Poetry serves as a potent vehicle for social change and resistance across the globe. Poets, through their evocative verses, have long been catalysts for challenging oppressive systems, amplifying marginalized voices, and advocating for human rights.
Throughout this series, we will delve into the diverse landscapes of poetry activism, shedding light on the pivotal role poets play in shaping narratives and mobilizing communities. This art form is often used to challenge oppression and highlight underrepresented voices. From Russia to Jamaica, poetic movements have sparked revolutions and inspired resilience.
Here is an ongoing series of articles and interviews about poetry, poets, and poetry translation:
Stories about Poetry and activism
Poetry as therapy: Hong Kong’s domestic workers muse about love and sacrifice
"Ingat", meaning “take care” in Tagalog, is a book featuring the work of dozens of domestic workers telling stories about family, hardship, love and sacrifice.
Jamaica-born Jason Allen-Paisant is the latest Caribbean poet to win the esteemed T.S. Eliot Prize
"A historic night for Caribbean poetry": His win makes it the third time in five years that a poet with Caribbean roots has won the prestigious prize.
Legendary singer Sherali Jo’rayev encapsulated Uzbekistan’s traditional music and poetry
His legacy endures, a reminder of the enduring spirit of artistic expression and the importance of protecting the freedom to create and perform.
Can poetry in translation reimagine a free Belarusian–Ukrainian bridge?
Belarus is a victim of and a tool for Russia in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Can poetry and translation establish a fragile bridge between Ukraine and free Belarusians?
‘Central Asian literature exists regionally only in Russian': Interview with Russophone Uyghur writer Ramil Niyazov-Adyldzhyan
While the majority of Uyghur people live in China, a large Uyghur diaspora lives in Central Asia, including in Kazakhstan, where they are freer to express themselves.
Russia arrests anti-war poet, claims terrorism charges for a theatre play
This is the first case of detention for a play in today's Russia. Prison sentences on charges for "publicly justifying terrorism" involve five to seven years in prison.
Anthony Joseph is the second Trinidadian in three years to win the T.S. Eliot prize for poetry
The judges of the prestigious prize called Joseph's collection "luminous," adding that it "celebrates humanity in all its contradictions and breathes new life into this enduring form."
Celebrating the Kenyan poet, Grandmaster Masese who preserved the Abagusii culture through poetry and song
Grandmaster Masese's eponymous album released in December 2021 on Digital, CD, and Vinyl, is the first LP album of Obokano music to be produced since 1972.
Will poetry be enough to get Czechs to embrace anti COVID-19 vaccination?
The Czech government has launched a new communication campaign aimed at overcoming the population's fear or suspicion of vaccination.