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.
Episodes
62 episodes
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—somet...
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39:50
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...
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49:34
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 pas...
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39:35
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 a...
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41:06
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 Nkam...
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Episode 56
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33:38
Queen Camilla and the Commonwealth Poetry Podcast
Marking the birthday of HM Queen Camilla on 17 July, Gyles Brandreth and Aphra Brandreth MP introduce a special episode of the Commonwealth Poetry Podcast, reprising our first ever episode recorded with Queen Camilla and the actress Dame Joanna...
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Episode 55
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54:03
Next stop Vanuatu with Rebecca Tobo Olul-Hossen
In this fortnight’s episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Rebecca Tobo Olul-Hossen. A poet who grew up in Vanuatu, recalling her memories as a young girl living on the island of Tanna. A poet, storyteller, and editor, Rebecca co-edited Vanuatu...
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Episode 54
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41:20
Returning to Zambia
In this fortnight’s episode, Gyles and Aphra meet Vanessa Chisakula, a multifaceted artist who uses her work to challenge the status quo. Vanessa shares her story, growing up in a busy creative family her life changed when she became a mother. ...
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Episode 53
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44:07
Next Stop Togo with Dr Patron Henekou
In this fortnight’s episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth’s journey around the Commonwealth takes them to Togo, a West African country with a 32 mile coastline along the Gulf of Guinea. Togo is one of the newest members of the Commonwealth having j...
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Episode 52
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45:00
‘Poetry is the language of the heart’ – Discovering Tanzania with Neema Komba
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Tanzanian poet Neema Komba. Neema shares her poetry journey, from a terrible event that took place as a teenage girl in a hospital, to the point that she discovered poetry as a way to express herse...
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Episode 51
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46:41
Next stop Kenya with poet and author Njeri Wangari
In this fortnight’s episode, join Gyles and Aphra Brandreth as they discover more about Kenya and its poetry. We hear from Njeri Wangari, a Kenyan poet and author, who is living in Nairobi, and has performed her poetry globally. She...
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Episode 50
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51:26
Next stop Botswana with Barolong Seboni
In this fortnight’s episode, join Gyles and Aphra Brandreth as they find out more about Botswana and its rich poetic traditions. Speaking to Barolong Seboni, a distinguished retired academic and poet. Barolong shares his fun and insightful tran...
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Episode 49
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33:02
Next Stop Zambia with Dambisa Moyo
In this fortnight’s episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Baroness Dambisa Moyo who shares her story growing up in Zambia. Dambisa is an economist and author who has written books, including four New York Times Bestsellers. Dambisa was named ...
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Episode 48
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44:41
Next stop The Bahamas with Marion Bethel
In this fortnight’s episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Marion Bethel, an esteemed Bahamian poet and attorney. Bethel, renowned for her award-winning poetry collections like "Guanahani, My Love" and "Bougainvillea Ringplay," shares insights...
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Episode 47
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50:50
Exploring Malawi with poet and activist Tendai Shaba
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth speak to Tendai Shaba, a renowned Malawian poet and activist.Tendai shares how he has used poetry to campaign on issues including gender based violence, climate change and advocating for safe mot...
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Episode 46
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27:20
Next stop Barbados with spoken word poet Cyndi Celeste
Inspired to be a poet since the age of six when they saw the spoken word poet Adrian Green at the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts, Cyndi wrote their first spoken word poem nine years later. Since then, Cyndi has been a ...
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Episode 45
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48:46
Next Stop Namibia with activist-poet Keamogetsi Joseph Molapong
In this podcast episode, join hosts Gyles and Aphra Brandreth as they engage in a compelling conversation with Namibian poet Keamogetsi Joseph Molapong. Broadcasting from Windhoek, Namibia's capital, Keamogetsi, an activist-poet, sheds light on...
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Episode 44
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44:22
Next stop St Vincent and the Grenadines with spoken word poet Philip Nanton
In this fortnight’s episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth engage in a conversation with Philip Nanton, a writer and spoken word performer who was originally born in St Vincent and currently resides in Barbados. Philip shares his compelling story, ...
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Episode 43
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27:25
Celebrating a ‘Youth Powered Commonwealth’ with Ayesha Dharker, Joanna Lumley, Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar.
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth celebrate young voices from across the Commonwealth featuring special guests, Ayesha Dharker, Joanna Lumley, Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar. We hear from the two young winners of the Queen’s Commonwe...
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Episode 42
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35:07
Celebrating Christmas with seasonal poems from around the Commonwealth
Gyles and Aphra Brandreth share some of their favourite seasonal poems in this special episode of the Commonwealth Poetry Podcast. Joined by staff and students from the University of Chester reading poems that remind them of Christmas, the Holi...
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Episode 41
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38:29
How poetry changed my life, a special episode with Jaspreet Kaur
In this special episode of the Commonwealth Poetry Podcast Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Jaspreet Kaur, a spoken word artist, writer and teacher from East London. Jaspreet is committed to using writing and spoken word to tackle issues includin...
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Episode 40
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45:10
The “Kingdom of the Sky” with Rethabile Masilo
This week Gyles and Aphra Brandreth’s journey takes them to Lesotho, a land locked, mountainous country in Africa. They speak to Rethabile Masilo, an award winning poet who is the author of four poetry collections: Things that are Silent
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Episode 39
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23:40
In Conversation with Award Winning Indian Poet Sudeep Sen
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet award winning Indian poet Sudeep Sen. Born and raised in New Delhi, Sudeep eloquently shares his formative influences growing up in a Bengali household steeped in poetry, literature, music, and dan...
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Episode 38
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45:29
Next stop Antigua & Barbuda with Joy Lawrence OH
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Joy Lawrence an educator, author of several books delving into the rich folklore and history of Antigua and Barbuda, and a talented poet. Joy's interest in her country's history was kindled when sh...
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Episode 37
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31:29
Exploring Ghana and its poetry with Apiorkor
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Apiorkor Seyiram Ashong-Abbey, a Ghanaian-American Poet, Author, Literary Critic, and Activist. Apiorkor shares her reflections on modern Ghana, speaking about her optimism her country, as well as ...
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Episode 36
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42:14