Video ... Writing Migration with poets from Exiled Writers Ink ... & February 2026 Readings and Conversations

[Ambrose Musiyiwa]

Dear Colleagues,

This is to let you know that the video from the poetry indaba, From Here To There - Writing Migration which was held online on Thursday, 5 February 2026 is now accessible here. 

Co-organised by Exiled Writers Ink and the Africa Migration Report Poetry Anthology Series, the conversation was chaired by Dr Tamara Wilson and featured contributions from poets Jim Aitken, Afsaneh Gitiforouz, Samuel Julius Habakkuk Kargbo, Nada Menzalji, Karuna Mistry, Ambrose Musiyiwa, Xaviera Ringeling, and Samantha Rumbidzai Vazhure.

The conversation is part of a series marking 100 years of Black History commemorations in the African diaspora where Black History Month is celebrated in February in the US and in October in the UK. 

The events we have lined up this month are:

• Fri., 13 Feb. 2026 (5-6.30pm). Leicester Book Launch - From Here To There: 101 Poems on African and African Diasporic Migration. Organised by poet, playwright and academic Fran Sani, De Montfort University UK. Hybrid: Online and In person (Registration). Featuring Nandi Jola, Zita Holbourne, Leonora Masini, Ambrose Musiyiwa, Francis Muzofa, and Dike Nwosu.
• Sat., 14 Feb. 2026. (6-7.30pm). As British As Fish And Chips — Poetry, Refugees & the English Channel II. Online (Registration). Featuring Aderonke Adeola, Samantha Dutton, Alice Herve, Jacob Lund, Tianna S. Matthew, Karuna Mistry, Helen Moore, Nick Moss, Marielys Padua Soto, and X-Lee 
• Sat., 21 Feb. 2026 (6-7.30pm). From Here To There — African and African Diasporic Poetry I. Online (Registration). (In collaboration with Moira Di Mauro-Jackson, Texas, USA). Featuring 4 poets from Texas and 4 Africa Migration Report Poetry Anthology Series poets, namely, Abíọ́dún Abdul, Joan Green, Rene’ Level, and Zamokuhle Madinana, and
• Sat., 28 Feb. 2026 (6-730pm). From Here To There — African and African Diasporic Poetry II. Online (Registration). (In collaboration with Dr Rene' Level, Jamaica). Featuring 4 poets in Jamaica: Rene' Level, Zonia Level, Erica Moses, and Annmarie Rubie; and 4 Africa Migration Report Poetry Anthology Series poets. 

If you would like to co-organise similar readings and conversations with us from March onwards, please let me know.

Similarly, if you know anyone who might be interested in reviewing either Japa Fire: An Anthology of Poems on African and African Diasporic Migration (CivicLeicester, 2024) or From Here To There (CivicLeicester, 2025), let me know as well.

ABOUT THE ANTHOLOGY SERIES

The Africa Migration Report Poetry Anthology Series is a volunteer-led initiative organised by Forced Migration and The Arts in association with CivicLeicester and the migrants' rights collective, Regularise.

The series was inspired by the Africa Migration Report: 2nd Edition (African Union and International Organisation for Migration, 2024), and has open calls for poems (40 lines or less) and short prose (100 words or less) exploring: 

• African and African diasporic migration and (im)mobility, 
• how African and Asian refugees are being left to drown in the English Channel, and 
• Edward Nkoloso, Afronauts and the 1960s Zambian Space Programme.

We take the African diaspora to include all people of African descent in all the ways they define themselves, e.g. African, African American, African Asian, African Brazilian, African Canadian, African Caribbean, African Italian, African Latino, African Palestinian, Afropean, Afro Turk, Black British, Black Canadian, Black, etc.

The series is currently not in receipt of funding from any source. 

To cover some of the costs associated with the work, we have a crowdfunding appeal. 

Any support you can lend us in spreading the word about these and about books in the series will be appreciated.  

Kind regards,

Ambrose Musiyiwa

Coordinator, Africa Migration Report Poetry Anthology Series

Ambrose Musiyiwa | Coordinator, Forced Migration and The Arts (Blog), Journeys in Translation (Journal Article; Video Playlist), and The Africa Migration Report Poetry Anthology Series (Concept Note; Call for Submissions; Video Playlist; Funding Appeal) | (Ed.) [New Book] Japa Fire: An Anthology of Poems on African and African Diasporic Migration (CivicLeicester, 2024. Co-edited with Munya R from the migrants' rights collective, Regularise); Welcome to Britain: An Anthology of Poems and Short Fiction (CivicLeicester, 2023); Black Lives Matter: Poems for a New World (CivicLeicester, 2020)