Congratulations to Hive poet Anzal Omar on her first poetry commission, ‘Our Roots Never Ask’
Huge congratulations to Hive poet Anzal Omar, whose poem Our Roots Never Ask was commissioned by the University of Manchester as part of a research project exploring the experiences of Somali communities in UK cities, including questions of identity and belonging.
Anzal was one of three Somali-heritage poets commissioned to bring research to life through poetry, alongside Asmaa Jama (Bristol) and Ibrahim Hirsi (London). Drawing on interviews and conversations with Somali communities, each poet created a piece reflecting experiences of home and belonging in their respective cities.
Anzal has been developing her poetry through Hive Poetry Collective for several years and cites fellow Hive poet Warda Yassin, Sheffield Poet Laureate 2020–2022, as a major inspiration. Like Warda, Anzal’s poetry draws on the rich detail of British Somali life, from familiar streets and landmarks to cultural references reflecting the experience of growing up with both Somali and British cultures.
The three poems were brought together in Blue Lines, a short poetry film directed and produced by SXB Studio. This was Anzal’s first poetry commission. It’s a beautiful ode to Sheffield and we’re absolutely delighted for her.
“This commission was a completely different and beautiful experience for me. To have a responsibility for a community of voices, rather than just my own, and finding a way to give the research a pulse, a heartbeat, a home. I feel so honoured to have had this opportunity, and so grateful for my time developing as a poet with Hive. The collective has helped me believe in myself and that I could represent something so important through poetry.”
Blue Lines premiered on 19th Oct at the 18th Somali Week Festival in London, hosted by Kayd Somali Arts & Culture, followed by a discussion with the poets, filmmaker Osman Jama and the University of Manchester research team.
The commission forms part of the University of Manchester’s wider Urban Citizenship and Transcontinental Lives research, exploring the experiences of Somali communities in Britain.
Watch this space for news of when the film will be available to view online!