Black and Asian poets read at the Scottish Poetry Library

Fair fa’ the nation’s favourite dish

fulfilling everybody’s wish,
great chieftain, O so very Scottish,
    the spice of life;
ye came and conquered the English,
    curing the strife.

 

‘Address Tae Chicken Tikka Masala’, Irfan Merchant

With less than a year until the referendum on the question of Scottish independence, the country is facing up to a number of questions about its future. Regardless of whether Scotland embraces or rejects independence, the process has inspired debate about how Scotland will look in the future – politically, economically, and socially.

 

On Thursday 24 October, 6.30pm, the Scottish Poetry Library is holding an event called Out of Bounds. Four black and Asian poets based in Scotland will take part in the evening, reading poems about their experience of living here. The poets are Vahni Capildeo, Bashabi Fraser, Irfan Merchant and Tawona Sithole. Our guests have all contributed to a new anthology, Out of Bounds (Bloodaxe Books), which was edited by Jackie Kay. The collection is an inventive reworking of the map of Britain as viewed by its black and Asian poets.

I’m writing to you to ask if there is any way in which you can help to spread the message about this event. A mention on Twitter or Facebook would be great; something in a newsletter or email sent round members, even better.

Full details about the Out of Bounds event can be found on the Scottish Poetry Library website: http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/connect/events/out-bounds

 

Please contact:

Colin Waters

Communications Manager

Scottish Poetry Library

5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DT

t: 0131 557 2876

 

w: www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

blog, podcasts & events: www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/connect

learning resources: www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/learn

on twitter: @byleaveswelive | on facebook

 

Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10-5; Thursday 10-7; Saturday 10-4; closed Monday, Sunday

 

Our services are free – please consider supporting our work with a donation or by becoming a Friend of the Library. Or treat yourself in our online shop.

 

The STUC Black Workers Conference

The STUC conference tackled many topics around austerity, community and employment.

Scots Asians for Independence for YES were joined by Humza Yousaf, Councillor Jahanghir Hanif , Mr Abdul Majid , Suki Sanga and Nighet Riaz.

Scots Asians for YES vs Labour’s Diversity debate

This Friday, is what we hope is the first of many such debates and discussions around the Independence Referendum with our Better Together Counterparts.

We had the passionate and charismatic Tasmina Sheikh and Aamer Anwar representing us on Yes Scotland and again very passionate defenders of the Union for Better Together were Talat Yaqoob and Shiraz Ahmed.

It was an interesting evening and enjoyed by all who attended.

Scots Asians For YES launch

Its been a very busy period for Scots Asians for Independence for YES, and about to get a whole lot busier, with lots of events planned over the next year.

The Launch 22 September 2013

We were joined by our prestigious guests, Humza Yousaf, Scottish Government Minister for External Affairs and International Development, Sohail Haq from Labour for Independence,

Gordon McIntyre Kemp from Business for Scotland, Suki Sangha from Radical Independence and Councillor Yen Jin.

A huge thanks to Tasmina Ahmed Sheikh for chairing the event.