that is Bengi Reid with support from mac Birmingham and Contact Theatre. Here is the blurb My Father & Other Superheroes The day Nick Makoha realised he was going to become a father, he also realised he had no idea how to be one… This is one man’s honest revelation of how pop culture raised him in the absence of his father. We follow Nick’s journey as he…

Ten Tour @ Southbank

    Ten Tour @ Southbank Join me as the Ten tour bus parks itself at the Southbank. Four poets from the anthology TEN new poets from Spread the Word will be reading from their latest work in this special event to celebrate the TEN anthology. The poets are Mir Mahfuz Ali, Rowyda Amin, Nick Makoha and Shazea Quraishi.  The event is hosted by the anthology’s co-editor Bernardine Evaristo. By the book here: TEN new poets from Spread the Word   

Portfolio

The Complete works

A national two year development programme for ten advanced Black and Asian poets. It partners The Arts Council England, The Foyle Foundation, The Old Possum’s Practical Trust, In association with the Arvon Foundation. It supports writers to produce a full-length collection by providing Individual  poet-mentors who will offer intensive critical feedback, tailored support and career development. Writers will have access to a professional development programme, seminars, critical reading sessions, meet-the-editor events and career support and advice. Each year will feature a residential week of writing at Arvon for the group where peer support will be encouraged. The Complete Works will culminate in a final anthology for Bloodaxe in 2010 at a showcase event. During the…

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Spokelab Residencies

Spoke-Lab: As a resident artist of Spoke-Lab I developed my show “My Father & Other Superheroes” One man’s honest revelation of how pop culture raised him in the absence of his father. It is an autobiographical account looking at how boys deal with “absent father syndrome”. It looks at how the TV male icons act as a surrogate fathers to fill the void of loneliness. As a new wave of artist I am aware that poetry in the theatre is by no means a new idea. There was a role for poetry in the great world theatres of the past — the Greek theatre, the Elizabethan theatre, the Japanese theatre. However, in modern times the…

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Newham Writer in Residence

I was the Writer in Residence for Newham Libraries in a venture conceived by Spread the Word and Newham Libraries and Arts Service together with Arts Council England. The project aimed to increase the number of residents in the borough of Newham actively involved in creative writing and literature. Working with 14-18 year olds in Kingsford and Langdon School I piloted The Hero In You Project. It attempts to help young people identify with positive role models from similar cultural backgrounds as well looking at, and attempting to relate this, to their personal life experiences. It puts the icons/ Heroes into a socio-political context, identifying the characteristics required from within to bring about positive change….

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Tate Remixed 2008

It is a digital media collaboration between B3 Media and The Tate. Four spoken-word artists and filmmakers were commissioned to produce a series of short films based on their interpretation of three Tate exhibitions. My poem Vista was used to interpret the Turner prize 2008. I worked along side Stacy Makishi, Francesca Beard and Polarbear. The poems are available online at the Tate website or to download. The Poem Vista  reflects on how controversy surrounding the Turner Prize is a great thing for stirring artistic debate. I say: “We all have our own point of view, both in art and in general. Our own way of seeing the world can become so entrenched so as…

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Spread the Word Commission

Drawing upon my experiences as writer in residence in Newham I was commissioned to write some poems inspired by the diversity of the borough. I was asked to explore my Ugandan roots and look at how my exodus from Uganda in 1979 had impacted on my life.  I gathered aural history form Ugandan elders and young people in the community that I had worked with on The Hero In You pilot. From the interviews and memories I extracted the poems.  This new writing commission was produced by Spread the Word in consultation with the writer and LB Newham arts and culture team.

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London 2012 Olympic Bid:

As part of Kensington and Chelsea Council’s support for the Olympic bid, the Libraries and Arts service decided to express its interest in the bid through poetry. The Land of Hope and Glory’ and `The Measure of all Things’ were written by myself. 
I spent time discussing London’s bid to hold the Olympics with a dance class and a basketball team at Lancaster and Golborne youth centres. I spoke to people in libraries across the borough and staff at Kensington and Chelsea Council about their views on the bid. I then used this information to craft two poems, which illustrate the views of the people in Kensington and Chelsea. Poetry written in the libraries and…

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