Made it through to the finals for the @roundhouseldn poetry slam competition this year✨ It was a crazy experience but had so much fun and shoutout to the other finalists for doing amazing!
This poem “22” was inspired by a story my dad told me about his 22nd birthday and how it was the first time he celebrated his birthday. I’ve also posted this on youtube so check the link in my bio and support💓
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#poetry #poetsofinstagram #writersofinstagram #poetrycommunity #poetrylovers #poems #poetsociety #spokenword #justice #somali #london
⚠️ SUNDAY 1ST MARCH YOUTUBE 1:00 PM ⚠️
All performance videos from the @windowtothespirits Sudan Fundraiser 🇸🇩 at @theexchangew9 20/02/26 will be available 💻
🎥 @sagalgabay
#themetaphorest #sudan #spokenword #fundraiser #openmic
⚠️ SUNDAY 1ST MARCH YOUTUBE 1:00 PM ⚠️
All performance videos from the @windowtothespirits Sudan Fundraiser 🇸🇩 at @theexchangew9 20/02/26 will be available 💻
🎥 @sagalgabay
#themetaphorest #sudan #spokenword #fundraiser #openmic
Thought I’d share some of my book recommendations for Black History Month of some of my top fiction reads by Black authors.
1. We’re all birds of Uganda - this book looks into Idi Amin’s expulsion of Ugandan Asians in 1972 and how it impacted the Saeed family who had to emigrate to the UK from Uganda within the 90 day deadline. I’ve read stories about racial tensions, but this is the first book I’ve read that explores the divisions between Blacks and Asians (in both the UK and Uganda), and where they come together.
2. Black Mama Boy - one of my absolute faves. Nadifa Mohamed shares the fictionalised autobiographical story of her father’s journey as a Somali orphaned boy travelling across countries, including Somaliland, Djibouti, Yemen, Palestine, Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt, until he eventually reaches the UK. Such a moving book - 10/10.
3. Open Water - the way this book is written in poetic prose is done so so beautifully, it had me lost for words at so many points. This South London love story will forever have my heart. It explores love, loss, community, creativity, racism and mental health from the perspective of a black man. Nelson doesn’t shy away from any topic in this all-encompassing London love story.
4. Americanah - this book got me back into reading for leisure after finishing uni. It compares the difficulties of settling as an immigrant in the US to the experience of settling as an immigrant in the UK - it questions which is harder and which offers the greater reward. It also questions whether it’s all even worth it in the end through the character of Ifemelu who ends up returning to Nigeria.
5. Small Island - I’ve always loved how Andrea Levy writes about Windrush stories with so much depth and comedy at the same time. The characters in this book explore the concept of the idolised “mother country” and whether the UK’s rain, menial jobs and cramped living conditions really offers all the glamour that it claims.
I love how all of these books explore migration, belonging and community. Would HIGHLY recommend them all.
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#bookrecommendations #bookstagram #books #booklover #blackhistorymonth
