We’re thrilled that Griot Gabriel’s poem ‘Where I’m From’, performed at Slamovision 2024, has been shortlisted for Best Single Poem – Performed.  The Forward Prizes for Poetry are the most influential awards for new poetry in the UK and Ireland, honouring bold new voices alongside internationally celebrated names.

First awarded in 1992, the Prizes have recognised some of the most iconic poets of the last 30+ years — including Simon Armitage, Thom Gunn, Seamus Heaney, Ted Hughes, Carol Ann Duffy, Claudia Rankine, Jackie Kay and Caleb Femi.

Griot Gabriel is a hip-hop influenced poet, and youth worker in Manchester. He describes himself as ‘Underdog, Under armour, Under God’. His poetry explores race, resistance, personal identity and relevant social issues. In a very short space of time as a creative, Griot Gabriel has been commissioned to write and perform with Chanel, Warner Bros, Manchester United, Manchester International Festival, performed at Glastonbury 23, and performed at the opening book launch of Jason Reynolds (the creator of Miles Morales, Spiderman).

This year’s shortlist spans debut collections, career-defining work, and powerful individual poems — written and performed. The 2025 shortlist was selected by a judging panel chaired by award-winning novelist Sarah Hall, alongside acclaimed poets Lisa Kelly, Hannah Lavery, Sean O’Brien, and Rommi Smith. Together, they read over 214 poetry collections and reviewed 340 single poems to uncover the most exciting poetry published in the British Isles this year.