PRESS RELEASE – FWords:Creative Freedom One Year On

Black British writers and artists visit the USA

A group of Yorkshire’s most prominent and award winning black writers go international when they visit the USA from 18 October – 27 October, reading at Universities, libraries, Museums, bookstores and literary salons in New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC.

It is a culmination of their work in 2007, of the commemoration of the abolition of the Slave Trade Act in Britain. It marks a new beginning for some of the writers, launching their careers as published writers and the first in many pushes into the international arena. Yet the basis of the tour to the USA where the legacy of slavery remains prevalent, The Creative Freedom tour, presents a powerful reminder of that legacy on both sides of the Atlantic. 

FWords will be launching their new limited edition anthology Creative Freedom: The Fwords anthology in October, one year after the launch of the initial anthology, 10,000 copies of which were distributed free throughout Yorkshire and at targeted locations nationally. Creative Freedom: The FWords Aanthology, is an extended version of this book, with the wonderful additions of photographic imagery of the artwork created by two visual artists in response to the work by the writers; ‘Flags for Freedom’ – a series of batiks by Oluseyi Ogunjobi and ‘Paths to Freedom’ – a series of paintings by Fosuwa Andoh, plus additional poetry and prose work from the writers. 

Addressing a wide range of themes—from the oppression and restitution in19th-century and contemporary South Africa to wry reflections on the thirst for freedom from a formerly imprisoned poet—this collection is an elegant exploration of the true meaning of liberation and the ironies of modern society. 

Caryl Phillips, award-winning and internationally renowned author from Leeds who has written the introduction to The FWORDS: Creative Freedom Anthology said:
 “Who belongs and who does not belong to ‘England’s concrete jungle?’ The work of these writers demonstrates not only do they belong, they also feel a powerful freedom to rewrite the story in a manner which makes sense to them.”

Three of the writers also launch their own books, published by Inscribe, an imprint of Peepal Tree Press; Tanya Chan-Sam, a fantastic storyteller with a probing voice, from Sheffield, publishes her first short collection of short stories, Mr Mohani and Other Stories; Khadijah Ibrahiim, from Leeds, hailed as ‘one of the most prolific poets in Yorkshire’ publishes her first short collection of poetry (selections from a forthcoming longer work), Rootz Runnin  and Simon Murray, an assured and exciting new writer gives an insight into the opening chapters of his forthcoming narrative,(novel as memoir), Kill Myself Now. Book 1:is sub-titled, The True Confessions of An Advertising Genius. Murray, from Pontefract, was awarded an Arts Council England Yorkshire bursary in 2008 to develop his novel and research a second book of short stories.
Of the other two writers, Seni Seneviratne whose debut poetry collection was published last spring, Wild Cinammon and Winter Skin has just been selected as the only Yorkshire poet for a new literary initiative, The Complete Works, a national development programme for advanced poets of African and Asian descent. The programme is supported by Arts Council England and partnered by publishers, Faber and Faber, Spread The Word, The Arvon Foundation and the Esmee Fairburn Trust. Rommi Smith, was appointed Parliamentary Writer in Residence in 2007 the first time that a Parliamentary Writer in Residence has been appointed. Her chapbook of poems, a selection from her forthcoming second collection, Mornings and Midnights, inspired by the lives of jazz divas, was selected as a Poetry Book Society Pamphlet Choice in 2006. 
Between them, they evince a wide range of styles – from Murray's hard-hitting socially conscious yet catchy words (both in his prose and poetry); Ibrahiim's lyrical chants, Smith's thought provoking imagery; Chan-Sam's storytelling in direct yet stylish prose and Seneviratne's gentle and nostalgic poetry, which evokes both sweet and sad memories. 

A short film of the writers’ work from last year has recently been played on the Big Screen in Leeds and can be seen on YouTube from October. The full length one hour dvd will be available in October too. Sign up to FWords: Creative Freedom on Facebook or myspace and request a free copy. 

The group initiative devised by the artists in 2007 led to them responding to the ‘unlawful killing’ of David Oluwale by policemen in Leeds in 1969, with a group poem engraved into a plaque. It has been mounted at Mary Seacole Gardens outside Chapeltown Library in Leeds. 

Wes Zepherin, Diversity Officer, Arts Council England, Yorkshire, said:
'Arts Council England is delighted to support this international project for Yorkshire's premier Black writers. They will share and develop their work building the reputation of Yorkshire and UK Black literature with new audiences in the USA. The tour will strengthen their international networks and enhance their own professional careers.'

‘FWords:Creative Freedom’ is an original signature project devised and funded by Arts Council England, Yorkshire.
 
For more information, bios, images and dvd’s
Email:kadijageorge@gmail.com Visit:http://www.peepaltreepress.com/fwords/fwords.asp
Visit:Facebook-FWords Creative Freedom
Visit: Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/fwordscreativefreedom  
Join facebook or myspace and request a free copy of a dvd or original anthology- whilst stocks last.
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