Young Poets’ Summit at the Forward Prizes for Poetry 2023
On Monday 16th October, five Hive poets attended the inaugural Young Poets Summit at the Forward Prize for Poetry 2023 in Leeds. They were joined by other young poets from: Young Identity, Leeds young Authors, Barbican Young Poets & The Writing Squad, for an afternoon of poetry-related discussion, networking, and wonderful insights from a stellar panel of writers, including, Khadijah Ibrahim, a judge for this year’s award, Kandace Siobhan Walker (shortlisted for Best First Collection with Cowboy (Cherrio Publishing), and Momtaza Mehri (Winner of Best First Collect for Bad Diaspora Poems (Jonathan Cape). And the icing on the cake: to enjoy the Forward Prizes for Poetry 2023 live that evening at Leeds Playhouse.
The event was organised by writers Tolu Agbelusi, Jemilea Wisdom-Baako, Annie Hayter, Pelumi Fatayo, Kiki Gilbert and Princess Arinola Adegbite with support from Shirley May, Jacob Sam La Rose and Jay Bhadricha (Forward Prize), who were instrumental in the initial conceptualisation of the event.
It’s hoped that feedback collected from the event can go towards looking at a yearly Young Poets Summit during the Forward Prizes.
Many thanks to Tolu Agbelusi, Shirley May & Jemilea Wisdom-Baako for inviting Hive poets, and thanks to the Forward Prize and all the fine young poet groups involved.
