Rooted One Year on: Flying the Flag for Black British Culture in the North
“Ever felt a bassline so deep it rattles your bones? Or heard a poem that speaks right to your soul? Imagine combining the two. That’s exactly what’s happening in Leeds next week. A massive event is set to explore how giant speakers and powerful words, born from the streets of Jamaica, ended up changing the world.”
That’s how Welcome to Yorkshire described Sound System: Music & Poetry of the Black Atlantic – our sell-out event at the Royal Armouries in Leeds last October – and it lived up to the hype.
A stellar line-up saw iconic dub poet and activist Linton Kwesi Johnson; giant of Brazilian poetry Conceição Evaristo; and internationally acclaimed T S Eliot Award-winner Roger Robinson reading their work, as well as selecting the music that inspired them, with two-times Forward Prize-winner Malika Booker chairing proceedings.
It attracted widespread national and regional media coverage through the likes of The Voice and BBC Radio Leeds, and ensured that Out of Many People’s exciting Rooted programme – a six-month celebration of Black storytelling, arts and culture made possible with Arts Council England funding – got off to a flying start.
“Out of Many People is an exceptional organisation: without them we simply couldn’t have made this historic event and international partnership happen.” – Nick Barley, Director, National Poetry Centre
Our Rooted launch, with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage among the literary stars in attendance, was the result of a fruitful collaboration between Out of Many People, National Poetry Centre and Brazil Festival of Urban Peripheries (FLuP), supported by the British Council.
Out of Many People co-founder Susan Pitter said we would be “a home for Black storytelling in the North,” and over the ensuing 12 months we’ve been just that, bringing a diverse range of events and projects to Yorkshire, at the same time as turning heads up and down the country.
The volume definitely turned up a notch for Mic Check! at a lively Leeds Central Library last October. This brilliant evening of open mic Black poetry, spoken word and music, hosted by the multi-talented poet and literary activist Khadijah Ibrahiim, brought together established poets alongside amateur spoken word artists, with a Lovers’ Rock tribute from reggae songbird Paulette Morris and music from DJ Fluid providing the evening’s soundtrack.
“We need creative ways like Mic Check! to tell our stories in order to keep our narratives alive” – Mycall Isrell, a spoken word performer and poet
The event also featured writers from our partners’ Peepal Tree Press Sanctuary Anthology, with roving poets delighting audience members with their pop-up performances.
Speaking afterwards, Barsa Ray, one of the Peepal Tree Press Sanctuary Anthology writers who shared their work on the night, said: “I’ve attended and read at various events and festivals, and I just wanted to say what a fun, energy-filled event this was. I’ve never been to anything like it.”
“Leeds Libraries have had the privilege of working with Out of Many People on the Rooted programme which has not only celebrated the black community in Leeds but also spotlighted the importance of developing literacy in the city as well.” – Josh Flint, Senior Librarian Leeds Libraries
November brought bestselling author and irrepressible force of nature Candice Brathwaite to town, for a special ‘in-conversation’ event at Leeds Playhouse who we partnered with.
Candice, author of three Sunday Times bestsellers – Manifesto (2024), Sista Sister (2021) and I Am Not Your Baby Mother (2020) – discussed her journey from a marketing assistant at a publishing house to becoming a hugely influential author, blogger and podcaster.
She spoke candidly about motherhood, racism at work, colourism and her experiences a Black British woman. She said it’s never too late to manifest the life you deserve – answering a question from one 75-year-old super fan! – before leaving the stage to a standing ovation.
One of the reasons why Dawn Cameron and Susan Pitter set up Out of Many People was to encourage more of the region’s children to pick up books and fall in love with reading by bringing talented Black writers and illustrators to the North.
This was the inspiration behind Likkle Lit Fest – Out of Many People’s first festival of Black literature for children and young adult readers in Yorkshire, which also kicked off Leeds Storytelling Festival.
This day-long celebration took over three floors of Leeds City Library – thanks to our partnership with the brilliant Leeds Libraries – bringing together a glittering line-up that included Leeds-based author-illustrator Salomey Doku; fantasy writer Ashley Thorpe, author of ‘Spirit Warriors’, much-loved children’s writer Trish Cooke with illustrator Ken Wilson Max, Athena Kugblenu’s ‘History’s Most Epic Fails’ family gameshow, story illustration workshops from Dapo Adeola and dub poetry with Fabian M. Thomas .
“Likkle Lit Fest created a beautiful opportunity for both young and old to engage with African and Caribbean storytelling, rhythm, language and cultural traditions in a meaningful and participatory way.” – Ansell Broderick, cultural heritage writer/performer
In the British Library Anansi Corner, children and adults were on their feet and singing along to Ansell Boderick’s interactive session on traditional African Caribbean folktales and dance.
They were joined by Grammy Award-winning musician and Leeds superstar Corinne Bailey Rae who read from her debut picture book, Put Your Records On, to a packed room that could have been filled many times over.
“Likkle Lit Fest left my heart feeling so full this Saturday. Not only was this the first festival of Black literature for kids and young adults that I know of, and that I’ve been a part of, it also crucially took place in the North of England. That regional diversity is also important in an industry that is incredibly London-centric, and when the north-south divide is becoming even more pronounced.” – Ashley Thorpe, Likkle Lit Fest writer
More than 600 children and adults attended our festival which ranged from interactive family-friendly workshops and Rubbish Words, a National Poetry Centre crafting session, intergenerational storytelling and drop-in making to a marketplace of Black artisans and Likkle Lit Fest’s official bookseller Afrori Books, the UK’S biggest stockists of Black writing.
At its heart, the festival was about Black storytelling and characters, told by Black writers, brought to life by Black illustrators – and to be enjoyed by all.
It proved a big hit with writers, artists and audiences, and in March we took Likkle Lit Fest on the road for a follow-up event in Kirklees, reaching even more children and families.
Likkle Lit Fest at Leeds Central Library was a hit today. Packed programme, packed [library] and hopefully now children packed full of history facts and questions…Do it again next year please.” – Athena Kugblenu, Likkle Lit Fest writer
This ties in with something else Susan and Dawn are incredibly passionate about, which is promoting inclusive storytelling so that children can see themselves and the diverse world around them reflected in the stories they read.
That’s why we’ve worked with the Book Trust and Penguin Books UK’s Lit in Colour to distribute over 1,000 books for children from babies to young adult readers through local community networks including Jamaica Society Leeds, RJC Dance and Yorkshire Contemporary at Hamara Healthy Living Centre, the Hudawi Centre in Huddersfield and Windrush Generations in Bradford.
We also worked closely with Leeds City Council’s Foster4Leeds to distribute over 100 books to children in foster care across the city. At a time when the National Literacy Trust has said there is a national reading crisis, putting books into the hands of young people from all backgrounds could hardly be more important.
“Thank you Out of Many People community book donation, the generous donation of books will encourage reading as a meaningful and fashionable pastime, plant seeds of curiosity while sharing stories and knowledge, leaving a lasting impact on young minds.” – Kathy Williams, Artistic Director, RJC Dance.
As we look back over the last 12 months, we can be proud of what we have achieved. At the same time, we know there is still a lot more that needs to be done if we want British storytelling, culture, history and visibility to truly reflect the world we live in. Out of Many People will continue talking to partners, funders and supporters, as well as keeping on the lookout for exciting new opportunities, to help us build on what we started with Rooted and ensure we’re here for the long haul – watch this space!