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Rising stars of poetry Nick Makoha and Roger Robinson present Mixtape, a unique new show of poetry and musical mosaics. With enduring friendship at its centre, hear poems which leap back and forth in time, giving voice to the universal struggle to carve out personal and political identities. Poems about music, poems about love, poems of protest and of exile, monologues and duet poems … all tied together through an unforgettable soundtrack of songs – Afrobeats, hip-hop, reggae & soul. Through a heartfelt, humorous and honest exploration of two individual lives, Mixtape will inspire audiences to compile the definitive track list of their own experiences.
Mixtape is produced by Speaking Volumes and funded by Arts Council England.
Nick Makoha. Born in Uganda, Nick fled the country with his mother during the Idi Amin dictatorship. He has presented his work at many international events. Nick’s pamphlet, ‘The Lost Collection of an Invisible Man’, was published by Flipped Eye in 2005. His one-man show ‘My Father and Other Superheroes’ has toured extensively at home and abroad. He is one of ten on The Complete Works, a programme for advanced Black and Asian poets. He was published in the ‘Ten’ anthology and launched ‘A Kingdom of Gravity’ at the Africa Writes festival in June 2017 and was shortlisted for the Forward Best First Collection. Nick took part in the Breaking Ground US tours produced by Speaking Volumes and also runs the Youth Poetry Network.
Roger Robinson is a writer, poet and musician. He is an unrelenting and constant observer of life in Brixton and of post-riot/pre-Brexit Britain. An internationally respected dub poet, his work is a powerful mix of poetry rhythm and socially conscious themes. He has released 2 albums and is a founding member of King Midas Sound. He has performed worldwide and is an experienced workshop leader and lecturer on poetry. He was chosen by Decibel as one of 50 writers who have influenced the Black British writing canon. He was shortlisted for The Bocas Litfest Prize and highly commended by the Forward Prize. He has toured extensively and is an original Speaking Volumes Breaking Ground artist for both the US and European tours.
Joined by Ruby-Ann Patterson of Family Ranks, get ready to feel the best of WoWFest vibes.
