"A book of raging beauty, of political purpose and stories that tie us to our humanity. It’s the kind of book I love, resplendent with dark, uncompromising imagery, and metaphors. An impressive debut."
- Joelle Taylor, Poet
- Joelle Taylor, Poet
jam is for girls, girls get jam
the collection
voted top 5 best of bristol books 2017 by B24/7
"Published by Bristol-based Burning Eye Books, Iqbal’s debut poetry collection captures the spirit, wit and power of her live performances wonderfully as she portrays the ignored and overlooked layers and struggles of women’s lives."
founder
The YoniVerse poetry collective
"A stunning collection of poems that hold a torch up to the most fragile parts of a woman'e existence. Her considerate illumination of experience leaves you validated but aching - her narratives are important -, heart wrenching and relatable - the type of poetry you wish you had the courage to write."
- gal-dem magazine
- gal-dem magazine
Free expression, new voices, and taking up space.
We believe in equality, in loudness, in hope. We believe in owning our narratives, celebrating the diversity of the SA diaspora and identity, in encouraging women and girls to be unapologetically outspoken by creating platforms and hearing their stories.
Join us at our open mic night 'Golden Tongue' and monthly writers' workshop.
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Supported by Arts Council England and Apples and Snakes
We believe in equality, in loudness, in hope. We believe in owning our narratives, celebrating the diversity of the SA diaspora and identity, in encouraging women and girls to be unapologetically outspoken by creating platforms and hearing their stories.
Join us at our open mic night 'Golden Tongue' and monthly writers' workshop.
***
Supported by Arts Council England and Apples and Snakes
borders poetry film
"Sometimes tender, sometimes angry, sometimes heartbreaking, Shagufta's poetry is a socio-political masterclass in its exploration of cities, culture, race, food and family."
- Nikesh Shukla, Novelist and Editor of The Good Immigrant
- Nikesh Shukla, Novelist and Editor of The Good Immigrant
In the 1970s women from the Indian subcontinent who migrated to the UK to join their spouses were routinely subjected to virginity testing examinations.
The exact number of women who were subjected to this procedure is unknown, however, it is estimated that over 80 women had experienced this invasive examination.
This film could not have been made without the dedication of all those involved, I hope we have created a film that documents migrant history and raises awareness in a sensitive and empathetic way.
The film as been screened at London Short Film Festival, Glasgow Short Film Festival, Encounters Film Festival, and Tongues on Fire Asian Film Festival, Athena Film Festival, Belfast Human Rights Festival. The success of the film resulted in awards for best writer and best editor at Underwire Film Festival, and winner of best experimental film with WVN Film Festival and winner of the Zealous Emerge Film prize.
The exact number of women who were subjected to this procedure is unknown, however, it is estimated that over 80 women had experienced this invasive examination.
This film could not have been made without the dedication of all those involved, I hope we have created a film that documents migrant history and raises awareness in a sensitive and empathetic way.
The film as been screened at London Short Film Festival, Glasgow Short Film Festival, Encounters Film Festival, and Tongues on Fire Asian Film Festival, Athena Film Festival, Belfast Human Rights Festival. The success of the film resulted in awards for best writer and best editor at Underwire Film Festival, and winner of best experimental film with WVN Film Festival and winner of the Zealous Emerge Film prize.
Hatchling
Plymouth Mayflower 400 Festival
Shagufta K Iqbal - The Calling.
The Hatchling (produced by Trigger Stuff) was a ground-breaking outdoor theatrical performance that unfolded and took flight over a weekend of events and reached an extraordinary finale over the coast of Plymouth, on 14 and 15 August 2021.
Listen to other poems from the day here: www.applesandsnakes.org/project/the-hatchling
Find out more about The Hatching, and Trigger here:
www.triggerstuff.co.uk
Haat
love letters
a work in progress
"Shagufta's poems explore the untold stories of women's lives. She offers a truth about women's experience and shines a light on ignored aspects of women's history. Her poetry is vivid, sensory, beautiful - often funny and often moving. She is a real talent and a voice that needs to be heard."
- Sian Norris, Novelist
- Sian Norris, Novelist
In the '70s and '80s early Pakistani migrants to the UK would not send letters but cassette tapes back and forth between the two continents.
Currently working on a piece that focuses on these cassette tapes, that act as time capsules documenting stories of belonging, separation, longing, and making a new life in a new country. Exploring these themes, Shagufta K will take audience members through a journey bought to life by the voices of relatives from 40 years ago. Using spoken word, the immediacy of this bilingual show will transport the audience to 1980s Britain, and the villages of the Punjab voiced by the real stories of her ancestors. This is a unique historical project bringing to light the marginalised voices of the migrant experience through poetry and theatre, this piece deftly merges urban spoken word techniques with the traditional ‘sufi’ oral storytelling form of the Punjab region.
Currently working on a piece that focuses on these cassette tapes, that act as time capsules documenting stories of belonging, separation, longing, and making a new life in a new country. Exploring these themes, Shagufta K will take audience members through a journey bought to life by the voices of relatives from 40 years ago. Using spoken word, the immediacy of this bilingual show will transport the audience to 1980s Britain, and the villages of the Punjab voiced by the real stories of her ancestors. This is a unique historical project bringing to light the marginalised voices of the migrant experience through poetry and theatre, this piece deftly merges urban spoken word techniques with the traditional ‘sufi’ oral storytelling form of the Punjab region.
re-thinking the mosque
Shagufta tells vivid stories with a fearlessness that is both compelling and contagious.
- Vanessa Kisuule, Poet and Bristol City Poet
- Vanessa Kisuule, Poet and Bristol City Poet
Working with local communities in Rome to facilitate successful research with collaborative participatory arts to improve inter-faith communication and cross-cultural dialogue in urban planning contexts.
A series of workshops aimed at local stakeholders to encourage discussions around the re-imagining of the Mosque: Sacred Spaces and the City. The workshops were held in a local community space, familiar to participants. The workshops took place in a multi-lingual environment, encouraging contribution from a wide range of participants. Where they drew on existing poetic traditions from Urdu, Arabic, Persian, English with Italian translations, and examined the relationship between people, place, safe and sacred spaces.
The workshops consisted of walking tours to look at the overlap between geographical landscape and personal migrant histories. Which enabled participants to focus on poetry in creating a response to the conversations between physical space and personal stories.
A series of workshops aimed at local stakeholders to encourage discussions around the re-imagining of the Mosque: Sacred Spaces and the City. The workshops were held in a local community space, familiar to participants. The workshops took place in a multi-lingual environment, encouraging contribution from a wide range of participants. Where they drew on existing poetic traditions from Urdu, Arabic, Persian, English with Italian translations, and examined the relationship between people, place, safe and sacred spaces.
The workshops consisted of walking tours to look at the overlap between geographical landscape and personal migrant histories. Which enabled participants to focus on poetry in creating a response to the conversations between physical space and personal stories.
Kiota
A collective of Black & People of Colour (BPoC) Creatives in Bristol
Join us for KIOTA: A Collective For BPoC Creatives in Bristol, showcasing Black & People of Colour (BPoC) Creatives from various Artistic disciplines performing, followed by networking opportunities. This is a Solidarity Space that celebrates BPOC excellence! All are welcome to support the quarterly shows at The Wardrobe Theatre
Join us for KIOTA: A Collective For BPoC Creatives in Bristol, showcasing Black & People of Colour (BPoC) Creatives from various Artistic disciplines performing, followed by networking opportunities. This is a Solidarity Space that celebrates BPOC excellence! All are welcome to support the quarterly shows at The Wardrobe Theatre
