Please join us the Nicolás Guillén room for an evening with renowned author and broadcaster, Lemn Sissay. Sissay released his first book of poetry in 1988 at the age of 21, and since the age of 24 he has been a full-time writer, performing internationally. In 1995, he made the BBC documentary Internal Flight about his life. His 2005 drama Something Dark deals with his search for his family, and was adapted for BBC Radio 3 in 2006, winning the RIMA award (Race in the Media award given from the UK Commission for Racial Equality). In 2007, Sissay was appointed artist in residence at London's Southbank Centre. He was the official poet of the 2012 London Olympics, has worked with the British Council and is a patron of the Letterbox Club, supporting children in care. His work has featured at the Royal Academy and the British Film Institute.[12][13][14] Sissay was made an Honorary Doctor of Letters by University of Huddersfield in 2009 and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 New Year Honors. Sissay's television appearances include The South Bank Show and the BBC's series Grumpy Old Men. As a radio broadcaster Sissay makes documentaries for the BBC. He is a regular contributor on BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live, which in 2008 was nominated for two Sony Awards. He also contributes to the BBC's Book Panel.
