Commonwealth Poetry Podcast

In this special final episode of the Commonwealth Poetry Podcast, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth are joined by Baroness Patricia Scotland, the outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General. As they reflect on nearly 70 episodes celebrating the poetry, culture, and voices of the Commonwealth, Baroness Scotland shares her insights on the power of the Commonwealth and the enduring strength of poetry. Featuring Maya Angelou’s Still I Rise and Psalm 23, this episode marks the end of an extraordinary journey—at least for now. Thank you for being part of the adventure!

This week, Gyles and Aphra are heading to Nauru, the smallest country in the Commonwealth, to explore its culture, history, and poetry. They’re joined by the multi-talented Gem Dowiyogo, an artist, singer, and passionate advocate for Nauruan youth and heritage. Gem shares her journey of reconnecting with her roots and keeping Nauru’s stories alive through art and song. This episode features Soon Enough by Maura Eidabugi Thoma, a powerful poem about the impact of phosphate mining on the country, as well as a small glimpse of a beautiful Nauruan love song - Eko Iyon by singer-songwriter Ditrone Tom.

In this fortnight’s episode join Gyles and Aphra Brandreth as they head to Tonga to chat with young poet Anna Jane Lagi. Anna’s poetry tackles everything from cultural identity to big issues like brain drain, domestic violence, and mental health. She shares her personal journey as a young Tongan woman and how she’s shaping her own culture through her art. Poems this episode include: Send my love; Go and Come Back: and I was young once too, all by Anna Jane Lagi.

We start off the new year with a special episode featuring two extraordinary voices from Jamaica: artist, songwriter, and cultural force Phleer Carter AKA Ryan Carter, alongside the award-winning poet, Lorna Goodison. In this powerful conversation, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth dive deep into Jamaica's rich artistic landscape, blending the rhythms of music with the power of poetry.

Phleer Carter takes us on a musical journey through Jamaica’s vibrant scene, sharing his creative process and how his roots have shaped his art. From the pulse of reggae to the soulful echoes of island life, Phleer reveals the stories behind his songs and the deeper connection to his homeland.

Meanwhile, Lorna Goodison, whose poetry has captivated audiences around the world, reflects on her own journey—from her childhood immersed in Jamaica’s eclectic influences to winning the Commonwealth Poetry Prize in 1986. Lorna shares her reflections on love, justice, and the indomitable spirit of the Jamaican people, reading from her powerful collection of poetry, including The Road of the Dread, After the Green Gown of My Mother Gone Down, and Guinea Woman.

This episode is a celebration of Jamaica’s artistic soul, where music and poetry intertwine to tell the stories of love, loss, and the unbreakable spirit of a nation. Tune in for an inspiring exploration of Jamaica’s culture through the eyes of two of its most influential voices.

Don’t miss this unforgettable conversation that resonates with the heart of the Caribbean.

Join us for a very special episode of the Commonwealth Poetry Podcast brought to you from Buckingham Palace to celebrate the winners of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 - the world's oldest international schools' writing competition. In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet the brilliant young winners and hear from some of the supporters of the Royal Commonwealth Society. Guests this episode include actors Tanya Reynolds and Toby Stephens, comedian Richard Ayoade and award winning journalist Clive Myree. Alongside the exec chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Linda Yueh CBE, and the brilliant young winners: Evangeline Khoo – Senior Winner, Erynn Liew – Junior Winner, Cristabelle Yeo – Senior Runner Up, and Victor Kiyaga – Junior Runner Up. Their winning essays can be read online at https://www.royalcwsociety.org/post/qcec2024winners

In this fortnight's episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth sit down with Betty S. Chapau, a writer from Manus Province in Papua New Guinea, to discuss her journey of blending storytelling with her cultural roots. With a background in engineering, Betty shares how her Pacific Island heritage and childhood surrounded by traditional stories inspired her to write. She talks about her first published essay, "Harim Mi," featured in the My Walk to Equality anthology in 2017, and her recent poem, “A Love Letter,” published in Pasefika Presence in 2023. Now a full-time mother, Betty runs her own writing website, Pihindras, where she continues to keep her culture alive through her words.

In this fortnight’s episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth are exploring Fiji with Poet, writer, and musician Daren Kamali aka DKPoet. Now based in Aotearoa New Zealand, Daren was born and raised in Fiji and migrated to Aotearoa at the age of 17. He started his creative career busking street poetry on the city streets of Auckland and since then has produced two music albums and published several books of poetry.

Poems this episode include: Vunimaqo and Mangoes Grew Us both from his collection Vunimaqo and me by Daren Kamali; and The giant unleashed, a spoken word poem also by Daren Kamali.

In this episode we listen back to Gyles and Aphra Brandreth’s interview with HRH The Duke of Kent, former President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and Royal biographer Hugo Vickers. Sharing a bonus poem read by Gyles, this is a special episode re-released for Remembrance Sunday.

In this fortnight’s episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet teenage poet and activist Victoria Kanu. Better known as Vicky the Poet, she is a household name in Sierra Leone and a national icon who has used her talent to transform and impact lives. She is now a major voice for women and girls within the country and beyond. Vicky started writing poetry from the age of 5, but it was a poem that she wrote following the mudslides in 2017 that destroyed hundreds of buildings in the capital, killing over a thousand people and leaving thousands homeless, which caught the attention of the world. Since then, with the support of her father and mentor Alim Kanu she has written and performed numerous poems highlighting the conditions for young people particularly young girls living in Sierra Leone.

Poems this episode include: The mother by Elizabeth L A Kamara; and A heart Reaching, The Story of an African Child from the book Unfinished Business, The story of Kadiatu, Down Memory Lane in Sierra Leone, and Nightmares of the Internet, all by Victoria Kanu.

In this fortnight’s episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth take a virtual trip to Samoa where the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will be held later this month. They’re joined by Audrey Brown-Pereira a Pasifika poet of Cook Islands Maori and Samoan descent, she now lives with her family in Samoa and works for an environmental organisation that serves the Pacific region. Audrey, known for her innovative approach to poetry and her playful use of text on the page, offers unique insights into how poetry can open doors to worlds previously unknown. Poems this episode include: 'They Taking Pictures of Us in the Water'  and 'May she rest in Peace' both by Audrey Brown-Pereira from her book 'A-wake-(e)nd' (2023), and 'a fantastical affair: transistor radio transmission receive' from her book 'Passages in between I(s)lands' (2014).