Young Poets Opportunity to Join Yomi Sode’s 12 in 12
Raw Material is seeking an aspiring and committed young poet to apply for a year-long mentoring programme with UK-based poet and Raw Material trustee, Yomi Sode.
12 IN 12
In May 2022, Yomi Sode will publish his first collection of poetry MANORISM with Penguin Press UK. Leading up to the publication of this book, Yomi will open his writing and editing process to emerging and established writers, with a mentoring programme entitled 12 in 12.
From May 2021 to May 2022 the young poet will receive:
Monthly 1:1 mentoring with Yomi Sode (60 mins)
Free attendance at a monthly guest masterclass, covering topics from editing to earning money as a writer, to performance
Monthly breakdown of one of Yomi’s poems
Monthly newsletter + 4 top tips for writing
Advance notice re: Yomi’s events
Raw Material and Yomi Sode will support the young poet to develop their own small-scale opportunity or event for peers. This could involve running a small series of poetry workshops in school or a SLAM poetry event at Raw Material, for example.
Yomi Sode
Yomi is a Nigerian British writer, performer, and facilitator. He is a recipient of the Jerwood Compton Poetry fellowship 2019 and has read his poems internationally at various festivals, as well as performed his debut solo show (COAT) to sold-out audiences. Yomi has been published in Rialto Magazine, The Poetry Review, Bare lit and 10: Poets of the New Generation, as well as a contribution in SAFE: On Black British Men reclaiming space. Yomi is a member of Malika’s Poetry Kitchen and a Complete Works Alumni. His Debut poetry collection, MANORISM will be published in spring 2022 by Penguin Press.
MANORISM
In poems exploring family, survival, generational trauma and the complexities of belonging, Manorism is an examination of the lives of Black British men and boys. At the heart of the book is the ongoing pressure of code-switching - changing one's behaviour and language to suit radically different cultural contexts and environments. The violence of artists such as Caravaggio in 17th-century Rome, and modern-day commentary by the likes of David Starkey and Piers Morgan, provide a lens for considering differences of impunity afforded to white and Black people. Snippets of Yoruba interweave with English, and a moving final sequence, part poetry, part play, charts the dramatic reconciliations surrounding a death in the family. The result is a thrillingly original book that charts the vulnerabilities and rich nuances of Black masculinity in Britain.
THE YOUNG POET SPECIFICATION
We are looking for a young poet who:
Is aged 16+
Has a passion for writing poetry (there is no specification on genre/form)
Is willing to partake in small-scale peer-to-peer learning opportunities
In order to apply, young writers need to send the following:
An example of their work (a short poem or piece of writing)
A short paragraph explaining: why they want to work with Yomi Sode and how they will use this opportunity
If you have any questions, please email Tamara, Raw Material’s Programme Manager at tamara@rawmusicmedia.co.uk
Deadline: 5pm, 4th June
Click “Apply here” to be taken to the application form.
