Lemin Sissay to recite poem for AU anniversary

Poetry will have a place at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity, the precursor to today’s African Union. Award-winning Ethiopian-British performance poet and playwright Lemn Sissay is in town and he will be performing at different venues in Addis Ababa for the for the celebration of the Golden Jubilee.
The first event will take place on Wednesday, 22 May at the National Theater, where the poet will be performing selections from his internationally acclaimed works. Beweketu Seyoum and Ephrem Seyoum will be supporting him for the event.
Sissay will also be reading at the Addis Ababa University’s IES on May 23rd 6-8 PM and will lead workshops at the National Library/ Archives on May 24th 2-4 PM.
Sissay’s compelling poems and plays are anchored in his experiences growing up as a child in the care of the state and the only black person in his community in suburban Lancashire, England. At once deeply personal and profoundly universal, his works address social, cultural and political issues through both the heart and head, striking to the core of common humanity, it was said.
As it is stated in his authorized biography, Sissay is author of five books of poetry spanning twenty five years. He reads on stages throughout the world. He is an honorary Doctor of Letters and was awarded the 2010 travelling award scholarship from the Society of Authors. His play Something Dark directed John McGrath (artistic director of National Theatre Wales) is winner of a RIMA award and has been performed throughout the world. BBC made a television documentary about his life – Internal Flight. In 2010 he was made a MBE by the queen of England for services to literature. Lemn is Patron of The Letterbox Club and The Reader Organisation. He is education ambassador for Arvon Foundation and Trustee of World Book Night.

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