Poet in the Café
Nii Parkes
A native of Ghana, Nii Ayikwei Parkes
describes his craft as "writing the reality of pain in the language of
smiles,” and is delighted at the chance to share his work and experience
through the Poetry Cafe residency.
Nii is the current Farrago UK Poetry
Slam Champion, author of eyes of a boy, lips of a man (flipped
eye), veteran of several poetry festivals (including the Bristol Poetry
Festival and the Austin International Poetry Festival), editor of x
magazine, and contributor to several magazines and literary journals
including The New Writer, The Interpreter’s House, The
Accra Mail, The Map of Austin Poetry Journal,
Dreamcatcher, Sable, and Wasafiri. His work can also
be seen on the Lewisham Street Rhythms mural on Lewisham High Street,
London.
Always versatile and undeniably
influenced by jazz, Nii has performed with bands from Accra to Washington
DC and has recorded a CD of his spoken word entitled Incredible
Blues. Outside the UK, Nii is involved in setting up a Writers’ Fund
in Ghana to promote writing among the youth. He is currently working on
his first novel, First Burial, a stage show, A Kind of Blue
Trane, and a second collection of his poetry, M for Madrigal,
will be released in late 2003 by the tall lighthouse press in
London.
"...mesmerizing. He commanded the room with his
words..."
- Baltimore City Paper
"a talent to
watch. His writing is by turns sharp, reflective, evocative, and
transfixing."
- P. Kalu author of Black Star
Rising
You can hear Nii performing 'My History'
at http://www.niiparkes.com/
Nii Parkes comments:
This residency is particularly important to
me. Primarily because the Café is the first place I read poetry in the UK,
and, secondly, because it gives me a chance to represent the poets of my
generation: the hip-hop drunk misfits of the late twentieth century.
During my residency, I plan to attract new audiences to come and
experience poetry in a different way. I intend to work hand-in-hand with
the management of the café, and some external organisations, to merge
jazz, soul, history and conjecture to create what I hope will be exciting
events to attend and participate in. Please, please come and join
us!
Surgeries
Nii will
be in the café every Tuesday afternoon, and is willing to hold one-to-one
surgeries for any poets who would like him to read their work. Please
email Jessica York at poetrycafe@poetrysociety.org.uk
if you are interested in this service.
Events with Nii Parkes
Wednesday July 16
Nii Parkes
introduces Georgia A.Popoff & Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon
from the Austin International Poetry
festival in Texas.
In the Poetry Studio 7.30pm Tickets
£3/2.
Friday August 1 -The Kitchen comes to
the Cafe
Malika Booker's Poetry Kitchen visits the
cafe with Jacob Sam la Rose, Workshop 7pm, Show 8.30pm Tickets £5/4
Saturday August 9
-Antiquity
Poems inspired by the collections at the
Victoria and Albert Museum - Nii Parkes with guest poets including james
Byrne.
7.30pm Tickets £5/4
.
Friday August 22 Nocturne of
Phrase
Jazz based love poems with saxophone
accompaniment
including some open mike.
8.30pm Tickets £5/4
Wednesday September 17 William, Nikki,
Pablo and Stevie
Tribute evening to W. B. Yeats, Nikki
Giovanni, Pablo Neruda and Stevie Smith with guest poets and audience
participation. All poets who have inspired Nii.
8pm tickets £4/3
Thursday September 25 Spoken
Soul
Inspired by Soul music – 10 poems and 10
tracks – Nii and guests.
8.30pm Tickets £5/4
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