Ayan Aden has been named as the new Birmingham Poet Laureate during a National Poetry Day celebration, as part of the 25th Birmingham Literature Festival.
International award-winning performance poet Ayan Aden becomes Birmingham Poet Laureate for 2024-26, succeeding poet Jasmine Gardosi.
12-year-old Japmeh Kaur Gujral was also announced as the Birmingham Young Poet Laureate 2024-2026. Japmeh, a pupil at King Edwards High School, succeeds Iona Mandal and will hold this title for two years.
During their tenure, both Poets Laureate will produce new poems and work to promote poetry across the city.
As the city’s 24th Poet Laureate, Ayan will act as a poetry ambassador and help raise the profile of poetry across Birmingham. She will be asked to write poetry for special occasions, lead poetry workshops, inspiring others to try their own hand at reading and writing poetry and will mentor the newly appointed Young Poet Laureate.
About the poets:
Ayan Aden is a dynamic professional with five years of experience in creative and community consultancy, working with many institutions in the UK. An International Award-winning Performance Poet, Writer, and Facilitator, Ayan captivates audiences with empowering spoken word art. She has performed at many festivals, Parliament, and TedxTalks, winning the EU Silisiladda Nabadda 2019, Run Your Mouth Slam ’23, and being a Unislam ’24 Finalist.
Her work has been published in esteemed publications. Ayan sits on the Strategic Advisory Board for Birmingham Arts School. Alongside this Ayan is a gemmologist focused on ethical mining, blending cultural enrichment with sustainability in all her endeavours with the intention to create a better society.
Ayan’s work exists to create spaces of conversation, in order to change the world for the better.
Japmeh has been an avid writer and poet since primary school. She has been shortlisted for Wicked Writers: Be the Change National Literacy Trust writing competition, Young Walter Scott. Her poems have been published in various Young Writer anthologies and in February (2024), she was chosen to perform her poem at the Verve Poetry Festival and was also published in the anthology. She was the 2024 KEHS Annual Poetry Slam Winner.
As Birmingham Young Poem Laureate, Japmeh hopes to connect poetry to young and old, and also people who need poetry’s healing power. She aims to start on online platform called the Poetry Exchange, which will enable poetry, and the Birmingham’s various arts, to connect with each other and all people irrespective of age, gender and background; and highlight Birmingham as the first city of poetry.
Apart from her passion for poetry, she enjoys playing the harp, piano and singing. She is a dedicated hockey player and loves any opportunity to perform.
To contact one of the Poets Laureate for a performance or commissioning opportunity, please complete the form below.
Please note, Japmeh, the Young Birmingham Poet Laureate is not available for appearances during school hours.
Requests for Ayan will be automatically forwarded to her, for her to respond to directly.