Lemn Sissay

Lemn Sissay is a master of the spoken word, a leading author and broadcaster, who served as the official poet of the 2012 London Olympics. Performing his poetry worldwide, Lemn has built a global reputation for his accomplished literary works over the last three decades. Having grown up in foster care, Lemn shares anecdotes of his experiences in his speaking engagements, covering the impact it has had on his life journey and the long-lasting mental implications. He also discusses his literary works and building hope and resilience.

Born in Lancashire in 1967, Lemn, whose biological mother hails from Ethiopia, was placed immediately into foster care. At 12 years of age, his foster parents who now had three children of their own, placed him in a children’s home, expressing that they would no longer be in contact with him. A devastating ordeal which had a significant impact on Lemn’s mental health. Between the age of 12-17, he changed homes four times, depriving him of any form of stability. Upon reaching legal age, he was given his birth certificate and an old letter from his mother. This would launch a search for his mother, which would culminate with him finding her working for the UN in Gambia at 21.

Expressing his emotions in his poetry, at 17, Lemn published his first poetry pamphlet, which was funded by his unemployment benefits. He moved to Manchester at 18 and began working as a Literature Development Worker at Commonword. Lemn published his first poetry book at 21, initiating a long successful literary career. Describing his childhood in the play, Something Dark, the BBC were so impressed with his work that they adapted it to BBC Radio 3, where it won the UK Commission for Racial Equality in the Media Award. His work has since been featured in the Royal Academy and British Film Institute, and he has appeared on Channel 4, BBC Radio 4 and BBC News.

A former Chancellor at The University of Manchester, Lemn sits on the Foundling Museum’s board of trustees. In 2010, he was appointed MBE, and in 2021, he gained an OBE for services to literature and charity. In recognition of his distinguished literary work, he was awarded the 2019 PEN Pinter Prize and selected as a judge on the Booker Prize Panel. A consummate writer, broadcaster and poet, Lemn is an esteemed figure in the world of literature. He is also an exceptional orator who has spoken at TEDx events repeatedly. Now he is available to hire for speaking engagements, where he candidly speaks about his childhood struggles, mental health and literary work.