Anthony Jospeh

Anthony Joseph is a poet, novelist, musician, and lecturer celebrated as ‘the leader of the black avant-garde in Britain'. His work blends surrealism, jazz, and the rhythms of Caribbean speech and music. He is the author of four poetry collections and the novel The African Origins of UFOs. Joseph’s contributions to literature have been widely recognized; in 2005, he was named one of 50 Black and Asian writers who made major contributions to contemporary British literature. He has received an Arts Council of England touring award and, in 2022, won the prestigious T.S. Eliot poetry prize. His academic work includes a "fictional biography" of Lord Kitchener, which he also adapted into a BBC4 documentary, Kitch. As a musician, Joseph has released numerous critically acclaimed albums, including Leggo de Lion, Bird Head Son, Rubber Orchestras, Time, and Caribbean Roots. Collaborating with artists like Meshell Ndegeocello, Archie Shepp, Shabaka Hutchings, and Jason Yarde, his music explores themes of Caribbean identity and the immigrant experience. His 2021 release, The Rich Are Only Defeated When Running for Their Lives, engaged with London’s modern jazz scene.