Written in Black Ink: A conversation on the past, present, and future of Black voices in poetry

What is ‘Black poetry’? What place does poetry hold within Black communities? What are the experiences of Black poets of the past and present? How might these evolve in the future?

Join the Nottingham Black Creatives Network for Written in Black Ink: A conversation on the past, present, and future of Black voices in poetry. We will be joined on the panel by some of Nottingham’s most electrifying poetry talents: Ioney Smallhorne (Writer, Poet, Educator), Chris Oliver (Man Up Man Down), Hil the Poet (Fluent in Both) and our host Caetano Capurro (Free Minds, Big Nature Collective) as they share their journeys, influences and unique insights into the poetry landscape. Stick around for a mini spoken word showcase too!

Nearest Tramstop: Lace Market

Cae Capurro
Caetano Capurro is a Urugayan poet who uses his experience of growing up around the world to dissect his experience with race, immigration and mental health. Delving in to each topic and exploring how his experience is reflected in that of the people around him, weaving rhymes and wordplay he tells his story through how he sees the world.

Chris Oliver
Chris Oliver is a spoken word poetry performer and workshop facilitator from Nottingham. His insights are heartfelt and thought provoking, taking inspiration from his personal growth journey and perspectives on life. A part of the ‘Poets of the Endz’ collective, Chris has honed his craft over the last 6 years using his calming flow and wordplay to connect with audiences.

Ioney Smallhorne
Ioney is a writer, poet, performer and educator from Nottingham. Her craft is ignited by her Jamaican heritage, fueled by the tapestry of the Black British experience, and smoulders with the essence of womanhood.
Ioney is an alumni of Goldsmith College’s MA in Creative Writing & Education, Obisidan 2023, and is an Inscribe writer. Shortlisted for the Caribbean Small-Axe prize 2016, and for the Sky Arts/Royal Society of Literature Fiction Award 2021. Winner of the Writing East Midlands/Serendipity Black Ink Writing Competition 2021 and longlisted for the Moniak Mhor, Emerging Writer award 2024.
Find her writing in, Glimpse, (Peepal Tree Press, 2019) a Black British speculative fiction anthology, Spin, (Ottar Barry Books 2024) ,children’s poetry anthology. Ioney is currently working on her debut short story collection and is a part time English teacher in FE.

Hilário Alves
Hilário Alves is an Angolan-Portuguese poet and founder of FluentinBoth, residing in Nottingham, whose powerful verses intimately reflect the multifaceted challenges he has encountered in life. Through his poetry, Hilário candidly explores the complexities of his identity as a black immigrant, offering a poignant perspective on the struggles and triumphs that come with such a journey. Moreover, his verses delve into the realms of male sensibility and love, providing a unique lens through which readers can navigate the intricacies of human emotion and connection. With each poem, Hilário invites us to contemplate the intersections of race, identity, and love.