Thursday 15 July, 2010

Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi, Sudanese poet and cultural commentator, will read from his latest collection of poetry translated from Arabic to English by Sarah Maguire. He will be joined by poet Corsino Fortes, from Cape Verde .

Al-Raddi has been publishing poetry for the past 15 years in Omdurman Khartoum, finding inspiration in the intimate details of landscape and human relationships. After the 1989 coup in Sudan , art institutions and publications faced state controlled censorship.  Poetry’s relative transportability (within the raconteur) has allowed it to have a strong voice amongst Sudanese art forms. This has led to a tradition of impromptu live recitals known to attract audiences of up to 4,000 and making the act of reading for Al-Raddi, an important element in his work.

As the arts and culture editor of left-wing Sudanese newspaper, Al-Sudani, Al-Raddi seeks to bring attention to a wide range of artists working outside of the accepted canon.  As poet and cultural critic he emphasizes an African and Sudanese identity made up of connections, especially with people from different ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. His interest in translation has lead to the founding of ‘Sudanese Ink’, a translation project that brings Sudanese writers together, whether they write in Arabic, English, Hausa, Dinka, or any of the 300 languages spoken in Sudan .

Corsino Fortes’s first book Pão & Fonema  (Bread & Phoneme) 1974 made an immediate impact. 1974 was a momentous year for Portugal and its African colonies as it was the year in which Portugal 's dictator Salazar was overthrown, an act which began the process that led to the decolonisation of the Cape Verde Islands in 1975. After Pão & Fonema he published Arvore e Tambor  (Tree and Drum, Publicações Dom Quixote Lisbon) in 1986. He finished what he had long seen as a trilogy in 2001 with Pedras de Sol & Substância which was collected with the previous two books under the title A Cabeça Calva de Deus (The Bald Head of God, Publicações Dom Quixote Lisbon). Translating Corsino poems will be Sean O'Brien.

Dual language chapbooks of Al- Raddi’s poetry translated by both Sarah Maguire and Corsino Fortes will be available on the night.

In association with Poetry Translation Centre

Concessions and members are kindly asked to show proof or ID when collecting tickets on the night.


Tickets for this event can be collected and/or purchased from the Information Desk today until 7pm.

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