Malika’s Kitchen Launch @ Foyles: Readings from contributors to the first anthology from urban poetry collective Malika’s Kitchen.
Malika’s Kitchen Press Release:
On the 14th June 2007, Malika’s Kitchen – the seminal urban international writing collective – launches its first anthology – A Storm Between Fingers – published by Flipped Eye press and distributed by Gardeners. Taking place at Foyles Gallery, Charing Cross Road, the launch features performing writers from both the UK and Chicago chapters of Malika’s Kitchen. Breaking with tradition these artists push aside the lectern and lean instead on the elements of popular culture referencing and drawing influence from comedy, music, comics and film. The resulting cocktail is an experience that leaves people touched and inspired.
The launch will consist of readings from the most experienced of Malika’s Kitchen’s writers and performers along with contributions from some of its newest members and music supplied by Amplified. The event is one in a series of readings that support Malika’s Kitchen’s commitment to developing new poets and writers, and building connections with diverse communities nationally and internationally. As an organisation, Malika’s Kitchen has identified and nurtured new writing and performing talent.
Poetry is often falsely viewed as the province of privileged folk and as a pursuit for the extremely gifted. Malika’s Kitchen recognises that poetry comes from the people and needs to be given back to the people. This idea has been realised as and expressed in sold-out, standing room only reading events and its members being published, anthologised and celebrated with prizes.
Many of the collective’s performers travel internationally on a regular basis, touring with live literature productions – for example, Roger Robinson’s Shadow Boxer, Malika Booker’s Unplanned and Nicholas Makoha in Speechify have represented contemporary British writing worldwide, from India and the Far East, through Europe, to a range of American states.
Malika’s Kitchen UK has included: Charlotte Ansell, Yemisi Blake, Malika Booker, Cath Drake, Inua Ellams, Patricia Foster, Nick Makoha, Aoife Mannix, Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Janett Plummer, Roger Robinson, Jacob Sam-La Rose, Denise Saul, Dorothea Smartt, Heather Taylor, Denrele Ogunwa, Sundra Lawrence, Sifundo, Anjan Saha, Donna Lamar.
Malika’s Kitchen Chicago has included: Peter Khan, Ugochi Nwaogwugwu, Kevin Coval, Krista Franklin, Amanda Klonsky, Idris Goodwin, Toni Asante Lightfoot, Christina Santana, Avery R Young, Sharrieff Muhammad, Mike Barber, Tara Betts.
HISTORY OF MALIKA”S KITCHEN
In August, 2001 Malika Booker prepared food and invited a group of new and developing writers and poets to her house. That night they spoke, wrote, ate, and saw a new way to strengthen craft and community. Since then they have met every Friday for the past six years. From that humble beginning,
A Storm Between Fingers is the fruit of those years of writing and discussion.