Commonwealth Poetry Podcast

Gyles Brandreth & Aphra Brandreth
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Commonwealth Poetry Podcast

Poetry from around the world! A fortnightly celebration of Poetry and The Commonwealth - where award winning podcaster Gyles Brandreth and his daughter Aphra visit each of the 56 countries of the Commonwealth, meeting poets, performers and people who love poetry and discovering new poems each episode.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Remembrance Sunday Special Episode

    In this episode we listen back to Gyles and Aphra Brandreth’s interview with HRH The Duke of Kent, former President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and Royal biographer Hugo Vickers. Sharing a bonus poem read by Gyles, this is a special episode re-released for Remembrance Sunday.

    41 min

  2. 27 OCT

    ‘The Story of an African Child’, discovering Sierra Leone with Vicky the Poet

    In this fortnight’s episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet teenage poet and activist Victoria Kanu. Better known as Vicky the Poet, she is a household name in Sierra Leone and a national icon who has used her talent to transform and impact lives. She is now a major voice for women and girls within the country and beyond. Vicky started writing poetry from the age of 5, but it was a poem that she wrote following the mudslides in 2017 that destroyed hundreds of buildings in the capital, killing ...

    34 min

  3. 13 OCT

    Next stop Samoa with Audrey Brown-Pereira

    In this fortnight’s episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth take a virtual trip to Samoa where the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will be held later this month. They’re joined by Audrey Brown-Pereira a Pasifika poet of Cook Islands Maori and Samoan descent, she now lives with her family in Samoa and works for an environmental organisation that serves the Pacific region. Audrey, known for her innovative approach to poetry and her playful use of text on the page, offers unique ins...

    38 min

  4. 28 SEPT

    Next Stop: Brunei Darussalam

    In this fortnight’s episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet with poet, writer, and actor Hariz Fadhilah. Hariz explores themes of love, nature, culture, youth empowerment, and mental health in his poetry, writing in both English and Malay—sometimes blending the two. From an insightful discussion of Syair Awang Semaun, an ancient Bruneian epic, to a poem offering commentary on the capital city, Bandar, this episode invites listeners to delve deeper into Bruneian culture and its rich poetic tra...

    40 min

  5. 15 SEPT

    Exploring South Africa with Nkateko Masinga

    In this fortnight’s episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Nkateko Masinga, an award-winning South African writer and performance poet. Together they explore the influences from her early childhood and how she has interwoven her work and study of medicine with her poetry. She is intrigued by the stories of individuals who exist at the margins of society and considers herself a 'dangerous woman'. Discussing her current work which explores the complex and often tumultuous relationships that da...

    50 min

  6. 1 SEPT

    Exploring Grenada Through Poetry with Amy J.W. Jones

    In this fortnight's episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth embark on a literary journey to Grenada, the "Island of Spice," with acclaimed Grenadian writer Amy J.W. Jones. Join us as Amy shares her early love for poetry, inspired by her father's passion, and discusses the social issues that have shaped her work. Sharing poems from her collections, Beyond Fables: Poetry, and A-Z Odyssey. Poems this episode include: Black Woman by Amy J.W. Jones; After Today by Amy J.W. Jones; and Because the dawn b...

    40 min

  7. 4 AUG

    Next stop Mauritius with Commonwealth Short Story Prize winner Reena Usha Rungoo

    In this fortnight’s episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Mauritian-American writer Reena Usha Rungoo. Her short story, Dite, recently won the Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Africa. A writer, scholar, teacher, speaker, and mother. She is an assistant professor of literature at Harvard University. Exploring poetry and literature from Mauritius, from traditional Sega music to exploring the oral tradition of sirandane.Poems this episode include a reading of lyrics from Le Morne by Cassiya.&...

    41 min

  8. 21 JUL

    Next stop The Kingdom of Eswatini with Njabulo N.

    Journey to the smallest country in Southern Africa to find out more about the people and poetry of Eswatini (Formally known as Swaziland). In this fortnight’s episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet writer and poet Njabulo N, Njabulo Tumelo Nkambule, who shares his story and some of his early love poems. Poems this episode include: Dear Fatima; The Sky is Blue; and Time O’clock, all by Njabulo Nkambule.

    34 min
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About

Poetry from around the world! A fortnightly celebration of Poetry and The Commonwealth - where award winning podcaster Gyles Brandreth and his daughter Aphra visit each of the 56 countries of the Commonwealth, meeting poets, performers and people who love poetry and discovering new poems each episode.

Information

  • Creator
    Gyles Brandreth & Aphra Brandreth
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2024
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Commonwealth Poetry Podcast
  • Show Website
    Commonwealth Poetry Podcast

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