Lyrical Mehfil

Atef Alshaer is a Reader in Arabic Studies at the University of Westminster. He grew up in Gaza, and was educated at Birzeit University in Palestine, and SOAS (University of London), where he obtained his PhD and taught for several years. He is the author of several publications in the fields of literature, language and politics, including Poetry and Politics in the Modern Arab World, Love and Poetry in the Middle East, and A Map of Absence: An Anthology of Palestinian Writing on the Nakba. He has also published several poems, and translations from Arabic poetry into English, including a collection of poetry by the Palestinian Poet Najwan Darwish.

Dr Afra Atiq is an Emirati poet, scholar, and teaching artist. She has spent the last 10 years at the intersection of education and culture. She completed her PhD in Creative Industries at UAE University. She also earned a Master’s Degree in international relations and diplomacy. Over the years, she has mentored, and coached, students and writers. Her artistic work explores a broad range of topics which include heritage, culture, and legacy. Dr Afra has been awarded for her poetry and has been featured on stages across the world. She writes and performs in a blend of English, Arabic and French.

Carlos Andrés Gómez is a Colombian American poet from New York City. A star of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and the Spike Lee movie Inside Man with Denzel Washington, Carlos partnered with John Legend on Senior Orientation, a program to counteract bullying and champion inclusive masculinities. He is the International Book Award-winning author of several books, including the poetry collection Fractures and the memoir Man Up: Reimagining Modern Manhood. 

John Siddique is the author of Signposts of The Spiritual Journey, a book on accessing greater authenticity and meaning in our lives and ‘So’ (Collected New Poems 2011-21) and seven other books. His poetry collection Don’t Wear It on Your Head is a perennial favourite with younger readers.

His work has been featured in Time, Women and Home, The Tablet, Granta, the Guardian, Poetry Review, the Rialto and on BBC Radio 3 and 4. Besides his books and writing life, John is a hugely popular meditation teacher. He is the creator of two online courses, ‘Self-Acceptance Through Authenticity’ and ‘Magical Moments’, and his online meditations have had over two million downloads.

Nasira Zuberi is a distinguished Karachi-based poet, journalist, and media personality, boasting over two decades of experience in both print and electronic journalism. Armed with a degree in Economics from the University of Punjab, she embarked on her career as a reporter for Pakistan’s pioneering business daily, Business Recorder. Over the years, she has established herself as a prominent voice in economic and political journalism, contributing to leading Pakistani channels such as PTV World, Geo TV, Aaj TV, and News One. Nasira is also an accomplished Urdu poet, with notable works including Shagoon (1990s), Kaanch Ka Chiragh (2012), and Teesra Qadam (2017). She is currently working on her fourth book.

Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa is a British born Barbadian raised choreo-poet and PhD student at the University of Leeds in Cultural Studies. Her interdisciplinary art, braids dance and poetry on the page and stage. Safiya is an Obsidian Foundation fellow and an Apples & Snakes/ Jerwood Arts Poetry in Performance recipient. Her work has appeared in a variety of journals including Poetry London, Poetry Review and Wasafiri. She is also a national and international spoken word champion and came third place in The London Magazine Poetry Prize (2022). Her debut poetry collection Cane, Corn & Gully (Out-Spoken Press) arrived in November 2022. Cane, Corn & Gully has been shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize and Barbados’ Gine On People’s Choice Book of The Year Award.

Jo Bell is a poet and writer based in Macclesfield. Formerly a professional archaeologist, she is the author of two poetry collections and co-author of How To Be A Poet, has been frequently featured on BBC radio, and was director of National Poetry Day in the UK.