The Fire People: A Collection of British Black and Asian Poetry

by Lemn Sissay

This seminal collection of Black British poets ignited a movement when it was first published in 1998. It celebrated the rising stars of the time, many of whom have since become established names.

Inspired and influenced by roots, reggae and hip-hop, this anthology is edited by number one bestselling author and poet Lemn Sissay.

Including work Chris Abani, Patience Agbabi, Malika Booker, John Citizen, Salena Godden, Lorraine Griffiths, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Jackie Kay, Parm Kaur, Shamshad Khan, Cheryl Martin, Raman Mundair, Bunmi Ogunsiji, Koye Oyedeji, Mallissa Read, Vanessa Richards, Khefri Cybele Riley aka KA'frique, Roger Robinson, Joy Russell, Kadija Sesay, John Siddique, Labi Siffre, Lemn Sissay, Dorothea Smartt, Andria Smith, SuAndi, Tricky, Akure Wall, Marie Guise Williams

Genres: Poetry

192 pages, Hardcover

Published June 21, 2022

About the author

Lemn Sissay OBE (born 21 May 1967), is a British author and broadcaster.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fire People is a brilliant anthology of British Black and Asian poetry. When I initially picked it up from the library (I grabbed it based on the cover and a love of poetry), I had assumed it was a recent release. Instead, I found that it was a recent reprint of an anthology from 1998. The introduction indicates that most people in the collection weren't well known in the poetry world at the original time of publication, but I loved reading the author bios to find that most poets featured have since gained a great deal of success. It's an excellent collection, so it's easy to say that those poets deserved it. I was only familiar with the work of a few of those featured before reading this (mostly the musicians featured, like Labi Siffre and Tricky), and I was familiar with a few others by name only (such as Chris Abani, Jackie Kay, and Linton Kwesi Johnson). The poets I most enjoyed reading works from were Chris Abani, Patience Agbabi, John Citizen, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Jackie Kay, Shamshad Khan, Raman Mundair, Bunmi Ogunsiji, Roger Robinson, Labi Siffre, Lemn Sissay, and Akure Wall.

I would definitely recommend checking this out. It makes me want to check out more British Black and Asian poetry, which is something I haven't had a ton of opportunity to explore as a Canadian. I definitely intend to check out More Fiya to start with.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always with anthologies and poetry, everyone will find different parts they liked or didn't like.

These are my faves in this collection:

Bunmi Ogunsiji - The Wheel
Linton Kwesi Johnson - Reggae fi May Ayim
Chris Abani - Articles of Faith
Shamshad Khan - Silver Threads
Lemn Sissay - Invisible Kisses

[rina dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love poetry, and whenever I read it, I'm reminded that I really should read more. The Fire People, in my opinion, is an exceptional collection of work by some very well-known poets and some less so but absolutely worthy of recognition.
There's so many themes and topics spoken by black and Asian poets that centre on their experience. Love, racism, ancestry, and cultural appropriation are all explored in a way that left me with so much emotion, I also loved the poems about music and expression.
Of course, it's natural to have favourite poems, and I had many. I'm a huge fan of Lemn Sissay, but Colour Blind really made me feel differently as well as The Gift by Labi Siffre, whom I'm less familiar with, but I definitely want to check out more.
I've always said I have to relate to poetry to enjoy it but I don't think that's true, I think as long as it makes me feel something and The Fire People definitely made me think. There's poems in here that will stay with me, and I'm excited to explore some of these author's work further. I would definitely recommend picking this one up if you enjoy poetry.

[Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fire People: A Collection of British Black and Asian Poetry, edited by Lemm Sissay is an adult collection of poetry, as titled, by British Black and Asian poets both new and familiar. Included are the works of Chris Abani, Patience Agbabi, Malika Booker, John Citizen, Salena Godden, Lorraine Griffiths, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Jackie Kay, Parm Kaur, Shamshad Khan, Cheryl Martin, Raman Mundair, Bunmi Ogunsiji, Koye Oyedeji, Mallissa Read, Vanessa Richards, Khefri Cybele Riley aka KA'frique, Roger Robinson, Joy Russell, Kadija Sesay, John Siddique, Labi Siffre, Lemn Sissay, Dorothea Smartt, Andria Smith, SuAndi, Tricky, Akure Wall and Marie Guise Williams.

I enjoyed this collection and how unapologetic it was as each of the poets within explored their roots and heritage. The discussions of ancestry and legacy are so profound and equally lovely and devastating to me that they filled me with so much emotion, exactly the reaction I want to feel when reading poetry.

I had read works by Linton Kwesi Johnson, Jackie Kay, Lemm Sissay and Dorothea Smartt before and found their works in this to be equally as amazing as I expected them to be but my main takeaway from this story is a plethora of poets who are new to me whose work I can now pursue. I think anyone looking for a new poet(s) to follow and binge the work of can read this book, sample each of the poet’s work and make a choice of who they’d like to continue reading because this is an excellent resource for that; while of course also being a wonderful and cohesive collection in and of itself.

[Rebecc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection should be read by everyone who loves poetry. It is one of the most remarkable anthologies that I've read in a long while. Curated by Lemn Sissay & featuring poems from many remarkable poets that I was not mostly familiar with but all of them are fantastic in variety, themes & language. Patience Agbabi's work especially stood out for me for the immediate impact her words had on me & I have already set about finding more of her work. I also loved some of the unusual visual presentations of some of the poems that were hypnotic on occasion or confrontational depending on the context. Wonderful.

[Aleksandr Popov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Selles anataloogias on kokku kogutud tunded, emotsioonid ja katsumused, mis väljenduvad koloniseerimisejärgse Briti ühiskonna osana üles kasvanud kolooniaalmaade juurtega luuletajate eludes ja loomingus.
Lemn Sissay koondas ühtseks tervikuks lood, mis räägivd meile "tulelõõma rahvast" - inimestest, kes põlevad eredalt ja kõrge leegiga, sest neis pulbitsevad erinevused. Nad on korraga võõrad omade keskel ja omad võõraste keeskel. Nad ei näi ja teevad, räägivad ja ei ütle, tunnevad ja ei näita, ihaldavad ja ei andu. Nad ootavad oma kohta - oma kohta siin päikese all, et koos selle päikesega ereda leegiga tuhaks põleda ning oodata fööniksi tõusmist tuhast.

[Lucsbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of this book by Canongate and I loved it so much. I know that I will come back to it again and again because even know ow almost a week since I finished it some lines and poems are still stuck in my head.

Thank you to Canongate for kindly gifting me this copy.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book of poems originally published in 1998 but luckily for us, still in print. I picked up a copy at South Kensington Books in London recently.

The poems range from creative to sappy to heartbreaking to delightful. I love a book of poems that elicits such brilliance and depth.

[rayon · Rating 3 out of 5]

a mixed bag as most anthologies are. i found myself skimming towards the end and glad when it was over. really enjoyed Patience Agbabi.

[Audrey Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really vibrant and visceral poems in here!

[james stewart✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

favourite poems: CigArs & WHitE StAr LiLLys by Mallissa Read, On the Tube by Joy Russell, Colour Blind by Lemn Sissay