Listen to the world’s best poetry read out loud.
Obsidian Collection
This living and evolving digital and audio-visual collection explores the quality, influence and poetic lineage of contemporary Black poets in the UK.
This collection is a collaboration between The Poetry Archive and the Obsidian Foundation to recognise the importance of the inspirations, stories and social and cultural commentary that British Black Poets bring to the UK's poetry landscape. All the poems featured in this collection have been selected by the poets themselves.
The collection provides poets, teachers and visitors everywhere with an exceptional resource. It will introduce new poets and raise their profiles amongst new audiences.
This permanent collection will continue to grow into the future as the Obsidian Foundation continues its work to develop new poetic voices. We know you will love these voices and celebrate the joy and inspirations to be found here.
“The stories that are in the poems selected reflect a broad church of Black expression and add necessary nuance to the times we are living in.”
- Nick Makoha, Founder and Director, Obsidian Foundation
“We believe poetry is for everyone, and we make our poetry recordings freely available so that visitors to our collections can hear how the authors read their own work.”
- Dr Tracey Guiry, Director, The Poetry Archive
"To archive poems that may speak to current or younger generations of writers feels incredible. I’m thankful to join a list of iconic figures who inspire me to craft my work to the best it can be."
- Yomi Sode, Poet
Post
Interview: Inua Ellams and the clash of language.
This collection will continue to evolve as we work in collaboration with the Obsidian Foundation to add work by British Black poets.
More about the Obsidian Foundation
Obsidian Foundation was founded in 2020 and hosts The Retreat for Black poets. It’s led by poet and founder Nick Makoha with Roger Robinson, Dante Micheaux, Raymond Antrobus and Malika Booker.
The Obsidian Foundation was established in 2020 to create a community of Black creative poets and provide a place for them to express themselves with freedom. A one-week retreat will be held annually for Black African, Caribbean, Afro-Latinx and African-American heritage, including those of mixed-Black heritage poets who want to advance their writing practice. Participant poets have five years to attend three Obsidian retreats, after which they become Obsidian Foundation alumni.
This project was made possible with funding from Arts Council England.
