Brent & Harrow (North-West)

For the North-west region of SPINE Lite activities, Brent and Harrow are hosting a series of private and public events facilitated by their Poets in Residence and local artists.

Below are the contact details for the lead libraries and public events. All events are free to attend and welcome children and their families to attend.

Brent

Website: see what’s on | X: @BrentLibraries | Facebook: @lovebrentlibraries

Events

  • Unleash the Rhythm within: Rhythm & Poetry (RAP) Workshop with Alim Kamara

Switching it up from djeli to rapper, Alim Kamara is joined by poetry pioneer and lyricist Rufus Mufasa, sharing tracks/ acapelling, in English, Krio and Welsh.

Alim switches from folktales to rap in this session with hip hop MC, poetry pioneer Rufus Mufasa as they exchange tracks, acapella and banter about their routes into hip-hop. Rufus is the Future Generations first poet in residence, she draws on three languages, runs participatory projects and mentors beat poets in Finland.

Mark your calendars for three action-packed days of exploration and learning. Each session promises a unique opportunity for children aged 8 to 11 to delve into the captivating world of RAP. Don’t miss this chance to be a part of something extraordinary!

Get ready to be inspired by the renowned international artist and founder of Storie Storie, Alim Kamara! With a passion for storytelling through rhythm, Alim brings a wealth of experience to guide our young talents on an incredible journey of self-discovery and expression.

Sun 3 Apr – 11.30-13.30
Sun 10 Apr – 11.30-13.30
Wed 13 Apr – 11.30-13.30
Location: Kingsbury Library, Kingsbury Rd, London NW9 9HE

poet in Residence

Over the past 20 years, the founder of Storie Storie Alim has taught workshops, run assemblies, delivered presentations, and performed at hundreds of schools across London, the UK and globally – including India, Sierra Leone, Dubai, USA, Peru, Amsterdam, Mexico, Kenya, and Canada. At least 50,000 boys and girls have witnessed and been impacted by Alim’s creative stories. His high-energy delivery and thought-provoking poems and fables have taught children and young people the importance of self-esteem, creative expression, identity, culture and history.

However Alim’s impacts goes beyond the classroom. Working with prestigious institutions such as Ministry of Defence, Channel 4, and Amnesty International, he uses the old age craft of the spoken word to empower leaders and promote inclusive societies.

Website | Instagram: @alimkamara | X: @alimKamara

Harrow

Website: Harrow Council

Events

Spellcasters Workshop

Come and explore poetry and creativity at our Spellcasters Workshop for ages 8-11 with poet Rachel Lewis. We’ll be exploring the power of words and imagination, writing spells and creating a super-poem based on magical creatures!

Staged as part of the ‘Magic and Imagination’ SPINE Festival in Harrow. Produced by spoken word trailblazers Apple & Snakes, with funding from Arts Council England.

Sat 23 Mar, 11am-1pm
Greenhill Library, Perceval Square, Harrow, HA1 1GX.

Poet in Residence

Rachel Lewis is a poet and creative facilitator. Her first pamphlet, ‘Three degrees of separation’, was published in 2019 and won the Wordsmith Pamphlet Prize.

She is a recipient of the Jewish Book Week Emerging Writers Award, a member of the Barbican Young Poets Collective and co-founder of Disabled Joy: the Writing Happiness Project.

She was previously an Artist in Residence at SPINE Festival in 2023. She can be found at @rachel_lewis_poet on Instagram and X.