Tahmina Ali – This is a Mother Poet
“…The only thing that helped me stay connected to who I was was my writing” Who am I? I am a poet who writes about things that matter to me, so I like to write about culture and identity. I am a North East poet and a British Bangladeshi. I am a new mum and…
2021 Round Up
Hello from Apples and Snakes What to say about 2021, was it worse than 2020? Hard to choose! We kept ourselves busy making work and supporting artists through programmes such as Writing Room, Work from Home, Artists Gatherings and our bespoke Poetry in Performance development programme supported by Jerwood Arts. We collaborated again with the…
Zena Edwards
As a lover of live poetry readings as an audience member, I love to hear individual voices. You can give a chef a chicken and they can season and cook it 100 different ways. It’s the same with poetry, I like different seasonings in my poets. Describe yourself in 3 words… Playful, Serious, determined What…
Malaika Kegode
You can have respect for your craft, community and creativity while still embracing the ridiculousness of it all. 1. Describe yourself in 3 words… Generous, Determined, Introvert 2. What inspires you? The endurance and optimism of human beings. That we have all lived through our very worst days and just keep on going. That we’ve…
Reece Williams
Serious poets don’t find time to write, they make time. 1. Describe yourself in 3 words… Bearded bald brotha 2. What inspires you? Most of my poems are crafted in the moments that I’m not eating (or thinking about eating) plantin. I’m inspired by the way life moves around me and I’m inspired to tell…
Ep 10 | The importance of owning and telling our own stories Part 2: This space is therapy.
Therapy in owning narratives; building platforms for younger poets with Francois and Reece Williams
Ep 9 | The importance of owning and telling our own stories Part 1: The great unlearning
Owning stories, bravery, and unlearning silence with Kat Francois and Reece Williams
Ep 8 | Poetry in Education Part 2: It comes down to understanding the words and the lines
Making poetry accessible when curricula exclude lived experience with Casey Bailey and Que
Ep 7 | Poetry In Education part 1: Man‘s a poet now.
Education’s impact on poetry; unlearning and making poetry attractive again – with Casey Bailey and Que AKA Quethewolf
Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa
No one complains there are too many poems about the moon, but when it comes to poetics in the Black community, my people are pressured to question what they should write about. And when we are invited to write, we are usually asked to write on trauma as though 571 years (and counting) has just…
Ep 6 | National Voices part 2: Creating space for development and growth
Regional voices and building development spaces to counter isolation with Khadijah Ibrahiim and Malaika Kegode
Ep 5 | National Voices Part 1: ‘But I’m a poet as well”
Why regional and rural voices must be centred with Khadijah Ibrahiim and Malaika Kegode
Neelam Saredia-Brayley
Remember to keep consuming good art rather than just outputting all the time and getting burnt out. Don’t ignore red flags. You can survive anything. Describe yourself in 3 words… Joyful Hopeful Queen What inspires you? Andrea Gibson’s poetry, Queer Eye, women supporting women, Jameela Jamil, strong people of colour, Aakash Odedra and his beautiful…
EP 4 | Music Part 2: ‘When poets write we conjure worlds and cast spells”
Music × poetry and dismantling page‑vs‑stage gatekeeping with Zena Edwards and Eklipse
EP 3 | Music Part 1: ‘Sometimes our stories need music’
How music carries stories and frees poets with Zena Edwards and Eklipse
EP 2 | Publishing Part 2: ‘We do it so our community lives forever’
Publishing now: pressures, expectations, and cultural stakes with Caleb Femi and Nii Ayikwei Parkes
Jean “Binta” Breeze
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our great friend and most powerful poet, Jean Binta Breeze. Since 1986, Jean performed at nearly 90 Apples and Snakes events as well as mentored, encouraged and inspired generations of poets through our development programmes. A pioneer, a true inspiration and total poetry legend –…
EP 1 | Publishing Part 1: ‘I’m just tryna be like you bro!’
Navigating publishing as a Black poet; challenges and change with Nii Ayikwei Parkes and Caleb Femi
What’s SPINE Festival all about?
Preparations for this year’s SPINE Festival are well underway and we can’t wait for it to start in June. The festival is for children, young people and families and takes place across libraries situated at the heart of London’s communities, both digitally and in-person. This year the festival’s theme is ‘EMPATHY’ and launches on 1…
EP 0 | Welcome to Apples and Snakes: The Podcast
Series launch: centring Black British poets—why it matters. With host Yomi Sode and series producer Natalie Fiawoo
Zena Edwards: Comfortable With the Uncomfortable
Zena recently joined Apples and Snakes officially as a Consulting Artistic Associate. She has been a long time friend of ours so it is great to embark on this journey together. We will share more of our work with Zena over the next few months. For now, here’s an introduction interview so you can get…
Shaun Hill
If you are asking a participant to become something they have not been supported to be in society, how are you supporting them to do this? Describe yourself in 3 words @warmbloodedthing What inspires you? ‘god’, healing, critical theory. Tell us about your worst ever gig? A conference for the business sector where after the…
The Last Poets: Abiodun Oyewole and Umar Bin Hassan – Part 2
In the second part of this blog, Artistic Director of Apples and Snakes, Lisa Mead, and Consulting Artistic Associate, Zena Edwards, delve a little deeper with our friends Abiodun Oyewole and Umar Bin Hassan from The Last Poets. They discuss how poetry has shaped them, what they think it means to be a poet, and…
The Last Poets: Abiodun Oyewole and Umar Bin Hassan – Part 1
Artistic Director of Apples and Snakes, Lisa Mead, interviewed our friends Abiodun Oyewole and Umar Bin Hassan from The Last Poets to discuss poetry as their chosen form of expression, the longevity of their careers and how it all began. In the first part of this blog, Abiodun and Umar share what kept them going…
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