AFLO. the poet, Kid Anansi & Merki
Mon 19 May 20:00
A special Brighton Festival edition of Brighton’s freshest spoken word night.
Award-winning Brighton-based spoken-word artist, AFLO. the poet presents an uplifting night of spoken word featuring fresh local talent and guests from across the UK. ‘Creative hurricane’ Kid Anansi headlines this special edition of Status Flo, with poetry to leave you laughing, crying and biting your knuckles in second-hand embarrassment. He’s joined by Merki, an intersectional creative activist whose work explores identity and belonging.
Meet your host: AFLO. the poet
AFLO. the poet is an activist and academic who embraces creative expression to disrupt the status quo and inspire social change, using poetry as a vehicle to address hard-hitting topics, particularly racism and mental health, primarily speaking from her lived experiences. Previously an in-house artist for Brighton Dome, she is a significant force directing change in Brighton’s creative scenes and continues to sow seeds across the country.
Meet your headliner: Kid Anansi
‘That creative hurricane and me good friend, Kid Anansi!’ according to Benjamin Zephaniah. The poetic equivalent of finding out that the drinks machine in your local McDonald’s has replaced its Coke button with spiced rum. Kid Anansi is confusing, frightening, delicious with ginger ale and lemon, and unhealthy in large doses. His poetry mixes history and melancholy with slapstick humour and inimitable energy. He’s a regular face on the BAFTA Award-winning first season of Life & Rhymes, and host of poetry nights around London. His debut album Ebonymous Posch is available to listen to on YouTube, Bandcamp and SoundCloud.
Meet: Merki
Merki (she/they) is an intersectional academic artist from east London. After studying in Brighton, they have performed at the Brighton Open Air Theatre, hosted workshops at Brighton University and contributed to a mural exploring the city’s ties to the Transatlantic slave trade. Their work has been showcased internationally, including at the University of Mexico City. Merki headlined Youth The Gap’s Queer Reflections: Black Voices, Bold Stories alongside Lailah Muscat from BBC Three’s I Kissed a Girl, and recently performed at Hackney Pride 365, celebrating the borough’s LGBTQ+ community. Their poetry and stand-up centre queer, Black joy, aiming to disrupt and celebrate.
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