GIFTED wordsmith John Bernard has been named as Coventry’s new poet laureate.
Poet and rapper John was a finalist for BBC Words First 2020 and toured with BBC Bitesize, helping young people to get into creative careers.
He was commissioned by Formula 1 Silverstone 2023 to write and perform poems and said he strives to be a voice for the unheard, a source of inspiration, and a catalyst for positive change.
Meanwhile, Aamani Kanda was named as the city’s newest Young Poet Laureate.
Aamani is currently studying for her A-Levels and said she was hoping to bring passionate advocacy to this role through her poems and create a real sense of community.
The roles are honourary positions which the duo will fill for the next two years.
Their duties will involve writing poems to commemorate significant moments, giving performances of their work and encouraging an interest in poetry across the city.
A special event was held on Tuesday to name the new poets laureate, while also celebrating the work of outgoing duo Emilie Lauren Jones and Hawwa Hussain.
The pair became Coventry’s first Poets Laureate as part of its City of Culture year.
