COVENTRY has crowned its new Poets Laureate for 2025-27.
Andrea Mbarushimana and Diamond Kayode-Osunlana have been awarded the respective titles of Coventry Poet Laureate and Coventry Young Poet Laureate by Coventry Central Library, following a challenging selection process to achieve the prestigious titles.
Andrea’s poetry journey started early with a love of children’s verse.
Her first collection, ‘The Africa in my House’, was published in 2017, followed by the competition-winning ‘Airshow’ in 2019 and ‘Fatbergs’ in 2021.
Her latest collection, ‘Chatbot’, was published this year by Hedgehog Press.
Diamond is a 16 year-old writer whose work provokes deep thought, and bursts with rhythm.
Hailing from Coventry, Diamond blends spoken word poetry and page poetry to explore community, society, and identity – on a personal level, and on a wider scale.
Both poets performed their work at a special event at the Smithford Way library.
Coun Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills at Coventry City Council, said: “I’d like to congratulate Andrea and Diamond for their achievement in becoming Poets Laureate for Coventry for the next two years and in representing our city nationally through verse.
“The importance of poetry, performance and reading for pleasure is invaluable for our emotional enrichment, literacy, learning and future attainment.
During the celebration event, Coventry’s outgoing Poets Laureate for 2023-25, John Bernard (adult) and Aamani Kanda (young), were thanked and read some of their works.
The Coventry Poet Laureate and Coventry Young Poet Laureate are honorary positions which will involve writing poems to commemorate significant moments, giving performances of their work, and encouraging an interest in poetry across the city.
Andrea will be offered a place on Writing West Midlands’ prestigious Room 204 Writer Development Programme.
Diamond will be given free membership of Writing West Midlands’ Spark Young Writers Programme.
