Uncomfortable Truths - Voices of the Commonwealth

This event will bring together four leading poets from across the commonwealth to explore the key festival themes for the Games celebrating both the diverse voices and perspectives but also reading powerful work challenging the uncomfortable truths of the Commonwealth and engaging in active discussions. The poets taking part are

Imtiaz Dharker is a poet, artist and video film-maker. She has seven poetry collections published by Bloodaxe and was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 2014.

Peter Mackay is a poet, broadcaster, translator, originally from the Isle of Lewis. He is a Professor in the School of English at the University of St Andrews and in 2024 was appointed Scottish Makar.

Nick Makoha is a Ugandan poet and playwright based in London and the founder of Obsidian Foundation. His most recent collection, The New Carthaginians (Penguin, 2025), was shortlisted for the 2025 T.S. Eliot Prize. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (RSL) and one of the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2025.

Fawzia Muradali Kane is an architect and poet. She was born in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, and her second poetry collection Guaracara was published by Carcanet Press in 2025. She has been a prize winner in both the National Poetry competition and the Forward poetry prize

The event is free
(supported by St Mungo’s Mirrorball, Waterstones and the Glasgow2026 Festival Fund) Any queries relating to event email [email protected]

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