Poetry Room in Margate

We are delighted to bring Poetry Room to Margate Arts Club this September, featuring two special acts: a live performance extract from Akila Richards’ Mango Ritual show and a guest appearance by poet and visual artist Kareem Parkins-Brown. His work concerns grime, grief and humour. His debut poetry pamphlet Oi You Lot is out now with Little Betty.

Plus DJ Fever2Ray (African Night Fever) and our MC Akila M. Richards.

Sunday 14 September 2025
7:30pm-9pm (Doors 7pm)
Margate Arts Club, Margate.

Line-up
Kareem Parkins-Brown
Kareem Parkins-Brown is a writer and visual artist from London. His debut poetry pamphlet was BBC Radio 4’s Poetry Extra Book of the Month. He’s worked with The Greater London Authority, Barbican, Tate Britain, Royal Academy of Arts, Serpentine Gallery, The Poetry School, Poetry Society, The Roundhouse, Southbank Centre, Apples & Snakes, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, as well as community groups and classrooms. Kareem is a proud Barbican Poet Alumnus. He co-led the New Writers Collective and continues to mentor poets of all ages. He won the Roundhouse Slam and was almost Young Poet Laureate for London. Kareem’s happiest when watching Mean Girls or Carlito’s Way. His work concerns surrealism, humour, grief and community. His debut poetry pamphlet Oi You Lot is out now with Little Betty.

Mango Ritual
Inspired by Akila Richard’s ‘Ritual for a Mango’ poetry pamphlet launched in 2024, you are in for a treat. Be immersed in the requiem and rapture in what it means to be human and be enriched with a collective and grander vision. Award-winning poet and writer, Akila’s lyricism is accompanied by Cuban, Afro-Latin singer, songwriter and poet Adriana Lord and British-Congolese singer and multi-instrumentalist Liz Ikamba. Mango Ritual is a live performance of spoken word and music. *Content warning: In some of the poetry, there are mentions of refugee experience, war and conflict. Funded by Arts Council England’s National Lottery-funded Project Grant scheme. Supported by Writing Our Legacy, Creative Future, New Writing South and Brighton Dome.

Akila M. Richards
Akila Richards is a poet, writer and spoken word artist who has created work for theatre, exhibitions, audio installations, film and digital platforms at cultural and artistic events. Her most recent work is her Rest Experience initiative, which emerged from a residency at the Brighton Dome. She is a guest editor of Covert Magazine and her work is featured in the Glimpse anthology by Peepal Tree Press. Commissions included Witness Stand at Brighton Festival 2022 and a location-based story for the We Hear You Now audio journey in the South Downs National Park. Akila’s poetry publication Ritual for a Mango was published in 2024. She is writing her first novel.

Fever2Ray/Afright Night Fever
African Night Fever. In 2003, Ebou Touray from the Gambia and David Sijale from Tanzania, launched a monthly music night at the Babylon Lounge in Hove, showcasing the music and culture of Africa and the African diaspora. African Night Fever became a hub for local talent as people flocked to the nights in order to dance, mingle and experience a mix of Live bands and DJ sets. From that, sprang friendships, sharing and genuine community spirit. African Night Fever continues to evolve and partners with local venues and promotors throughout the UK to share a taste of African and Caribbean culture, belonging and community to a diverse range of audiences.