A Friend’s Kitchen – an intimate stroll with the poet and friends

A Friend’s Kitchen - an intimate stroll with the poet and friends

Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi

An intimate summer stroll with Sudanese poet Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi as he recites poetry from Queensway to the site of what was until recently the Saqi Bookshop, a landmark of Arabic literature.

Born in Khartoum, Sudan, Al-Raddi has lived in exile in London since 2012. His new collection, A Friend’s Kitchen, emerged in the aftermath of his arrival, when he was separated from his wife and children for nearly five years. During late, uncertain nights awake in a strange city, he would write brief, mystical, often stream-of-consciousness texts to post on Facebook, his primary means of communication with loved ones in Khartoum. The midnight musings soon developed into poems. 

Al-Raddi and his translators, Bryar Bajalan and Shook, will take us on a journey through selections from his poetry collection that relive his experience of the city in those early day. Expect readings in Arabic and English in this one-off, intimate event. 

This event is a joint presentation with the Poetry Translation Centre.

The Poetry Translation Centre was set up in 2004 and is the only UK organisation dedicated to translating, publishing and promoting contemporary poetry from Africa, Asia and Latin America. We introduce extraordinary poets from around the world to new audiences through books, online resources and bilingual events. We champion diversity and representation in the arts, and forge enduring relationships with diaspora communities in the UK. We explore the craft of translation through out long-running programme of workshops which are open to all.

“This is the sort of poet for whose work on wants to learn a language.” - Fiona Moore

“One of the most revered poets currently writing in Arabic.” - Poetry London

“An outstanding contribution, not only to African poetry but to world poetry. An extraordinary achievement.” - Leo Boix

“This is a masterful collection, one that should be returned to again and again even as we toast our deaths and survive.” - Aaron Kent