News from Authors
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2023 Forward Prize for Best Single Poem – Written goes to Malika Booker for ‘Libation’
The 2023 Forward Prize for Best Single Poem – Written goes to Malika Booker for ‘Libation’ published by The Poetry Review.
2023 judge Chris Redmond said: ‘Malika’s piece reads like a drink. A slow pour of linguistic libation that funnels the reader down into the depths of ritual, grief, culture and society. It works hard to tread so lightly and holds all of this with tenderness and love.’
Congratulations Malika!
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An Invitation to Kwame Dawes’s Sturge Town
When you open a new Kwame Dawes collection, you expect to find certain things: a focus on origins and migratory journeyings; a sensuous take on places encountered; a concern with family and its dynamics; poems about spiritual experience an
Corinne Fowler: Responding to the ‘culture war’ through engagement and dialogue
Corinne Fowler writes about responding to a 'culture war' in the wake of the Colonial Countryside project.
Read the article in full on the Museums Association website.
#WATCH: Marc Wadsworth on Stephen Lawrence at LIAAF 2023
Marc Wadsworth shares his experience working with Stephen Lawrence's family and campaigning against institutional racism in the UK. This speech was given on a panel marking Stephen Lawrence's murder at the inaugural Leeds International African Arts Festival.
The Modern Angel – formerly known as Sinead O’Connor by Raymond Ramcharitar
Given the sad passing of music legend Sinead O'Connor, Raymond Ramcharitar has chosen to share his poem 'The Modern Angel – formerly known as Sinead O’Connor' in tribute. The poem originally appeared in Raymond's latest collection, Modern, Age, &c.
The Modern Angel – formerly known as Sinead O’Connor
by Raymond Ramcharitar
Beguiling, the shining heart-shaped face, the dreamy
Eyes, the tawny hair, bristling, skull-short,
Nii Ayikwei Parkes in Civilian Reader
Nii Ayikwei Parkes recently wrote a guest article for Civilian Reader on the origins of his latest novel, Azúcar:
Salkey's Escape at an Autumn Pavement free at the Aesop Queer Library, Soho
Founded on a belief in the transformative power of queer storytelling, the Aesop Queer Library returns to Aesop Soho, London, from 29 June to 2 July. The ephemeral installation offers complimentary books by LGBTQIA+ authors and allies, no purchase required.
This year, Escape to an Autumn Pavement by Andrew Salkey (1960) joins A Place for Us by Isabel Miller (1969) as being offered for free until Sunday.
Mahadai Das and Jan Lowe Shinebourne included on new CAPE syllabus
Mahadai Das and Jan Lowe Shinebourne will both have books included in the next CAPE syllabus, beginning in September and covering a period of three academic years.
The two books that will be studied are:
Nii Ayikwei Parkes radio appearances
Nii Ayikwei Parkes recently spoke with Alexis Conran on Times Radio. You can catch him talking about his new novel
Azúcar from 01:24:44.
Nii was also on BBC Radio 4 Open Book with Johnny Pitts. Check him out from 13:30 onwards.