London Today II

One of the most significant characteristics of today’s western societies, of the “New Europe”, is its post-colonial, pluri-ethnic, trans-cultural condition. With London today we focus on one of Europe’s capitals, bringing together artists (performance poets, storytellers, rappers, visual artists) from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, all living and working in London. 

“In one moment of perfect madness
I scaled heights this feeble body could never hope to reach/
Stroked the scarred chest of a sadness
My hopes and fears have often preached/
Answered questions that my whole life
I have failed to even seek
....

In one moment of perfect madness
I’ve grasped the logic of chaos through the window of a hangman’s noose/
Abstained from passion and pleasure
Whilst sipping on the finest apple juice/
And in that one perfectly tuned moment
I knew contradiction to be the only truth.”

Fatimah Kelleher, from ‘Perfect Madness’

At the City of Women we will see different aspects of her work. In a musically accompanied poetry performance she will read both older and recent poems, giving evidence of the variety of styles she masters. To conclude the reading —and to illustrate London’s current spoken word scene — Fatimah will introduce and screen a video-recording of one of the Urban Griots Open Mike Sessions. Last August Kelleher returned from a nine month working visit to Sudan. City of Women took the opportunity to ask her to talk about her experiences in introducing English language and literature to non-native speakers, and teaching the art of oral poetry. She will also read some of the poems she wrote during her stay in Africa.

Program Fatimah Kelleher

Wednesday, 10. October at 18.00, Cankarjev dom, E 8/9: illustrated lecture
Thursday, 11. October at 21:00, Menza pri koritu - Metelkova Mesto: Video Screening: Urban Griots
Friday, 12. October at 23:00, Menza pri koritu - Metelkova Mesto: poetry performance accompanied with live music

with the support of The British Council