Events

The Life, Writing & Legacy of James Baldwin

Celebrations of the centenary of writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin continued at the Cambridge Literary Festival. Erica Wagner chaired a panel focusing on works such as No Name in the Street and Giovanni's Room.

Clementine E Burnley wins James Berry Poetry Prize

Clementine E Burnley was one of the winners of this year's James Berry Poetry Prize. Here, Clementine reads from 'Berber for Water', from her first pamphlet Radical Pairings which was published by Ignition Press in 2023.

James Baldwin: A Response

James Baldwin remains one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. In his 1987 eulogy Jimmy!, Amiri Baraka described Baldwin as a man who 'produced, spoke, sang,' and, against all odds, remained 'man, spirit, and voice, ever expanding and ever more conscious.' In this spirit, writers and musicians gather at The Shaw Library, LSE in London for an evening of readings and jazz to celebrate Baldwin. Written responses to an excerpt from The Fire Next Time are performed alongside improvised songs and jazz.

Claude McKay, from Harlem to Marseille

Claude McKay, a leading light of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance, travelled widely but struggled to live by his pen. At the British Film Institute in London, Burt Caesar was joined by writers to discuss a new documentary on McKay.

Walk good: in Britain’s colonial countryside

As the National Trust reports, a significant part of the wealth of the British countryside was secured by exploitation and plunder. In collaboration with the British Library, WritersMosaic brought together writers and musicians, including Angeline Morrison, to reflect on its complicated history.

A picture that never fades

WritersMosaic in collaboration with Green Ray Gallery conjured family tales with poets Raymond Antrobus debuting his new collection, Signs, Music and Sea Sharp reading from Black Cotton at the Lighthouse Project in Brighton.

Black to the Future

Black to the Future, founded by Irenosen Okojie, is an Afro-Futurist celebration of Black artistry. Afroturism, a concept first coined as a reimagining of the experience of African Americans, 'the descendants of alien abductees [who] inhabit a sci-fi nightmare' is an increasingly popular artfrom. Recently, at a special Black to the Future event in partnership with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Colin Grant spoke with Irenosen Okojie, Jess Brough, and Patience Agbabi.

James Baldwin: Edinburgh Festival

James Baldwin died in 1987, but his work still rages and breathes life and hope into our troubled times. In the centenary year of Baldwin's birth, WritersMosaic joined forces with the Edinburgh International Book Festival to celebrate the life and legacy of the great American writer and civil rights activist.