Racism, Rights & Resistance: An Evening of Poetry and Spoken Word

An evening of poetry and spoken word organised by the Deport Deprive Extradite research project at the Department of Sociology. Four poets will engage with issues around racism, rights and resistance:

TALHA AHSAN: His earliest poems appeared in Anarchist Angel magazine for young poets. His first adult collection Damascene Portraits (2005) was followed by This be the Answer (2011) published while imprisoned without trial for five years. His last work, Grieving and other poems won a Koestler Trust award for one of the best collections of 2012. He also received the Leopold de Rothschild prize for the eponymous poem. He was extradited the same week to solitary confinement in a US death row prison. He returned to the UK in August 2014. More at FreeTalha.org

HAFSAH ANEELA BASHIR: Poet, writer and spoken word artist based in Manchester. She writes to raise awareness about social injustice and has a keen interest in writing as a form of resistance and liberty. She has worked with Women Asylum Seekers Together to use creative agency as a means to highlight demands for basic human rights. Also part of a writing collective called Manchester Muslim Writers, she conducts poetry workshops within the community working with young people to develop an understanding of identity and empowerment.

ELMI ALI: Writer, performer/facilitator based in the North-West. He writes poetry, short fiction and drama. His performances have been received in venues across the country including Westminster, The Southbank Centre and Contact Manchester. He Facilitates Performance Poetry and Creative Writing workshops across the country; both individually and in partnership with organisations such as Numbi Arts, Arvon Foundation, Young Identity and Wordsmith.

HODAN YUSUF: Multimedia freelance journalist, photographer, writer and poet. Hodan have been engaged in public speaking and activism for many years. She is also a mediator and trainer in conflict resolution and peace building.