You can now preorder the majestic poetry anthology of new and established UK poets, which features some of our favorite African writers. Titled Mapping the Future, this collection is repped by Bernardine Evaristo herself and is a groundbreaking publication in the history of literary publishing!

The Complete Works Poetry is an initiative spearheaded by Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo, which has led to a spectacular shift in the publishing industry. In 2008 the number of poets of color published by major presses was 1%, and by 2020 it was 20%. Supporting 30 poets from 2008 through to 2020, The Complete Works produced a number of prizewinners for the Forward Prizes, T.S. Eliot Prize, Dylan Thomas Prize, Rathbones Folio Prize. and more. These writers have also gone on to publish over 40 collections.

Mapping the Future is a part of this legendary series, featuring 7 African poets including Warsan Shire, Inua Ellams, Yomi Sode, Momtaza Mehri, Victoria Adukwei Bulley, Kayo Chingonyi, and Janet Kofi-Tsekpo. Edited by Karen McCarthy Woolf and Nathalie Teitler, the book offers new or recent work by all 30 writers the program has supported. It also includes personal and politically engaged essays reflecting on British poetry by some of the poets.

Full list of poets included: Mir Mahfuz Ali, Rowyda Amin, Raymond Antrobus, Mona Arshi, Jay Bernard, Leo Boix, Malika Booker, Omikemi Natacha Bryan, Victoria Adukwei Bulley, Kayo Chingonyi, Rishi Dastidar, Edward Doegar, Inua Ellams, Will Harris, Sarah Howe, Ian Humphreys, Janet Kofi-Tsekpo, Adam Lowe, Karen McCarthy Woolf, Nick Makoha, Momtaza Mehri, Eileen Pun, Shazea Quraishi, Roger Robinson, Denise Saul, Seni Seneviratne, Warsan Shire, Yomi Sode, Degna Stone, Jennifer Lee Tsai.

Evaristo announced the publication of the anthology on her Instagram, with a video explaining why this collection represents a landmark moment in the history of poetry:


Evaristo added in her caption, “If you want to have your finger on the pulse of poetry by black and Asian Brits, this is the book for you!” Many of these poets have played a part in changing the poetry landscape and are crucial for poetry enthusiasts to read and learn more about.

According to the publisher’s synopsis, Mapping the Future is “not just a magnificent anthology of some of the best UK poets, it is also an exploration on how poetry in Britain has become much more inclusive over the past 15 years: what has been won, and what is still being fought for. This anthology offers a timely insight into British poetry and how the voice of the ‘other’ continues to take centre-stage in pivotal times.”

We are proud of the work being done by Evaristo and these young British poets to revolutionize poetry. Preorder here!