Manchester Literature Festival’s Cabaret for Freedom returns for Black History Month with an evening of poetry, music and spoken word honouring the Black women whose activism helped shape communities in Britain.
This year’s event pays tribute to figures including Olive Morris, Louise Da-Cocodia and Kath Locke, celebrating women whose work across housing justice, health, education, race equality and community organising created lasting change.
At the heart of the evening is new poetry from acclaimed British poet Malika Booker, alongside Shirley May and poets from Manchester’s Young Identity collective.
Booker, who is of Guyanese and Grenadian heritage, is one of the leading voices in contemporary Black British poetry. Her collection Pepper Seed was shortlisted for major literary prizes, and she is the co-founder of Malika’s Poetry Kitchen, an influential writers’ collective that has supported generations of poets.
She was awarded the Cholmondeley Award for her contribution to poetry and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Manchester poet Shirley May also appears, performing alongside bassist and producer Clive Hunte, with whom she created the acclaimed poetry-and-music album Rainfall.
The programme also features singer-songwriter Mali Hayes and three poets from Young Identity: Janoma Omena, Setira Reid and Faheezal Taiwo.
Their work explores subjects including migration, identity, feminism, social justice, love and the experiences of young Black and mixed-heritage people in Britain today.
Young Identity is a Manchester-based arts organisation dedicated to developing and championing young writers through poetry, literature and performance.
By combining poetry, music and the stories of historic Black women activists, Cabaret for Freedom creates a powerful link between Black history and contemporary creative expression.
Cabaret for Freedom takes place at St John’s Church in Old Trafford on Saturday 17th October 2026 at 7:30pm.
Tickets are £10, with £8 concessions.
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