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The Political Poets

Lemn Sissay finds out how spoken word poets made poetry political, with Attila the Stockbroker and Benjamin Zephaniah.

When poets started to perform their work live, they made space for voices outside the mainstream to make themselves heard. But when the unheard becomes heard, that鈥檚 a political act.

Lemn Sissay explores how poets in the 1970s performed alongside reggae groups and punk bands, telling the stories of the streets in language the streets understood.

Attila the Stockbroker remembers skirmishing with skinheads, while Benjamin Zephaniah explains why writing about racism was a matter of life and death.

Written and presented by Lemn Sissay
Sound design by Charlie Brandon-King
Produced by Richard Lea and Joe Hallam

A Bafflegab production for 大象传媒 Radio 4

Available now

14 minutes

Last on

Tue 8 Feb 2022 13:45

Broadcasts

  • Fri 10 Dec 2021 19:00
  • Tue 8 Feb 2022 13:45