Irki
the debut poetry collection
by Kadija Sesay
In Irki, Kadija Sesay unlocks experiences and stories - at times amusing and loving, at other times confusing and sad - that surround the 'invisibility' of private fostering, the dislocations and negotiations of migration, and home as an imagined, remembered and physical place. 'Irki' means 'homeland' in the Nubian language - a language which is fast becoming extinct.
Kadija returns at times to this loss of history and tradition, in a collection that brings to bear the memory of a pan-African homeland upon the reality of a British upbringing. Writing as a second generation West African, Kadija tells of the arrival of parents of different religions, the loss of a national tongue, and growing up Black, as one of the 'Michael Jackson generation', against the racially divided background of Britain in the 60s, 70s and 80s.
One of only a handful of West African-descended poets writing and publishing in Britain today, Kadija confronts the common experience of private fostering that many from her community have faced but feel unable to talk about openly. She ends her debut collection on the edge, skirting borders as she draws upon her travels to relate intimate childhood experiences.
Photo credit: Vic Ehi READINGS: MARCH/APRIL/MAY 2013
(USA, WEST AFRICA, UK)
The Independent International Literary Scene:
Two Launches and a Reading
3-4:30 p.m.
St. Petersburg Review joins with the New England Poetry Club, Dzanc Books' DISQUIET Lisbon Program, Summer Literary Seminars, SABLE LitMag, and Tagus Press to bring you authors Kadija (George) Sesay "Irki", Irina Mashinsky, and Brian Sousa "Almost Gone" reading from their works. Elizabeth Hodges, Mikhail Iossel, and Jeff Parker introduce and comment on independent international literary networking and collaboration.
Boston Public Library
700 Boylston Street,
Copley Square,
Boston, MA 02116
Copley Square,
Boston, MA 02116
The first 25 people attending the reading receive drink tickets to the reception
5pm
City Bar,
425 Summer Street,
Boston, MA 02210
425 Summer Street,
Boston, MA 02210
9 March
12.00pm
AWP: Book signing at SABLE / St Petersburg Review
Hynes Convention Center
900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02115
SABLE/St Petersburg Review Bookstand: 1307
14 March
3pm
Moonstone Arts Center & The Charles L. Blockson Collection at Temple University
present
Kadija Sesay and Trapeta B. Mayson
at
The Charles L. Blockson Collection,
1330 Polett Walk,
Philadelphia, PA 19122,
T:215 204-6632
27 March
6pm
Perfect Sense Reading Series
Kadija Sesay, Elizabeth Hodges, and Marc Jaffee read at
Cornelia Street Café,
29 Cornelia Street,
New York, NY
10014
10014
28 March
4.30 pm
The Geneseo Literary Forum
SUNY Geneseo
1 College Cir,
Geneseo,
NY 14454
NY 14454
room:tba
28 March
7pm
31 March
4-6pm
The University of Miami's Africana Studies Program
presents a launch reading from
Irki
Irki
the debut poetry collection from
award-winning activist and publisher Kadija Sesay
at
CAS Gallery
Wesley Foundation Buiilding,
The University of Miami,
1210 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables, FL
The University of Miami,
1210 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables, FL
A presentation of the University of Miami's Dept of Art and Art History, Dr Edmund Abaka and the Africana Studies Program, YR Public Relations and Curator, Ludlow Bailey
RSVP 786 290-7359 - March 29
April
(1st week of April) Reading in
St Thomas, USVI
(Date and venue tbc)
7 April
Poetry Workshop : 'Elsewhere'
BloomBars, Washington DC
3 -5pm
We are going to delve into the part of us that is not visible, the part of us that was born elsewhere, whose parents come from elsewhere, religion is elsewhere, live elsewhere. Please bring something from your elsewhere -object, photo, interesting piece of info from your memory or the internet.
How does your elsewhere relate to your now?
If we have time, we will 'swop' with someone else's 'elsewhere' and see where that takes us.
$10 donation
contact: circlesaroundus@gmail.com
8 April
The Garden Open Mic, hosted by Gowri
The Garden Open Mic, hosted by Gowri
8.30pm
Guest poet @ BloomBars
3222 11th St NW
Washington DC
$7 donation
Sign-up list opens at 8:30 pm and the first performer goes on at 9:00 pm
contact: circlesaroundus@gmail.com
doors and list open at 8:30; show is from 9 to 11pm
9 April
6:30- 8.30 pm
Center for Black Literature
President's Conference Center
Medgar Evers College, CUNY
1650 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11225
President's Conference Center
Medgar Evers College, CUNY
1650 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11225
T: 718-804-8883
11 April
Launch of Irki
6:30 - 8pm
This is it! The US launch for Irki
Kadija Sesay
introduced by E. Ethelbert Miller
Langston Room @ Busboys and Poets, 14th & V
2021 14th St, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Supported by TransAfrica
13 April
7pm 'til late
Kadija Sesay & Alan King
A Poetic Conversation
African American Civil War Memorial and Museum
925 Vermont Ave NW,
Washington, DC 20001
T:202-667-2667
WEST AFRICA
WEST AFRICA
27 April
4pm
Timbooktoo Bookshop
Garba Jhumpha Road
Bakau
The Gambia
(Launch of Irki in the UK will be in July 2013)
FOR MORE DETAIL AND UPDATES VISIT
You should also read the best poetry for inspiration. The standard poets have always been the most inspirational creators. From a good line of poetry, you may get the inspiration for the career of a life time. Many a great man and woman was first inspired by some attractive line or verse of poetry
Marcus Garvey Jr. (17 August 1887 - 10 June 1940)
Available March 2013 £8.99
from:
Peepal Tree Press
17 King's Avenue Leeds
LS6 1QS
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)113 2451703
UK Representation:
Inpress Books for Independent Thinkers http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001S8fcQdxGh4Yqvf38r52wx7tafqNQ79Cswpd52cAHjd6QJUDPl58_gnZ2sj1Rtz3qe0i6YB-An0eEMyDxLcFYjdpuyKLkJlG10-RCVfY3AZGadqsp0Hv62YqwA2UpR-Nu
UK Distribution:
Central Books
99 Wallis Road
London E9 5LN
Phone: +44 (0)208 829 3000
Fax: +44 (0)208 881 5088
US Distribution:
IPG Independent Publishers Group,
814 North Franklin St.
Chicago, IL
60610
Phone: 312.337.0747
Fax: 312.337.5985
https://theblacklist.net/
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