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FRIDAY
APRIL 30
DUKE OF YORK 8.00PM
Born and raised
in Liverpool by his Jamaican parents, Levi Tafari discovered
an early talent for verbalising on the many sound systems
in and around his hometown.
In his 20’s he started attending the Liverpool 8 Writers
Workshop desperately seeking a new medium of expression. It
was the early 80’s and there was a performance poetry
explosion happening in Britain and Levi had began to make
a big impression on the performance scene. A firm member of
the Rastafarian movement, although his early performances
were in that community, he saw it as his duty to reach a wider
audience.
Liverpool 8 was receiving a lot of negative press but with
the support of his community Levi started to take his poetry
further afield, his writing began to take on universal themes
which meant that he was not only getting his message through
to ever wider audiences.
Levi’s work is deeply rooted in the oral tradition and
has often been described as an Urban Griot, the griot being
the traditional consciousness raiser, storyteller, newscaster
and political agitator. His words move to a strong reggae
beat, but it’s also very humorous. In the past he has
teamed up with reggae and soul bands. He recently spent two
seasons as poet in residence with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra.
Levi has three collections of his poetry published and he
continues to perform his work on television and in venues
all over the globe.
Tickets £5.00 from the Festival Office on 028
9023 2403 and Belfast Welcome Centre on 028 9024 6609
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