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Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf standing at a microphone, clicking her fingers.
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Somali Week: Trailblazing Women Poets

Fri 25 Oct 2024, 7.45pm

Two trailblazing Somali women writers, Yasmin Mohamed Kahin and Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf, confront pivotal questions and challenges through their poetry.

‘Does anyone survive to question the essence of being Somali?’

Poet, playwright and filmmaker Yasmin Mohamed Kahin, and star of the Somali poetry diaspora Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf, reflect on this question and more through poetry and writings, which they share alongside their English translators.

Visiting the UK for the first time, Yasmin Mohamed Kahin is a breakthrough author whose work is rooted in the social issues of her birthplace, exploring migration, mental health, and the marginalisation of women and young people.

This event premieres the first English translations of Kahin’s work by acclaimed writers Maxamed Xasan ‘Alto’ and Anna Selby.

Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf, who has lived in the UK for more than 25 years, is a poet known for her mastery of the prestigious gabay form, which is otherwise dominated by male writers.

She reads alongside her longtime friend and poet-translator Clare Pollard from their collection The Sea-Migrations, named the Sunday Times Poetry Book Of The Year.

This bilingual event is supported by Arts Council England as part of the Poetry Translation Centre’s 20th birthday activity, celebrating the longstanding partnership between the centre and Kayd Somali Arts & Culture.

Need to know

Age guidance
For ages 16+

Times & tickets

Dates, times and prices

Dates & times

25 Oct 2024, 7.45pm

Run time

1 hour and 30 minutes (approx)

All timings are approximate and subject to change

Standard entry

from £12.00*

* Excludes £3.50 booking fee.

Book as early as you can to ensure the best choice of tickets. Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.

Concessions

25%

Limited availability

About concessions

For your visit

This event is held at the Purcell Room Southbank Centre

The Purcell Room is located in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.