Poetry Cafe with Roy McFarlane, AFLO. the poet, Ty'rone Haughton, Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa & Miss Yankey

About

The musicality. An evening exploring the power of poetry spoken word and music.

Our most popular event is back and as ever it will be an evening like no other. Come and join Canal Laureate Roy McFarlane and friends as they explore the power of music and poetry. Pull up, grab a glass of something smooth and give your ears the time of their life. An evening you will be talking about all year.

Roy McFarlane was born in Birmingham to Jamaican parents and now lives in Brighton. He has held the roles of Birmingham’s Poet Laureate, Starbucks’ Poet in Residence and Canal Laureate. His debut poetry collection, Beginning With Your Last Breath (2016) was followed by The Healing Next Time (2018), which was nominated for the Ted Hughes Award and Jhalak Prize. He is the editor of Celebrate Wha? Ten Black British Poets From The Midlands (2011).

Award winning Brighton poet, AFLO. the poet is an activist and academic who embraces creative expression to disrupt the status quo and inspire social change, using poetry as a vehicle to address hard-hitting topics, particularly racism and mental health, primarily speaking from her lived experiences. Currently an in-house artist for Brighton Dome, she is a significant force directing change in Brighton's creative scenes and continues to sow seeds across the country.

Ty'rone Haughton is a Jamaican born poet and playwright who, as a child, had selective mutism and hated writing! His work focuses on social issues, identity and exploring lived experiences. Ty’rone is the founder of Literati Arts and the Leicester Poetry Committee. He is also the Trainee Artistic Director at Apples And Snakes. In 2023 Ty’rone was named as one of BBC Radio 1Xtra’s ‘Future Figures’ for his contributions to the arts and social care.In 2022, Ty’rone’s debut poetry collection HOODS was published; a probe into childhood, manhood and fatherhood.

Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa is a choreopoet and ethnochoreologist. Her interdisciplinary artistry braids dance, poetry, social commentary and visual art on the page and stage. Her debut poetry collection Cane, Corn & Gully (Out-Spoken Press) explores the lives of enslaved Black Barbadian women and their descendants. It was shortlisted for the 2023 Rathbones Folio Prize and Felix Dennis Forward Prize for best first collection.

Miss Yankey is a renowned spoken word artist and six-time International Slam Champion, celebrated for her electrifying performances from London to New York. She is the founder of Poetry Prescribed, an innovative organisation delivering dynamic workshops and spoken word services to diverse audiences. Her powerful performances have graced prestigious venues, including Shakespeare's Globe and the West End's Criterion Theatre, and she has contributed to a BAFTA Award-winning show. Recently recognised as Best International Artist at the National Spoken Word Awards in Chicago.