Brunel International African Poetry Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 6 (2018) Winner
Momtaza Mehri
モムタザ・メフリ
Momtaza Mehri
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1995-01-01 （Kilburn (London) and Birmingham, England）
- Nationality
- Somali-British
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Kilburn, London → Birmingham
Career
- Occupations
- poet, essayist, biomedical scientist (trained)
- Active Years
- 2014-
- Affiliations
- The Complete Works mentoring programme, Young People's Laureate for London (former)
- Memberships
- The Complete Works (mentee)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — | — | United Kingdom |
—
Country:
United Kingdom
Trained as a biomedical scientist (citation needed)
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Out-Spoken Page Poetry Prize | — | — | — | winner |
| 2018 | National Poetry Competition (3rd prize) | — | — | National Poetry Competition | 3rd prize |
| 2018 | Young People's Laureate for London | — | — | London cultural bodies | appointed |
| 2019 | Manchester Poetry Prize | — | — | Manchester Metropolitan University (organiser) | winner |
| 2023 | Eric Gregory Award | Bad Diaspora Poems | — | Eric Gregory Award organisers | winner |
| 2023 | Forward Prize (Best First Collection) | Bad Diaspora Poems | Best First Collection | Forward Arts Foundation | winner |
| 2023 | Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award (shortlist) | Bad Diaspora Poems | — | Sunday Times (organiser) | shortlisted |
| 2024 | Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry | Bad Diaspora Poems | — | Glenna Luschei Prize organisers | winner |
Out-Spoken Page Poetry Prize
2017
Result:
winner
National Poetry Competition (3rd prize)
2018
Organization:
National Poetry Competition
Result:
3rd prize
Young People's Laureate for London
2018
Organization:
London cultural bodies
Result:
appointed
Manchester Poetry Prize
2019
Organization:
Manchester Metropolitan University (organiser)
Result:
winner
Eric Gregory Award
2023
Work:
Bad Diaspora Poems
Organization:
Eric Gregory Award organisers
Result:
winner
Forward Prize (Best First Collection)
2023
Work:
Bad Diaspora Poems
Category:
Best First Collection
Organization:
Forward Arts Foundation
Result:
winner
Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award (shortlist)
2023
Work:
Bad Diaspora Poems
Organization:
Sunday Times (organiser)
Result:
shortlisted
Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry
2024
Work:
Bad Diaspora Poems
Organization:
Glenna Luschei Prize organisers
Result:
winner
Awards & Nominations
Forward Prizes for Poetry
1 appearances
-
Edition 32 (2023) Excellence Award
Somerset Maugham Award
1 appearances
Works
Major Works
Sugah. Lump. Prayer
2017 pamphlet (poetry)A short pamphlet of poems featuring early work marked by fragmentary language play and themes of migration and family.
diasporafamilylanguage
Doing the Most with the Least
2019 pamphlet / poetryA pamphlet published by Goldsmiths Press containing sharp, observational poems about urban life and personal experience.
urban lifeselfobservation
Bad Diaspora Poems
2023 poetry collectionA collection addressing migration, diaspora, multilingual environments and memory. Critically acclaimed and the recipient of several awards and shortlists.
diasporamemorymultilingualismurban life
Bibliography
- Sugah. Lump. Prayer (2017)
- Contributor to Ten: Poets of the New Generation (2017)
- Doing the Most with the Least (2019)
- Bad Diaspora Poems (2023)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- rhythmic, fragmentary poetic formsessayistic narrative voice
- Recurring Motifs
- diasporamemory and familymultilingualismurban landscapes
Legacy
A prominent young Somali-British poet recognised internationally, winner of major prizes including the Forward Prize. Regarded as an important voice in contemporary poetry on diaspora and multilingualism.
Trivia
- Reportedly trained as a biomedical scientist (citation needed).
- Began publishing work around 2014 as an emerging young poet.