Akiba Azad

South Shields-based Akiba Azad is a British-Bengali poet who by her own admission ‘didn’t set out to be a poet,’ yet considers it to be fated none the less. Drawn to the ideas of ‘imagery and storytelling being told in confinement’, and ‘the manipulation of space’ that comes through this process, her poetic influences include Victoria Chang, Fatimah Asghar and an alumnus of our New Poets Collective, Sanah Ahsan.

One of the things that Azad continues to love most about poetry is the opportunities it provides to forge connections, ‘from initial ideas to finalised pieces, through hearing audiences’ reactions and thoughts, to engaging with poets and their work’.

‘I’m proud of every part of my poetry journey, especially learning that my words can impact people, sparking reactions and conversations’

For Azad, being a part of A Poet in Every Port ‘means a lot’, and she is looking forward to the opportunity to develop ‘creatively and professionally’ during the project. She is particularly ‘excited to encourage the people of South Shields to interact with poetry’ and share the results of their work.