Damilola inspired poet makes shortlist for Forward Prize

London’s first Young People’s Laureate whose work includes a poem dedicated to Damilola Taylor, has been shortlisted for a prestigious Forward Prize.

Caleb Femi, a film-maker and photographer, is one of five poets that have been shortlisted for the £5000 Felix Dennis prize for Best First Collection. Using poetry and photography, his first collection ‘Poor’ is an exploration of the lives and times of his community in north Peckham. ‘How to Pronounce: Peckham’ is one of the central poems in the collection, which is dedicated to Damilola Taylor who Femi knew.

The winner will be announced in October 2021.