![]() Up until now we've been stunned by the impact-full onset of Corona Virus/restrictions which unlike all, have had a serious negative impact on our campaign, then George Floyd and I can't Breath, and so many things suddenly make a lot more sense. It doesn't change who we are, and why we keep doing it. Until we see real change. In this light and by any means, on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, we've been sharing some of our glorious achievements and other special moments over the weeks, at times reflecting on our truth of the matter, coming to terms with our enemies and associated barriers to our sense of freedom. Moments like with Muneera Williams, who confidently predicted a Riot. ![]() (Above) Callum Wensley - Launch part 1 (Waterstones)2019 All poet community at Waterstones (part 2) 2020 Zed Regal at Redfest 2019 (Left) Show of solidarity - with Poets connecting at Redfest 2019 Side by side we invite the world to a a serious of interactions which will at times help rescue life or the very planet. Zed Regal has been doing his Facebook show, spreading infectious (sorry) poetic ideas and will soon be doing UJIMA radio. Princess Emmanuelle is still doing Poetry 4 Grenfell but now online. We're connected with Redfest 2020, due August 1st. And look out for Refugee Festival 2020.
As an online entity, UWC considers alternative narratives and perspectives. So many disbelieving the mainstream outlets (which is tragic), a bit like that ancient song, we are determined that we'll overcome, some day, as people now take some matters entirely into their own hands. We we're definitively raising our our profile before Lock-down, so the timing was disastrous but we hope these few links will help to feed your spirit.
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![]() And so, this 2020, we recently popped up at Space Sake's Well-being Fair, doing our stuff featuring avid members of the Team, Networking also on the agenda, which was well rewarding. At times, you must make the effort to go, to realise what's possible. ![]() Then came our 2nd Lyrically Justified 3 Book Launch @Waterstones - Bristol Galleries, which was superb, the audience, highly complimentary, which is further encouragement. Shouts to Trasi, Nell and Ben for being there to help realise this dream. People were engaged long after the showcase. "I'm still on a High," said Subitha Baghirathan (Poet below). And we do hope excellent recorded content soon comes your way. BW photos - TomShot Photography Flyer by Michael Maestrini ![]() From here, we collaborated with partners to deliver Speaking Up, (a Suicide Prevention event) which was most satisfying. Thankfully Bristol TV had it covered so we just need to agree on terms of use. Ideally it would be packaged as a resource. ![]() VITALITY (micro festival) is coming back around on the 25th April 2020, so watch out for our usual slot, which we hope will include local young people from lead-in workshops. The organisers may need volunteers, so find them on face book for more and updates. Then as part of the LEARNING FESTIVAL Festival, we'll present a Exhibition that uses poetic extracts to highlight the problems of Race, with featured Spoken Word Poets - 4th April at The Greenway Centre, Southmeade.. We know, it's all been Bristol, Bristol, apart from the Ipswich do, which went very well. Shout out to Valantina Huxley over there.
But now drum roll... as we announce, we're planning to move on and on, via an 7-8 Town and City Tour, which may need investment to achieve the full vision. All being well, this year We (4-5 contributor poets and guests) hope to bless Hull, Leeds, Manchester, Gloucester (Festival), Bath, Frome (Festival), Cardiff, and Hay & Wye (Festival). The very idea is not short of brilliant, if it comes off, and of course we'll update you asap... Finally, you may have noticed our Logo has been redressed, so let us know what you think? (Some people really care about this stuff and rightly so!), our door is always open, if we're in at the time that is. Thanks for reading, and we'll update ya later! ![]() The epic Lyrically Justified Volume 3 (LJV3) is brimming with thought provoking, inspirational and culturally diverse poetry. Highlighting near 70 contributors, published in mid-September 2019 it features the Last Poets and illustrations by patwa.co.uk. Offering a diverse range of insights this collection provides a means to empower both the individual and the community. “I honour your work...” Cllr Hibaq Jama As part of our campaign we offer contributors the chance to tell their stories at live events and have been busy appearing at a variety of events including; Bristol Old Vic via DAN, Waterstones (Margaret Atwood Celebration), Bradley Stoke Library (BHM) and Talking Tales (Literature Month Event). We also added to Bristol’s BHM Magazine, have featured on BBC Radio and contributing to the eradication of isms via exhibition. with coverage from B247. Big thank-yous to all who have engaged with and support us so far. Otherwise UWC is independent and we ask you to journey with us. LJV3 is now available to buy online. Be it the perfect travelling companion, Birthday, Xmas or Kwanza gift, we prescribe to the Nation. We have also promised 5% of proceeds to young readers and writers. LJV3 LAUNCH (25th Nov 2019) We are excited to announce that for the official launch of Lyrically Justified Volume 3 we return to Waterstones (Bristol Galleries) on November 25th 2019 and look forward to seeing you there. "Such a vibrant community...” Edouard Gallais (Waterstones Events Manager). ![]() As this production part of our journey comes to an end, reaching towards our campaign to launch and promote Lyrically Justified 3, it's been complimentary having enthusiastic interns journey with us, if only for a few weeks. "Having at Harbourside Festival Poetry Tent selling the 2nd volume of Lyrically Justified, and been reading it, it hit me that these people don’t fear expressing their own thoughts, experiences and ideas." The poetry talks about bias, racis, discrimination, love, and pride..." Sofia Casato UNEARTHED was new territory, where Kev the Poet poeticised via his blend of upbeat tunes and slick rhymes. Nell, Angharad & //Kabbo also performed, using movement and poetic storey telling, with Mizirie and Kalila adding to the mix. ![]() Yes indeed, we may be running late but we've been busy beavers preparing to unleash the 3rd anthology, with appearances contributors at Arnofini (Untold Stories), where we experienced profound and moving documentary Defiant Lives, with Rowan James and care provider poet Anndeloris Chacon. At Harbourside Festival (our 3rd year involved) Lawrence Hoo and Tanya Muneera represented, two of the most powerful and plentiful performers in the UK right now. ![]() Kaboodle ft Lyrically Justified 3 pre-launch@Redfest 2019.. Blessing the BS5 Community, we were proud to deliver yet another blast of superb talent, with Kev the Poet, Lawrence Hoo, Tanya Williams, Whizzdxm, Zed Regal, Jayron Dre Thomas, Callum Wensley, Mizirie, Kalila, Dante, George Francis, Nez, and Rob Mitchell, bringing unique styles and flavours, thoroughly informative as much as entertaining. All we seem to require at this stage is for you to show your support and love, which would be significant in maintaining our pro-activity. You can get more info and Pre-Order NOW! ![]() As we move... Blessed by the Last Poets. We were well proud and grateful to support the revolutionary Last Poets (Abiodun, back by public demand, at The Exchange recently, thanks to Lisa Mead, and with Lawrence Hoo, Tanya Muneera Williams and Mikael Techane featuring. LP made the space theirs, delivering an immaculate performance, they and all support were altogether mesmerising, and we sure hope to do that again sometime. Meanwhile they have offered our poetry platform some exclusive words of acknowledgement which of course you’ll have to wait for… Otherwise for a dose of their absolute brilliance check out their latest music. Bristol’s Got Soul ![]() We’d like to thank everyone involved in this night of top-notch entertainment, we a slant toward humour and a soulful connection using rhythm and call and response crowd participation. Thanks to Bristol Music Trust and others we made Colston Hall our own with an authentic taste of Bristol’s finest including Zed Regal, Emma Ako, Callum Wensley and Bristol’s current queen of the poetry scene Vanessa Kisuule. Indeed it appears Colston Hall are reaching out and the photo proof speaks for itself. “Dear Bristol Got Soul Artists,… Thank you all for such for such an extraordinary event - the night was an incredible success.” Edson Burton - Organiser. ![]() Vitality & Beyond We appeared at Vitality Micro Festival again 4th May precisely, the community well-being celebration and presented aspiring, local performers, who we hope will be available to experience in due course. And to add we worked with the organisers who invested in local poetry workshops at Docklands & Adventure Playground to help young people grow skills to write and express creative words. “Thanks for a vibrant contribution…” Zaheer Mamon – Vitality Team Leader ![]() Lyrically Justified 3 on the Horizon We’ve had the usual delays but Lyrically Justified 3 (with illustrations) is still in the making and we hope to launch soon enough, and may well need your support (Details TBC). Key contributors will be announced shortly. We’ve set a standard of which we aim to supersede. Pre-order here. Thanks and credit to //Kabbo Ferdinand, Nell Lewis, ShotAway & Nick Clague, for photo use. We owe you... And thanks to Rebecca Kosick for LP workshop. Oh and please leave a comment about our activities - every one counts - Thank you
![]() Signature collaborative event, Interpretive Art & Photography have been cooked up so far as we contemplate a busy year, hopefully enough to hit some main targets... ![]() Diversity spoke for itself as we enter into 2019 with an Arts & Community Engagement event called Hamilton House Vibes, through a welcome partnership between UWC, DMAC UK, and supported/sponsored by Hamilton House and Forward Space. Javis had been taking old pro-photos (as we await his exhibition), also at Hamilton House (HH), in March. As usual we must mention some of the line up, and once again we had Kalila and Sinairie, who also represented as part of promoting new Old Vic play The Princess & the Hustler, Vanessa Melody (launching her solo writing project), Nell Lewis, and Angharad Iris. Brook, and Omer and co supplied sweet and unique sounds, Annchal (based at HH) danced her heart out, re-energizing the place, and we were blessed by Capoeira Angola, with guests on the open Mic - John Ralls - and (Mayor's Race Producer) Rob Mitchel. ![]() Kalila & Sinairie prepare to do their thing Priness & the Hustler event - Bristol Old Vic - March 2019. Yet more Arts based collaborative spirit...We'd also planted some seeds back in 2018 via a collaboration with UWE (Bower Ashton Campus) which we seemed to work well and we hope will reap accordingly, in order to help a good cause - looking forward to the Online Auction. Some of us also participated in an intriguing PHOTOGRAPHY project also based at Hamilton House (Bristol), for an exhibition due to start in the Gallery Space from 14th March and last two weeks only. This guy uses some old but not quite obsolete techniques to produce some authentic work. Javis also offers a free photo for volunteers.
![]() Talking past/present/future, based on the inevitable and in the name of development we're re-establishing ourselves at urbanwordcollective.co.uk, where you can now exclusively buy Lyrically Justified 1 & 2. We'll also provide various word related services, building upwards, forming new relationships with professional media producers, BOV, the police (proposing project work with young people at risk), The Radical Herbal Gathering, UWE, PEAK entertainment, The Disability Forum, Bahati Books, Kamitan Arts, Paper Arts, and others, which will help elevate UWC to the next level. Our end of year report might say "Well done, considering the barriers faced, but the learning can be crucial." The lyricallyjustified.co.uk site remains active but focused on the how, who, where and when in relation to the anthologies. Mainly due to persistence and tenacity we thank goodness we're finishing the year on the up, with continual prospects to help develop both established and emerging writers, and a real possibility of becoming a publisher. So lucrative looking offers and proposals are welcome. We're out to prove that with networking, interconnectivity and mutual support we can become another household brand but with credibility and authentic clout. Other BIG NEWS involves the consideration of a 3rd Lyrically Justified anthology, and with lessons we remain ambitious as we head to a future which should see us working with old and new allies. The wonderful and conscientious Michele Curtis will feature with illustrations, enriching the product. And we now provide poetry and other creative writing workshops. Once again we thank all supporters who have helped to bring us here, and the not so helpful who have shown us light. |
MotivatedAs we journey we also co-exist as Artivists, Poets, and writers capable of affecting insistent and at times counter productive narratives. Archives
February 2020
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