Raise the Bar presents Poems of Diaspora! — an evening of powerful voices spanning four continents, featuring headline poets Daljit Nagra, Maureen Onwunali, Bohdan Piasecki and Chloe Tenesha Giles, alongside Raise the Bar’s resident DJ spinning global sounds.
Raise the Bar’s Spring show is presented as part of DIASPORA! 2026. Expect dynamic, thought-provoking and life-affirming night from the South West’s leading live poetry event.
DALJIT NAGRA
Daljit Nagra is a poet, Professor of Creative Writing at Brunel University, radio presenter of the weekly Poetry Extra. Former Chair of the Royal Society of Literature, he is on the Council of Society of Authors, a national advisor to Poetry By Heart, and a PBS New Generation Poet. He has written five poetry collections, all with Faber & Faber, and has won the Forward Prize for Best Individual Poem and Best First Book, the South Bank Show Decibel Award and the Cholmondeley Award. His new collection, Yiewsley, is forthcoming with Faber in May 2026.
Daljit was born in London to Sikh parents from Punjab, India, and currently lives in London.
MAUREEN ONWUNALI
Maureen Onwunali is a Dublin-born Nigerian poet and a two-time national slam champion. Her work has been featured by various musicians, radio shows and organisations, including BFI, Pearson, Penguin, BBC Radio London, Roundhouse, TEDx, Apples and Snakes, and the Poetry Society.
BOHDAN PIASECKI
Bohdan Piasecki is a poet from Poland, now living in Birmingham. A committed performer, he has taken his poems from the upstairs room in an Eastbourne pub to the main stage of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, from underground Tokyo clubs to tramways in Paris, from a bookshop in Beijing to an airfield in Germany, from niche podcasts to BBC Radio. Bohdan was awarded the Forward Prize for Best Single Poem: Performed in 2023, the category’s inaugural year.
Bohdan founded the first poetry slam in Poland before moving to the UK to get a doctorate in translation studies. He is Assistant Professor in Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham, works as a Creative Producer, and sits on the board of the Poetry Translation Centre.
CHLOE TENESHA GILES
Chloe Tenesha Giles aka TENÉSHAS is a poet and spoken word artist originally from Bristol, now based in London, and of Caribbean descent. Her work has taken her across the UK to facilitate and perform, and in 2025 she reached the finals of the Roundhouse Poetry Slam. Her work explores the bridge between inner and outer worlds. She believes in the Baldwinian idea that “the intangible dreams of people have a tangible effect on the world” and uses her poetry to question the worlds within and around us.
RAISE THE BAR
Raise the Bar is the South West’s leading live poetry night, showcasing national and international poetry alongside local talent for over 10 years. As an artist development platform, Raise the bar also runs open mics, workshops and writing retreats for poets and writers.
‘One of my absolute favourite poetry nights‘ – Hollie McNish
‘One of the best poetry nights in the country’ – Rafeef Ziadah
‘Raise the Bar is one of the most professionally run and dynamically curated events in the country, poetry or otherwise’ – Harry Baker
CONTENT WARNING
Poetry events include performers sharing personal accounts which you may relate to in some way. This may include content that is potentially upsetting or triggering. We provide a general content warning at the beginning of each event.
SAFE SPACE
Raise the Bar has a zero tolerance policy towards hate, discrimination and abuse of any kind. Our staff team will work together to ensure the space is respectful and welcoming at all times.
Banner image: (left to right) Daljit Nagra, Maureen Onwunali, Chloe Tenesha, Bohdan Piasecki