DESIblitz Literature Festival - Festival Finale

About

Join us for our Festival Finale, where music, poetry, dance, and good vibes collide on October 28th at Handsworth Library. 2.00 pm start!
Festival Finale

The DESIblitz Literature Festival finale brings you three events in one day! A delightful combination of poetry, spoken word and music all associated with the Punjabi diapsora and language.

Desi food and refreshments shall be available on the day for you to enjoy as well!

From 2:30pm

Poetry Matters

Join us for an in conversation with five poets sharing their writing journey and reading some of their works.

About the Artists

Suna Afshan is a writer and editor from Birmingham. Her work has appeared in The TLS, Modern Poetry in Translation, Wasafiri, and Wild Court, among others. She is Editor and Director of Pallina Press, Co-founder and Editor at Large at Poetry Birmingham Literary Journal, and sits on the Editorial Board of Broken Sleep Books.

Sharena Lee Satti is a poet, spoken word artist, educator and workshop facilitator. An advocate for women, pushing the boundaries and always campaigning for their voices to be heard in society. Recently, she was instrumental in delivering the first ever West Yorkshire Poetry Week in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust. Her next book Shhhhh is ready for Pre Order via Verve Poetry Press.

Rupinder Kaur is a multidisciplinary artist based in Birmingham. She is interested in the feminine narrative and gaze through the power of storytelling. Rupinder's debut poetry book Rooh was published with Verve Poetry Press; she is currently working on her second collection. Rupinder has been awarded with Developing your Creative Practice Grant from Arts Council England to further her work in the intersection of movement, dance and poetry. Her one-woman show Imperfect, Perfect Woman debuted at Wolverhampton Literature Festival. Rupinder has also been a BBC New Creative. In 2022 she was part of Kali Theatre Discovery program, India-UK Creative Industries at 75 and Tara Theatre, Artists Make Space.

Angela Rideau, known by her stage name "Poems From My Heart," hails from the heart of the Black Country in Wolverhampton. She is a captivating poet and writer whose work delves into themes of trauma, identity, and the experiences of growing up within the South-Asian diaspora. Her debut poetry collection, 'honeybee,' is a poignant exploration of healing, femininity, and the complexities of her cultural heritage. Her magnetic stage presence has captivated audiences at various events, including performances and headlining slots at esteemed gatherings such as Mishti Dance, Mind Over Matter, The Mother Wolf Poetry Club, and FloVortex.

Charnjit Gill has an MA in Creative Writing and a BA in English Literature & Creative Writing. She is a private tutor and has been writing and performing poetry for over 9 years. She has also been a member of Apples and Snakes The Writing Room. Her work has been published in the London Spoken Word Anthology 2015-2016 by Gug Press, Typishly, Minerva Rising Press, From Whispers to Roars, KYSO Flash, Ghost City Press, San Fedele Press, Starfeather Publishing and Poets Choice. Currently, she has 2 poetry collections, 'Impression', and 'For the Moment' which is published by Atmosphere Press.

From 4pm

Jugni With The Jaag Collective

The Jaag Collective have a wonderful and fascinating focus on Panjabi and Pahari-Pothwari language literature.

Presented by Kavita Bhanot, through music, stories and discussion, this event will follow Jugni through time and space, unpacking the history and perspective of this popular tradition in Panjabi oral literature and music. Literally a female firefly or ornament, Jugni has taken on various forms over the years; from resistance to Queen Victoria's jubilee flame as a symbol of colonial oppression to Sufi Jugni as the inner voice or spirit that connects, through love, with God. From Heer to a modern woman today, Jugni is often represented as a bold fiery woman who doesn't give a damn. In music, from folk to pop, from rock to bhangra, in Indian and Pakistani films, this Jugni travels from villages to towns to big cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Lahore and western cities such as Birmingham and Southall. While the focus on Jugni as female has been seen as feminist, Jugni's freedom and resistance, through a male gaze, can also be questioned. This event will begin with live renditions of well-loved Jugni songs. (An early version of this presentation was developed with the support of Shadow Heroes.)

From 7pm

A Rendevous with The Grewal Twins

Join us for an evening in Punjab where you will be immersed in folktales and music from the land of the five rivers.

About the Artists

Sukhman & Hernoor, better known as the GREWAL TWINS are singers & storytellers, born and raised in West London, England. Through their music (Punjabi folk & Sufi genre), the sisters aim to reintroduce the shared heritage of undivided Punjab to a contemporary audience