Join Lyra – Bristol Poetry Festival 2026 for a powerful closing event celebrating poetry, music and storytelling from artists of African heritage.
Presented in partnership with Ujima Radio, and in association with Poetry Africa, this dynamic evening brings together established, emerging, national and local poets and spoken word artists for a vibrant showcase reflecting the festival’s theme “Wonder & Wanderers.”
The programme features performances from award-winning poet Theresa Lola, whose collection Ceremony for the Nameless explores identity, memory and the meaning of names, and Joladé Olusanya, whose work Jabez Incarnate reflects on faith, migration and inheritance through a Nigerian-British lens.
Audiences will also experience performances from Bristol-based artists including Muneera Pilgrim, Blackout Ja and Ripton Lindsay, alongside a virtual reading in partnership with Poetry Africa in Durban, connecting Bristol to a global network of poetic voices.
Hosted by Corrd The Seeker, the event also includes a short video poem from Zewande Bk. Bhengu, adding an international dimension to this closing celebration.
Blending poetry, music and spoken word, this event offers a rich exploration of heritage, belonging and diasporic experience, bringing the festival to a powerful and resonant close.
Event Details:
Start Time: 6:00pm
Finish Time: 7:30pm
Ticket Prices:
£5 / £3 / FREE
All Lyra Festival venues are wheelchair accessible
Age Guidance:
16+ (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult on a 1:1 basis)
More Bristol Listings MORE
State of the Nation: An Evening with Akala
Akala’s State of the Nation arrives at Bristol Beacon for an evening that blends historical depth with contemporary…
Lyra Festival 2026: Crafting Your Stories with Musa Okwonga
Join Lyra – Bristol Poetry Festival 2026 for an inspiring creative writing workshop led by award-winning author and…
Lyra Festival 2026: Inua Ellams – Search Party
Join Lyra – Bristol Poetry Festival 2026 for a unique and immersive poetry experience with award-winning poet and…
Lyra Festival 2026: Caribbean Poetry Liming
Join Lyra Festival, Renaissance One and Bristol Old Vic, in association with St. Pauls Carnival and Bloomsbury, for…
Lyra Festival 2026: Roots, Resonance and African Heritage
Join Lyra – Bristol Poetry Festival 2026 for a powerful closing event celebrating poetry, music and storytelling from…
Beverley Knight – Born To Perform Tour
Beverley Knight takes to the stage at Bristol Beacon for a night of uplifting, joyful and soul-stirring music…
Afriquoi (Live) + Chiedza
Join London-based afro-electronic collective Afriquoi for a high-energy live performance at Strange Brew, alongside Bristol DJ Chiedza, for…
The History of Soul
People get ready, the ultimate soul celebration is back! After taking a break from touring last year,…