Went to the Poetry Café in Betterton Street Covent Garden this week to the African Writers Evening run by Nii Ayikwei Parkes
The Poetry Café is a special place. Before my first time there, I didn't expect much. Thought it would be a kind of dry and stuffy. It's only 10% dry and serious and 90% risk taking, gut wrenching, hilarious and entrancing. Ok and maybe 3% 'I want to cringe with embarrassment' (it's character building!).
On the ground floor is a small cafe and bar where people chat before the events start. Downstairs in the basement there are a few rows of seats and some sofas and a mike and this is where it all happens. You're right up close to some of the greatest voices in London (and the world). Imagine if John Lennon was doing a private gig and you were invited. That's what it's like.
African Writers Evening is a platform for established and emerging poets from Africa or with family or strong connections in Africa. I learnt what the word 'diaspora' meant. I like going to things where I leave a little less ignorant than I arrived. It's good to meet Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean and Nigerian writers, hear them speak and find real meaning and a connection with a continent that to me is normally far away (I don't mean only in miles).
Another good night is the Cellar on Saturdays hosted by Niall O’Sullivan - a funny and charming presenter (charming when he's not pissed off with the audience for not clapping enough). Mixture of established and aspiring, nuts and sane.
One night, I sketched some of the poets from memory...
Inua 'phaze' Ellams (ok it probly looks nothing like him)
you can hear him here:
http://www.myspace.com/phaze05
Labels: african poets, cafe, covent garden, inua ellams, london, mike, niall osullivan, nii ayikwei parkes, phaze, poetry, poets, risk, sketch, the cellar
