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Arnolfini - est 1961

As a part of Black History Month, Free Verse is celebrating incredible talents and is making space for you to share your voice in this inspiring evening presented by the Student’s Union at UWE Bristol. To sign up for the Spoken Word Open Mic and share the stage with our headliners, please head on to the booking page and select “Open Mic + Entry” ticket. These spaces are limited.

Open Mic Details

  • 4 minutes max.
  • Spoken word/poetry/monologue welcome.
  • Any queries, please email SUBower@uwe.ac.uk.

Performers Biography

Muneera Pilgrim is an international Poet, Cultural Producer, Writer, Community Researcher, Broadcaster, TEDx Speaker and WOW Festival Speaker. She conducts workshops, shares art, guest lectures, hosts, and finds alternative ways to educate and exchange ideas while focusing on methodologies of empowerment for non-centred people. At heart, Muneera is a storyteller, concerned with telling stories to disrupt mainstream narratives of non-centred people globally.

Her Debut Poetry collection ‘That Day She’ll Proclaim Her Chronicles’ was released in November 2021 through Burning Eye Books.

A colour photograph of Free Verse event performer, Muneera Pilgrim

Given and Manfred, better known as Stone Jets, have been slowly crafting their distinct yet familiar sound. Gaining fans wherever the music journey has taken them; Cape Town, London, Berlin, Madrid and Prague, Stone Jets maintains appeal and they are poised to take the industry by surprise. The fusion of Given’s vivid voice and Manfred’s guised guitar prowess, together with a simple-yet-substantial song writing style and powerful live shows, makes them a formidable force on the verge of eruption.

A colour photograph of Stone Jets on stage mid performance.

Saili Katebe is a Zambian born writer, performer and workshop facilitator based in South West England. His work celebrates the musicality of language and the power of art as a way to connect people through story and creativity. He was poet-in-residence on board SS Great Britain in 2019, and part of the “Iron Island” project bringing the ship back to life. Saili has appeared on stages across the country, including performances as a finalist at the BBC Edinburgh Festival Fringe Slam in 2018. He has featured on BBC Arts and BBC Radio Bristol. When he is not writing or performing his own work, he actively seeks out opportunities to collaborate with artists across other disciplines.

A colour photograph of Saili Katebe holding a mic, mid performance.