Lemn Sissay (writer)

Lemn Sissay (born 21 May 1967) is a poet, memoirist, playwright, curator and broadcaster. He was born in Billinge Hospital in Wigan. This page lists his career in chronological and thematic order.

Early life (0–18)

Sissay was fostered by The Authority for the first 12 years after which he lived in four institutions for five years: Woodfields, Gregory Avenue, Oaklands and Wood End. His first apartment (at 18) was in Poets Corner in Atherton.^[1]

Personal life

Sissay met his mother in The Gambia when he was 21. He met his father’s daughter in Ethiopia when he was 28. He met his father’s sons and another daughter in Virginia and Washington DC when he was 29. He met his father’s brothers and sisters in Boston, Seattle and San Francisco when he was 29. He met his mother’s son and daughters in Paris, Senegal and New York when he was 32.^[2]

Education

Sissay attended RL Hughes Infant School and RL Hughes Junior School. He attended Birchall Secondary and Leigh C of E High School in Leigh.

Fellowships

2023 Hon. Fellow of Mansfield College Oxford
2022 Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature
2015–2022 Chancellor of University of Manchester
2021–2023 Hon. Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge
2023 Fellow of The Ethiopian Academy of Sciences
2014–15 Fellow of The Foundling Museum.

Hon. Doctorates

2023 Leicester University
2022 University of Essex
2018 University of Kent
2019 Brunel University
2015 University of Manchester
2009 Huddersfield

Trusteeship

2026 Factory International (present)
2026 The Gold from the Stone Foundation (present)
2020–2026 The Foundling Museum

Career

Sissay is a Sunday Times bestselling author. He co-edited a book with The Princess of Wales and has travelled the world as a writer.
1989 to now: Writer
1987–89: Asian and Afro Caribbean Writers development worker at Commonword (established Cultureword)
1986/87: Self‑employed gutter cleaner – A.S.W.A.D. Gutter cleaning service

Books

1985 Perception of the pen (out of print)
1988 Tender Fingers in A Clenched Fist (Bogle L'Ouverture)
1992 Rebel Without Applause (Bloodaxe)
1998 The Fire People (editor, Canongate)
1999 Morning Breaks in The Elevator (Canongate)
2000 The Emperor's Watchmaker (Bloomsbury)
2006 Something Dark (Oberon)
2008 Listener (Canongate)
2013 Refugee Boy (adapt. Bloomsbury)
2016 Gold From The Stone (Canongate)
2019 My Name is Why (Canongate)
2021 Hold Still (co-edited National Portrait Gallery)
2022 Don't Ask the Dragon (Canongate)
2023 Let the Light Pour In (Canongate)

Theatre

2023 Metamorphosis (Frantic Assembly)
2017 The Report (Royal Court)
2013 Refugee Boy (West Yorkshire Playhouse)
2009 Why I don’t hate White People (Contact Theatre)
2004 Something Dark (BAC / Contact)
2002 Storm (Contact)
1993 Skeletons in the Cupboard (Bury Metro Arts)
1994 Chaos by Design (Community Arts Workshop Manchester)

Music

Sissay was a member of the band Secret Society, performing from The Hacienda to Jazz Cafe. In 1994 featured on Disjam Phuturing (Yo Momma Records). 1995 featured on Leftfield album Leftism. In 2017 ‘Spark Catchers’ inspired a concerto by Hannah Kendall at BBC Proms (most viewed YouTube Prom). 2021 poems at Proms with Morpurgo & Kanneh‑Masons. 2005 Fraiser Trainer concerto inspired by ‘Advice for the living’. 2017 Baba Maal featured Sissay on Traveller. 2022 ‘Making a Difference’ on Leftfield album It’s What We Do.

Public Art

Landmark poems on walls & sculptures: 2024 Folkestone, 2021 Chorlton‑on‑Medlock, Hackney Mosaic, 2018 Chester, 2017 Old Trafford, Hull, 2016 Addis Ababa, 2015 Willesden Library, 2014 Greenwich, Surrey Quays, 2012 Olympics, Royal London Hospital, 2008 City of London, Shudehill, 2014 Huddersfield, Foundling Museum, 2013 Manchester Uni, Toynbee Hall, 2006–12 Southbank, 1998 Rain Manchester, 1994 Hardy’s Well.

Curator

2026 Tell Me Something About Family online project.
2023 First Ethiopia Pavilion at Venice Biennale.
2022 Superheroes exhibition Foundling Museum.
2020–22 Guest curator Brighton Festival.
2020–24 Artistic advisor Manchester International Festival.
2020 Co‑curator with Hans Ulrich Obrist: Poet Slash Artist.
2017 Warrior Words Canterbury.
2013 Salander Roundhouse.

Performance

Performed worldwide: USA, Australia, Bali, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China, Denmark, Dubai, Ethiopia, Eritrea, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Holland, India, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, UK, Zimbabwe.

Screen

Documentaries: 2023 The Memory of Me (BBC1), 2024 My Life at Christmas (BBC2), 2018 Superkids (C4), 1995 Internal Flight (BBC2).

Sound

Radio: 2011 One Love (BBC World Service), 2012 Great Lives (R4), 2013 An English Journey (R4), 2015 Landmark Poetics, Homecoming (R4), Desert Island Discs, Deliverance (R3), 2016 My Muse Bob Marley, 2016–24 Origin Stories, 2019 Into the Gap, Social Enterprise, 2023 Lemn Sissay is the One and Only.

Judge

Booker Prize, International Booker, Forward Poetry Prize, Arvon, Ted Hughes, Sky Arts, Foyles, Bridport, Charles Causley & many more.

Activism

Inspired by 2012 Tope Christmas Dinner, founded The Christmas Dinners for care leavers (2013). Now 170+ dinners across 30+ cities. The Gold from the Stone Foundation supports them.
Other activism: 1984 joined National Association of Young People in Care & Black and in Care. 2021 gathered care leavers for historic Guardian photo. 2015 took Wigan Council to court over childhood abuse; settled in 2018 for £100,000.

Awards

2010 MBE, 2021 Indie Book Award (Non‑Fiction), 2021 OBE, 2022 Pen Pinter Prize, 2022 Ness Award (Royal Geographic Society), 2023 Freedom of City of London, 2024 Hay Medal for Poetry.

Residencies

2018 Canterbury Poet Laureate, 2012 Official Poet of London Olympics, 2006–12 Artist in Residence Southbank Centre, 1996–2002 Contact Theatre Manchester.

References