New Writing South
RED is the first anthology of contemporary Black British poetry for ten years, it includes 80 internationally renowned poets including: Linton Kwesi Johnson, Jackie Kay; award winning poets, Bernardine Evaristo, Daljit Nagra, Moniza Alvi and Patience Agbabi;
RED illustrates the diversity of Black British poetry and confirm that Black British poetry is a lively and defining force in Britain today.
Patience Agbabi headlines this event, which showcases some of the new, emerging and vibrant writers, who include: Monika-Akila Richards, acclaimed debut novelist and poet, Gemma Weekes (Love Me), Nil Parkes other new and emerging poets.
Patience Agbabi was born in London and educated at Oxford and Sussex Universities. Renowned for her live performances, her poems have been broadcast all over the world. She has lectured in Creative Writing at several UK universities. Her latest collection is BLOODSHOT MONOCHROME (Canongate, 2008).
Fellow at the University of Southampton, author of three poetry pamphlets and several short stories and a 2007 recipient of Ghana’s National ACRAG award for poetry
and literary advocacy. His debut novel TAIL OF THE
BLUE BIRD (Jonathan Cape) was published in June
2009. His new poetry collection, THE MAKINGS OF ME has just been published by Peepal Tree Press.
Monika-Akila Richards has written and performed her poetry since 1994. She was a founder member for “Sound Spectrum” theatre group as a playwright and performer. Monika-Akila had her short story ELEVEN YEARS published by Penguin in an anthology, TRUE TALES OF MIXED HERITAGE EXPERIENCE: THE MAP OF ME. She works in the arts and cultural sector.
Gemma
Weekes is a poet, singer and all-round
scribbler who’s debut novel, LOVE ME, has been greeted with rave reviews in The Guardian (‘a delight’), The Telegraph (‘hits you where you feel it most’) and
The Independent (‘a wonderfully assured debut’). She’s performed all over the UK and worked with the likes of
Nitin Sawhney and Lyric L. She lives in sunny London
with her very cool, very rock ‘n’ roll boy toddler.