Spit Out the Myth Launch
Many congratulations to Hive poets Silé Sibanda, Warda Yassin and Danae Wellington (current Sheffield Poet Laureate), who will be launching their join poetry pamphlet: Spit Out the Myth at Off the Shelf Festival of Words 2023. The poems in this collection bring to life stories of migration and change, explored through family roots, mythical tales and life in the north of England.
After Désirée Reynolds curated Black Women Write Now for Off the Shelf in 2021 with a showcase of readings by the three poets, many enquired about obtaining their work in print. The result is this Off the Shelf-commissioned anthology, with an introduction by Désirée.
Join Silé, Warda, and Danae on Friday 27th October at Millenium Gallery at 6pm for a launch reading from the collection. Désirée Reynolds will introduce the event and Suzannah Evans will talk about the publishing process.
An Off the Shelf Festival of Words commission in partnership with The Poetry Business
Warda Yassin is a British Somali poet and English teacher. She was Sheffield Poet Laureate 2020-2022 and was awarded the Women Poets’ Prize 2020/21. Warda often writes about her experiences as a British Somali and about her heritage and community and in 2018, her debut pamphlet Tea with Cardamom was a winner of the New Poets Prize (The Poetry Business). Warda has been a part of the South Yorkshire writers network (now Hive) for many years and knows firsthand from her own experience, how writing networks can support young writers to reach their potential.
Danae Wellington is a Jamaican British writer and Sheffield Poet Laureate 2023-2024. She advocates for healing through the creative arts, specifically through the fusion of poetry, storytelling, music and theatre. She’s been published in several anthologies and has performed widely at places like the Ted Hughes Poetry Festival and Sheaf Poetry Festival. Danae is passionate about leading projects aimed at supporting young people from African Diaspora backgrounds to tell their stories and use their voices.
Sile Sibanda is a British Zimbabwean poet, spoken word performer, and BBC radio presenter. As well as being an active part of the Hive community, she has hosted open mics and events for Hive over the last few years and is loved by everyone for her warmth and encouragement of young voices. Sile hails from Rotherham and in 2019 she won the BBC Radio Sheffield ‘This is Me’ presenting competition and subsequently became the host of The Vibe on BBC Radio Sheffield.