{"title":"Caleb Femi","description":"\u003cp\u003eCaleb Femi is an acclaimed British-Nigerian poet and writer, whose works vividly capture the essence of urban life, multicultural identity, and the multifaceted experiences of young people. Widely regarded for his unique voice and compelling storytelling, Femi's writing offers a poignant exploration into the everyday realities faced by individuals living in modern cities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn his debut poetry collection, \u003cem\u003ePoor\u003c\/em\u003e, Femi delves into the beauty and struggles of growing up in inner-city London. Through a blend of poetry, photography, and prose, he shines a light on the rich tapestry of life and the resilience found within it. His creative use of language and imagery has resonated deeply with readers who appreciate the intricacies of contemporary life and culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnother notable work, \u003cem\u003eThe Wickedest\u003c\/em\u003e, continues Femi's exploration of themes around identity, community, and the arts. It underlines his ability to capture not just the challenges, but also the vibrancy and creativity that flourish amidst adversity. Caleb Femi's writings are more than just stories; they are an invitation to step into a world that is both familiar and refreshingly distinctive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Caleb Femi's collection to experience a powerful fusion of arts \u0026amp; culture that offers not just a window into diverse worlds, but also a mirror reflecting universal truths.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"poor-by-caleb-femi-9780141992150","title":"Poor","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLyrical, heartbreaking and hopeful, the Peckham poet's debut collection explores the lives of young Black boys and the architecture that shapes them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is it like to grow up in a place where the same police officer who told your primary school class they were special stops and searches you at 13 because 'you fit the description of a man'? A place where it is possible to walk two and a half miles through an estate of 1,444 homes without ever touching the ground?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003ePoor\u003c\/em\u003e, Caleb Femi combines poetry and original photography to explore the trials, tribulations, dreams and joys of young Black boys in twenty-first century Peckham. He contemplates the ways in which they are informed by the built environment of concrete walls and gentrifying neighbourhoods that form their stage. He writes a coded, near-mythical history of the personalities and sagas of his South London youth, and pays tribute to the rappers and artists who spoke to their lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAbove all, this is a tribute to the world that shaped a poet, and to the people forging difficult lives and finding magic within it. As Femi writes in one of the final poems of this book: 'I have never loved anything the way I love the endz.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46516042334444,"sku":"9780141992150","price":24.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14723483482238.jpg?v=1748913721"},{"product_id":"the-wickedest-by-caleb-femi-9780008688240","title":"The Wickedest","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Atmospheric and intoxicating'\u003c\/strong\u003e CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A joyous, lyrical read'\u003c\/strong\u003e YOMI ADEGOKE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Hypnotic and freewheeling'\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eGUARDIAN\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA \u003cem\u003eGUARDIAN\u003c\/em\u003e BOOK OF THE YEAR\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOMINATED FOR THE SKY ARTS POETRY AWARD 2025\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCaleb Femi returns with a landmark, life-affirming new poetry collection, \u003cem\u003eThe Wickedest\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a minute-by-minute depiction of a typical night at a legendary monthly house party known as 'The Wickedest'. Here, we meet a vivid cast of characters, young and old, all surfing a revelry steeped in camaraderie, community, desire and a spirit of jubilant defiance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA modern epic, \u003cem\u003eThe Wickedest\u003c\/em\u003e explores the institution of shoobs or house parties and their vital role within working-class communities. The poems range from classical English sonnets to experimental forms and are immersively interwoven with photographs, text messages and ephemera. The collection playfully dissembles parties – in space, sound, law and bureaucracy – to document the precarious existence of our nightlife venues.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn Caleb Femi's inimitable, cinematic style the book builds to a crescendo that is at once euphoric and grief-soaked. \u003cem\u003eThe Wickedest\u003c\/em\u003e calls us to cast our minds to the moments we stood surrounded by our loved ones on a dancefloor, arms outstretched, and freed ourselves from the weight of reality to float.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'One of London’s most renowned poets'\u003c\/strong\u003e SALMA EL-WARDANY, BBC Radio London\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'I love the collection so much'\u003c\/strong\u003e NICK GRIMSHAW, BBC Radio 6\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A near-holy experience'\u003c\/strong\u003e JONATHAN ESCOFFERY\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'This is poetry that moves and is felt in the body'\u003c\/strong\u003e ANDREW MCMILLAN\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCaleb Femi's collection, \u003cem\u003ePoor\u003c\/em\u003e, won the Forward Prize's Felix Dennis Prize for Best First Collection in 2021\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46840599118060,"sku":"9780008688240","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/647310f593b38b1e3e057a8cf9b03b00.jpg?v=1758705909"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/caleb-femi.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}