Poetry London: Diversity as Inspiration for Literature and Literature for Change
By Deborah Akeredolu
Edited by Annabel Wearring-Smith
“Our understanding of change is that it is argumentative and uninhibited, and Poetry London will do all it can to encourage that kind of Poetry and be home to it.”
– André Naffis-Sahely Editor for Poetry London
The journal we have chosen for this month’s Journal of the Month is Poetry London. This magazine gives a platform to underrepresented writers to share their stories through literature, fostering transformative artistic engagement, and engaging with the phenomena of the Arts inspiring great change.
The magazine is born from 1980s Punk and DIY roots and today carries the same pioneering spirit, publishing innovations from reimagined classics to poems that redefine the poetic form. The magazine’s journey started with Leon Cych, Moniza Alvi and Pascale Petit whom Italian Iranian, head editor, André Naffis-Sahley described as “poets looking to move outside their own circles and make contact with others”. Authenticity and integrity have seen that drive to move outside boundaries realised in the collection of backgrounds amongst the modern-day team ranging across British, Jamaican, South African, Italian and Iranian – to note a few. The hard work and collective differences have made Poetry London one of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organizations. This has ultimately allowed for the publishing house to help launch the careers of the leading lights of contemporary UK poetry amongst the likes of Liz Berry, Niall Campbell, Richard Scott and Romalyn Ante.
As a literary magazine, Poetry London engages in the contemporary dialogue on global literature. Poetry London is a part of the movement challenging the Eurocentric norms of the current literary landscape by highlighting diverse cultures and narratives, staying consistent with its founders’ radical and rebellious drive.
As a publishing house Poetry London uses the diversity of London as a springboard to amplify the diverse worlds of writers. Their ethos centres around giving voice to radically and ethnically marginalised writers in order to inspire change. Every avenue, down to their magazine, reiterates Sahely’s understanding that poetry that inspires change is what the city of London “needs” and “wants”. The ingenious system they have created uses inspiration from London in order to incite inspiration for greater literary change. This system can only be unique to a London print magazine which makes sure to intentionally satisfy conditions for change. Poetry London establishes that the best poetry “often acts as a catalyst for change” and that the best poetry can be defined by poetry of “the broadest variety of styles and subjects”.
The dense culmination of varying stories, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds within London, and the fever for diverse culture within the contemporary literary scene, is integrated into what could be considered as the magazine’s core goal: “to provide an alternative to the mainstream establishment by featuring writers from backgrounds often ignored and sidelined”.
In a condensed example of their broader ethos, their recent Autumn issue features work from Jekwu Anyaegbuna who was writing inspired by his Nigerian roots, and a translation of Imru al-Qays’s The Hanging Poem. Their newest issue upholds the magazine’s amplification method by uplifting voices from Classical Arabia to Nigeria, and then distributing these stories from a place globally recognised as one of the most influential and diverse cities in the world: London. The issue also features conversations with Harris Otabasis and Nikolas Koutsodontis, the editors of the Anthology of Greek Queer Poetry. As with all their work, Poetry London’s Autumn issue serves as an exemplar of the level of diversity they hope to uphold and the scale of change they hope to inspire.
Another example of their commitment to showcasing and embracing diversity is found directly on their website in André Naffis-Sahely’s editorial I will be survived by myself / and the many times that I still have to die. This editorial is a clever outside reflection on the experience of being a Black British creative in Europe and the impact that can have even after death. The editorial reflects on the large-scale change that uplifted marginalised voices can inspire – the very same goal the journal holds – by remarking on the reason why that change is necessary. In identifying that the illusory gap between true connection is defined by difference, Sahely reveals that it is precisely these differences that hold the potential to overcome that gap and lead to genuine connection.
Sahely reveals that later this year Poetry London will be releasing a new publishing imprint, Poetry London Editions. This will include “pamphlets and book-length collections by emerging talents and established authors, honouring that magazine’s legacy of creating a space where leading voices showcase their most experimental work alongside less established writers”. Sahely states that the print will be “committed to empowering, and uplifting, radically and ethically marginalised writers…introducing our audiences to poetry of the highest level that also addresses the most pressing issues”. I, for one, cannot wait to see the levels of change this will inspire.
In addition to the magazines championing for change, their focus on the physicality of print journals is in line with our goal here at The Letters Page where we recognise the importance of a physical memento of story. Sahely agrees as echoed in the sentiment “it is important to allow poets to see their work right there”. Sahely concludes that “Print is everything” and that “it is our hope that PL [Poetry London] will always remain a part of London’s print culture”.
The work Poetry London does outside of their journal is further evidence of their commitment. The house holds apprenticeships and annual reading launches amongst many other events.
Poetry London shoulders the responsibility of being a part of London’s print magazine setting, acting as a conduit for diversity to work in the world of poetry and, consequently, in the larger world of literature.
Poetry London is a world condensed and documented into print magazine. A world we would like to share with you. Subscribe to a vibrant, punk-inspired, human driven world by clicking here.
Every writer we publish is gifted their own yearlong subscription to one of our favourite literary journals. So, if you are interested in magazines such as Poetry London, send us your letters; we cannot wait to read them!
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