On May 28th, acclaimed Nigerian poet, playwright, and performer Inua Ellams will launch Stained Metal, a powerful new project that interrogates the legacy of British imperialism through art, reflection, and dialogue. The free launch event will be held at the Kanaris Lecture Theatre, Manchester Museum.

The launch coincides with Ellams’ appointment as Honorary Research Fellow at The University of Manchester and is part of the Solstice and Equinox event series presented by Creative Manchester which brings innovative creative artists to The University of Manchester’s four Cultural Institutions.

Stained Metal stems from Ellams’ decision to accept an MBE (Member of the British Empire) from King Charles III in 2023—an honour that sparked controversy among some of his supporters. “Some friends and fans of my work were angry and disappointed. Others called me a sell-out, an Uncle Tom, a coon, etc.,” Ellams shared in a candid Instagram post. “I did my best to hold my peace, because there was (there always is) a larger picture and context at play. The plan was (the plan always is) to make art, to articulate complexity, to broaden and deepen understanding.”

That complexity is at the heart of Stained Metal, a multi-year project in which Ellams will send the MBE medal itself to four artists in Kenya, Jamaica, India, and Canada—regions once under British colonial rule. Each artist will receive the medal and a letter from Ellams, and will be invited to create new work in response. “We will commission new work from local artists, ask them, (as a provocation) what it means to be part of a construct they never asked to join,” he explained.

Co-presented by Fuel, the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), Creative Manchester, and Manchester Museum, Stained Metal seeks to “better understand the everyday legacies of Empire from those most affected by it,” while contributing to “the ongoing debate about Royal Honours.”

The launch event at Manchester Museum’s Kanaris Lecture Theatre will feature poetry, storytelling, and a live reading of Ellams’ letter to the commissioned artists, followed by a discussion with the audience. Introductions will be given by Manchester Museum Director Esme Ward and Creative Manchester’s John McAuliffe.

As Ellams notes, “The purpose of the work is to better understand… and to add the voices of those we don’t hear enough of.” Stained Metal promises to be both a provocation and a poignant contribution to the conversation on empire, identity, and artistic resistance.

Stained Metal

May 28, 2025
5:30pm (doors open, reception), 6:30pm (start) – 7:45pm 
Kanaris Lecture Theatre, Manchester Museum
Free, booking required here.