Commonwealth Poetry Podcast
by Gyles Brandreth & Aphra Brandreth
Poetry from around the world! A fortnightly celebration of Poetry and The Commonwealth - where award winning podcaster Gyles Brandreth and his daughter Aphra visit each of the 56 countries of the Commonwealth, meeting poets, performers and people who love poetry and discovering new poems each episode.
Episodes
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A Commonwealth Farewell with Baroness Scotland
In this special final episode of the Commonwealth Poetry Podcast, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth are joined by Baroness Patricia Scotland, the outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General. As they reflect on nearly 70 episodes celebrating the poetry, culture, and voices of the Commonwealth, Baroness…
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Next stop Nauru with Gem Dowiyogo
This week, Gyles and Aphra are heading to Nauru, the smallest country in the Commonwealth, to explore its culture, history, and poetry. They’re joined by the multi-talented Gem Dowiyogo, an artist, singer, and passionate advocate for Nauruan youth and heritage. Gem shares her journey of...
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Next Stop: Tonga with Anna Jane Lagi
In this fortnight’s episode join Gyles and Aphra Brandreth as they head to Tonga to chat with young poet Anna Jane Lagi. Anna’s poetry tackles everything from cultural identity to big issues like brain drain, domestic violence, and mental health. She shares her personal journey as a young Tongan...
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Revisiting Jamaica with Phleer Carter and Award Winning Poet Lorna Goodison
We start off the new year with a special episode featuring two extraordinary voices from Jamaica: artist, songwriter, and cultural force Phleer Carter AKA Ryan Carter, alongside the award-winning poet, Lorna Goodison. In this powerful conversation, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth dive deep into…
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Meet the winners of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024
Join us for a very special episode of the Commonwealth Poetry Podcast brought to you from Buckingham Palace to celebrate the winners of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 - the world's oldest international schools' writing competition. In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet…
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Exploring Papua New Guinea Through Poetry with Betty S. Chapau
In this fortnight's episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth sit down with Betty S. Chapau, a writer from Manus Province in Papua New Guinea, to discuss her journey of blending storytelling with her cultural roots. With a background in engineering, Betty shares how her Pacific Island heritage and...
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Next Stop Fiji with Daren Kamali aka DKPoet
In this fortnight’s episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth are exploring Fiji with Poet, writer, and musician Daren Kamali aka DKPoet. Now based in Aotearoa New Zealand, Daren was born and raised in Fiji and migrated to Aotearoa at the age of 17. He started his creative career busking street poetry on...
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Remembrance Sunday Special Episode
In this episode we listen back to Gyles and Aphra Brandreth’s interview with HRH The Duke of Kent, former President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and Royal biographer Hugo Vickers. Sharing a bonus poem read by Gyles, this is a special episode re-released for Remembrance Sunday.
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‘The Story of an African Child’, discovering Sierra Leone with Vicky the Poet
In this fortnight’s episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet teenage poet and activist Victoria Kanu. Better known as Vicky the Poet, she is a household name in Sierra Leone and a national icon who has used her talent to transform and impact lives. She is now a major voice for women and girls…
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Next stop Samoa with Audrey Brown-Pereira
In this fortnight’s episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth take a virtual trip to Samoa where the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will be held later this month. They’re joined by Audrey Brown-Pereira a Pasifika poet of Cook Islands Maori and Samoan descent, she now lives with her...
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Next Stop: Brunei Darussalam
In this fortnight’s episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet with poet, writer, and actor Hariz Fadhilah. Hariz explores themes of love, nature, culture, youth empowerment, and mental health in his poetry, writing in both English and Malay—sometimes blending the two. From an insightful discussion…
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Exploring South Africa with Nkateko Masinga
In this fortnight’s episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Nkateko Masinga, an award-winning South African writer and performance poet. Together they explore the influences from her early childhood and how she has interwoven her work and study of medicine with her poetry. She is intrigued by the...
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Exploring Grenada Through Poetry with Amy J.W. Jones
In this fortnight's episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth embark on a literary journey to Grenada, the "Island of Spice," with acclaimed Grenadian writer Amy J.W. Jones. Join us as Amy shares her early love for poetry, inspired by her father's passion, and discusses the social issues that have…
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Next stop Mauritius with Commonwealth Short Story Prize winner Reena Usha Rungoo
In this fortnight’s episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Mauritian-American writer Reena Usha Rungoo. Her short story, Dite, recently won the Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Africa. A writer, scholar, teacher, speaker, and mother. She is an assistant professor of literature at Harvard...
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Next stop The Kingdom of Eswatini with Njabulo N.
Journey to the smallest country in Southern Africa to find out more about the people and poetry of Eswatini (Formally known as Swaziland). In this fortnight’s episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet writer and poet Njabulo N, Njabulo Tumelo Nkambule, who shares his story and some of his early love...
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Queen Camilla and the Commonwealth Poetry Podcast
Marking the birthday of HM Queen Camilla on 17 July, Gyles Brandreth and Aphra Brandreth MP introduce a special episode of the Commonwealth Poetry Podcast, reprising our first ever episode recorded with Queen Camilla and the actress Dame Joanna Lumley at Clarence House in London and talking about...
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Next stop Vanuatu with Rebecca Tobo Olul-Hossen
In this fortnight’s episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Rebecca Tobo Olul-Hossen. A poet who grew up in Vanuatu, recalling her memories as a young girl living on the island of Tanna. A poet, storyteller, and editor, Rebecca co-edited Vanuatu’s first women’s anthology, Sista, Stanap Strong! She...
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Returning to Zambia
In this fortnight’s episode, Gyles and Aphra meet Vanessa Chisakula, a multifaceted artist who uses her work to challenge the status quo. Vanessa shares her story, growing up in a busy creative family her life changed when she became a mother. Inspired by spoken word poets, she started writing…
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Next Stop Togo with Dr Patron Henekou
In this fortnight’s episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth’s journey around the Commonwealth takes them to Togo, a West African country with a 32 mile coastline along the Gulf of Guinea. Togo is one of the newest members of the Commonwealth having joined in 2022. Speaking with award winning poet and...
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‘Poetry is the language of the heart’ – Discovering Tanzania with Neema Komba
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Tanzanian poet Neema Komba. Neema shares her poetry journey, from a terrible event that took place as a teenage girl in a hospital, to the point that she discovered poetry as a way to express herself, to becoming the co-founder of La Poetista, a...
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Next stop Kenya with poet and author Njeri Wangari
In this fortnight’s episode, join Gyles and Aphra Brandreth as they discover more about Kenya and its poetry. We hear from Njeri Wangari, a Kenyan poet and author, who is living in Nairobi, and has performed her poetry globally. She is one of the key contributors to a recently published poetry...
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Next stop Botswana with Barolong Seboni
In this fortnight’s episode, join Gyles and Aphra Brandreth as they find out more about Botswana and its rich poetic traditions. Speaking to Barolong Seboni, a distinguished retired academic and poet. Barolong shares his fun and insightful translations of Botswanan proverbs, offering a window…
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Next Stop Zambia with Dambisa Moyo
In this fortnight’s episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Baroness Dambisa Moyo who shares her story growing up in Zambia. Dambisa is an economist and author who has written books, including four New York Times Bestsellers. Dambisa was named in the list of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential...
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Next stop The Bahamas with Marion Bethel
In this fortnight’s episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Marion Bethel, an esteemed Bahamian poet and attorney. Bethel, renowned for her award-winning poetry collections like "Guanahani, My Love" and "Bougainvillea Ringplay," shares insights into her life, inspirations, and the vibrant…
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Exploring Malawi with poet and activist Tendai Shaba
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth speak to Tendai Shaba, a renowned Malawian poet and activist. Tendai shares how he has used poetry to campaign on issues including gender based violence, climate change and advocating for safe motherhood. Poems this episode include a poem in Chichewa...
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Next stop Barbados with spoken word poet Cyndi Celeste
Inspired to be a poet since the age of six when they saw the spoken word poet Adrian Green at the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts, Cyndi wrote their first spoken word poem nine years later. Since then, Cyndi has been a three-time NIFCA award winning poet who has represented…
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Next Stop Namibia with activist-poet Keamogetsi Joseph Molapong
In this podcast episode, join hosts Gyles and Aphra Brandreth as they engage in a compelling conversation with Namibian poet Keamogetsi Joseph Molapong. Broadcasting from Windhoek, Namibia's capital, Keamogetsi, an activist-poet, sheds light on his passion for using poetry as a tool to amplify…
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Next stop St Vincent and the Grenadines with spoken word poet Philip Nanton
In this fortnight’s episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth engage in a conversation with Philip Nanton, a writer and spoken word performer who was originally born in St Vincent and currently resides in Barbados. Philip shares his compelling story, breathes life into his poetry, and delves into his...
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Celebrating a ‘Youth Powered Commonwealth’ with Ayesha Dharker, Joanna Lumley, Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar.
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth celebrate young voices from across the Commonwealth featuring special guests, Ayesha Dharker, Joanna Lumley, Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar. We hear from the two young winners of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, 17 year old Siddhi Deshmukh…
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Celebrating Christmas with seasonal poems from around the Commonwealth
Gyles and Aphra Brandreth share some of their favourite seasonal poems in this special episode of the Commonwealth Poetry Podcast. Joined by staff and students from the University of Chester reading poems that remind them of Christmas, the Holidays and Home. This is the perfect episode to get you...
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How poetry changed my life, a special episode with Jaspreet Kaur
In this special episode of the Commonwealth Poetry Podcast Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Jaspreet Kaur, a spoken word artist, writer and teacher from East London. Jaspreet is committed to using writing and spoken word to tackle issues including mental health stigma, and in this episode she…
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The “Kingdom of the Sky” with Rethabile Masilo
This week Gyles and Aphra Brandreth’s journey takes them to Lesotho, a land locked, mountainous country in Africa. They speak to Rethabile Masilo, an award winning poet who is the author of four poetry collections: Things that are Silent (Pindrop Press, 2012), Waslap (The Onslaught Press, 2015),...
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In Conversation with Award Winning Indian Poet Sudeep Sen
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet award winning Indian poet Sudeep Sen. Born and raised in New Delhi, Sudeep eloquently shares his formative influences growing up in a Bengali household steeped in poetry, literature, music, and dance. Describing poetry as ‘the oldest form of art’,...
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Next stop Antigua & Barbuda with Joy Lawrence OH
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Joy Lawrence an educator, author of several books delving into the rich folklore and history of Antigua and Barbuda, and a talented poet. Joy's interest in her country's history was kindled when she discovered that Bethesda, her hometown, was home to...
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Exploring Ghana and its poetry with Apiorkor
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Apiorkor Seyiram Ashong-Abbey, a Ghanaian-American Poet, Author, Literary Critic, and Activist. Apiorkor shares her reflections on modern Ghana, speaking about her optimism her country, as well as her determination to speak out and explore important...
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Next stop, The Gambia - the smallest country in West Africa, bringing you some amazing poetry
In this episode Gyles & Aphra Brandreth’s journey around the Commonwealth takes them to The Gambia where they meet poet, short story writer, biographer and critic Dr Tijan M. Sallah, described by critics as one of Africa’s most significant poets and writers. Tijan shares his story growing up in...
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Exploring Wales and its poetry with Sioned Wiliam
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth explore the riches of the Welsh langue and Welsh poetry with author and British comedy award winner Sioned Wiliam. Sioned shares her story growing up in a Welsh speaking home, and her passion for the Welsh language and this beautiful country. Poems this...
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Bees and Poetry!
In this episode Gyles & Aphra Brandreth meet Gladstone Ewart Franklin Solomon, a beekeeper living in Tobago, who shares his passion for bees and honey. Find about Bees for Development, a global charity which has helped some of the world’s poorest people become self-sufficient through beekeeping…
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Discovering Singapore and its poetry with Eric Tinsay Valles
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth’s journey around the Commonwealth takes them to Singapore where they meet award winning poet and director of Poetry Festival Singapore, Eric Tinsay Valles. Painting a vivid picture of Singapore today, Eric recounts his personal journey of relocating to…
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Next stop Bangladesh with Mozammel Hossain KC
In this episode, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth explore the wonders of Bangladesh and its poetry with Mozammel Hossain KC. Mozammel shares his inspiring journey from a small village in Bangladesh to becoming the first Bengali-speaking Criminal lawyer in the UK to be appointed Queen’s Counsel. He...
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Exploring Dominica and it’s Poetry with Anella D Shillingford
Gyles and Aphra Brandreth speak to Dominican poet Anella D Shillingford. Anella is a poet and educator, teaching English Literature and History to Dominican students. In this episode Anella describes how her love for poetry and the arts developed growing up in the small but vibrant country of...
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Next stop Malaysia with award winning poet Bernice Chauly
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth’s journey of discovery leads them to South East Asia where they delve into the vibrant world of Malaysian poetry. Meeting with Bernice Chauly an award-winning Malaysian poet, novelist, educator, and former festival director, through heartfelt storytelling...
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Talking poetry, the Commonwealth & a cat called Attlee with The Speaker of the House of Commons
In a special episode of the Commonwealth Poetry Podcast, Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the British House of Commons. Recorded from the Palace of Westminster, Sir Lindsay discusses his commitment to strengthen and renew the UK’s ties with the Commonwealth and...
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Celebrating Fathers & Poetry
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth bring you a special episode celebrating Father’s Day. The father and daughter duo explore the origins of Father’s Day, and what it means to them. Remembering his own father, and his love of poetry, Gyles discusses the joy and benefits of learning poetry…
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Discovering St Lucia and its Poetry with Kendel Hippolyte
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Kendel Hippolyte an award winning poet, playwright, director and sporadic researcher into areas of Saint Lucian and Caribbean arts and culture. Kendel shares his love of St Lucia and its rich culture. Discussing the influence of poets including…
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Next stop Jamaica with award winning poet Lorna Goodison
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Jamaica’s former poet laureate Lorna Goodison. Recalling her upbringing growing up in a busy home where different influences shaped her voice, she still remembers the poetry she learned by heart as a child, reciting Wordsworth’s I Wandered Lonely as…
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Discovering Uganda ‘The Pearl of Africa’ with Patricia Kabuleeta
In this episode Gyles & Aphra Brandreth find out more about Uganda, once described by Winston Churchill as the ‘Pearl of Africa’. Speaking with Patricia Kabuleeta, Minister Counsellor at the Uganda High Commission in London, she shares her experiences growing up during the struggles in Uganda....
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Exploring Mozambique and its poetry
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth meet Albertina Mac Donald the High Commissioner for Mozambique in the UK. Discovering more about Mozambique and sharing poems that explore its past. Poems this episode include: If you Want to Know Me by Noemia de Sousa read by Wilma Terresa Vieira; and...
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Next stop Solomon Islands with Honorary Consul John Freeman
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth’s journey of discovery takes them to the Pacific to hear about Solomon Islands and its poetry. Meeting with the Honorary Consul for Solomon Islands in the UK, John Freeman, he shares his memories from his time spent there as a magistrate. On the islands...
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Talking Poetry and Pakistan
In this episode Gyles and Aphra Brandreth are at the Riverside Studios in London meeting Urdu poet Dr Javaid Sheikh and his daughter Fatima. Describing Pakistan in just a minute, both Javaid and Fatima talk about Pakistan as it was when Dr Sheikh was growing up, and Pakistan for them both today....
About this show
Poetry from around the world! A fortnightly celebration of Poetry and The Commonwealth - where award winning podcaster Gyles Brandreth and his daughter Aphra visit each of the 56 countries of the Commonwealth, meeting poets, performers and people who love poetry and discovering new poems each episode.
Hosted by
Gyles Brandreth & Aphra Brandreth
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