Nick Makoha is dichter, toneelschrijver, en academicus. In 2017 kwam zijn eerste volledig eigen dichtbundel uit, Kingdom of Gravity, waarmee hij op de shortlist kwam voor de Forward Prize for Poetry’s “Felix Dennis Prize for best First Collection” van dat jaar. Deze bundel sprong eruit door de ethische gevoeligheid, met verzen die zowel zongen als protesteerden.
Makoha ontvluchtte al op jonge leeftijd zijn geboorteland Oeganda, en is grotendeels grootgebracht in Engeland. Hij zet zich in voor dichters en artiesten van Afrikaanse achtergrond, om hen zo een plek te geven in het literaire landschap.
[ENGLISH]
Nick Makoha is a poet, playwright and academic. In 2017 he brought out his first poetry-bundle, Kingdom of Gravity, which got him on the shortlist of the Forward Prize for Poetr’s “Felix Dennis Prize for best Fist Collection” of that year. The bundle was praised for its ethical sensitivity, with verses which sing as well as protest.
At a young age Makoha had to fled his birth country Uganda, and was largely raised in England. He dedicates himself to poets and artists with African roots, and strives to help them obtain a place within the literary landscape.
He’s not even paying attention. He’s waiting for the timeout to end
so he can watch men stand on the edge of the earth’s lip and return
to being birds. There’s red paint on his Comme des Garçons suit.” (Via Poetry magazine, A Panel of Experts)
Foto: Dirk Skiba
