Word by Word Presents: Re-rooting through Poetry with Belinda Zhawi

In the fourth workshop of the Word by Word Presents series, join Belinda Zhawi for a workshop reflecting on poetry as a way for us to tune in, reconnect with our surroundings and listen a little deeper.

This past year has forced many of us into spaces of listening to ourselves and those around us more than before. There are numerous ways to listen when we engage with our surroundings and poems. We create a space for listening when we read and hear poems; they have the ability to hold us still in a moment and really consider what just happened. This is also true for how our relationship with this cosmos can be.

In this workshop there will be an opportunity to deliberately engage with meditative listening - to soundscape, music and other audio to stimulate ideas for first drafts. We will look at poems that use rhythm, speech, and sound to explore the nature around and within us.Poets will include Sonia Sanchez, Yusef Komunyakaa, Thylias Moss and more.

Participants will be given prompts created to allow creativity through guided flow as opposed to strict constraint. Although participants will be free to explore themes of their choice the workshop will provide structure for this exploration.

This workshop is open to anyone who would like to have a go (you must be aged 18 or over). No prior experience necessary.

**People of colour, LGBTQ+ folk and other marginalised voices to the fore.**

All workshop participants will also be invited to submit any work they have written, whether during the workshop or in their own time, to our Zine: Issue 2, which will launch in July 2022 at the end of the project.

BELINDA ZHAWI

Belinda Zhawi was born in Zimbabwe and moved to London aged 12. She studied at Westminster and Goldsmiths and went on to be a 2015/16 London Laureate and the 2016/17 Institute of Contemporary Arts Associate Poet. She’s the co-founder of community and performance platform BORN::FREE, which has been going strong for over five years, and this year she’s the Serpentine Gallery Schools Artist-in-Residence. In addition, Zhawi recently published the poetry pamphlet Small Inheritances (Ignitionpress, 2018) and is currently exploring new avenues in London’s jazz and beatmaking scene.

Her work examines, among other things, the impact of colonialism across Africa, her memories and ideas of Zimbabwe, the immigrant experience in Britain and the power of the Shona woman to be present and to make space for others to be represented, too.

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Event details

Tickets are pay as you feel (suggested £5 donation)

If you're able, please bring a pen and notebook.

This workshop will include a break.

This workshop will take place at Delina Kitchen, a lovely Ethiopian restaurant/event space. A few sharing platters of food* will be offered at the workshop.

*If you have any food allergies that you would like us to be aware of, please let us know ASAP via wordbywordcollective@gmail.com

Full details to be sent nearer the time. Any queries, please contact wordbywordcollective [at] gmail [dot] com

Covid Health & Safety Measures

When attending the workshop, please wear your mask unless exempt for health reasons. Hand sanitizer will be available. Further details will be sent out following registration.

Privacy Notice

Following the workshop you will be sent a feedback form and equality survey, which we would be grateful if you could complete as it helps us understand our reach and to make sure that our workshops are as welcoming as possible and. Please click the following link to view our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1swctdbGF8D4yBoJw5UFE7ECQKlxgiszZQTpd4vh6mjw/edit?usp=sharing

In the event of Cancellation

Please note, should the workshop be unable to go ahead in person (e.g. due to a host or members of staff self-isolating), the workshop will be moved to Zoom and links will be sent out to all ticket holders to join.