Lemn Sissay’s Poetry Rebels

Lemn Sissay's Poetry Rebels

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Lemn Sissay's Poetry Rebels: The Political Poets

The Political Poets

BBC Radio 4 - Lemn Sissay's Poetry Rebels, The Political Poets

Lemn Sissay discovers how spoken word poets made space for politics in their work.

Lemn Sissay finds out how spoken word poets made poetry political, with Attila the Stockbroker and Benjamin Zephaniah.

When poets started to perform their work live, they made space for voices outside the mainstream to make themselves heard. But when the unheard becomes heard, that’s a political act.

Lemn Sissay explores how poets in the 1970s performed alongside reggae groups and punk bands, telling the stories of the streets in language the streets understood.

Attila the Stockbroker remembers skirmishing with skinheads, while Benjamin Zephaniah explains why writing about racism was a matter of life and death.

Written and presented by Lemn Sissay
Sound design by Charlie Brandon-King
Produced by Richard Lea and Joe Hallam

A Bafflegab production for BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

How did performance poetry conquer the poetry world?

How did performance poetry conquer the poetry world? Lemn Sissay tells the incendiary story of how rebels stormed the poetry establishment and transformed poetry

How did performance poetry conquer the poetry world? Lemn Sissay tells the incendiary story of how rebels stormed the poetry establishment, and how they have transformed poetry on both stage and page.

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