Malika Booker

Malika Booker is an award-winning poet and Douglas Caster Cultural Fellow at The University of Leeds. Her work spans poetry, theater, installation art, and educational programming with organizations including BBC Radio 3, Royal Shakespeare Company, and Wellcome Trust.

Her research integrates anthropological methodologies with creative practice, focusing on Caribbean diaspora narratives, cultural identity, and oral traditions. Notable projects include “Sex in the Afternoon” for Wellcome Collection’s Sexology Season and founding Malika’s Poetry Kitchen.

Booker’s publications demonstrate consistent engagement with postcolonial themes and experimental forms, evolving from her 2014 collection “Pepper Seed” to contemporary explorations of urban resilience and social justice in works like “The Little Miracles.”

• Cholmondeley Award (2019) for outstanding contribution to poetry
• Forward Prize for Best Single Poem (2020)

She has significantly impacted creative communities through international workshops with Arts Council England, British Council, and National Theatre. Her initiative Malika’s Poetry Kitchen has established satellite programs globally from Chicago to Delhi, fostering emerging writers through structured mentorship.

Booker maintains active collaborations with major cultural institutions including Hampton Court Palace and Battersea Arts Centre, developing community-based literary projects that bridge academic research and public engagement.