Born in Nigeria,Inua Ellams MBE FRSL is a writer and curator. He is a cross disciplinary artist, an internationally touring performer, a poet, playwright, screen writer, graphic artist and designer. His published books of poetry include Thirteen Fairy Negro Tales (2004), Candy Coated Unicorns and Converse All Stars (2010), The Wire-Headed Heathen (2015). His first play, The 14th Tale was awarded an Edinburgh Fringe First, at the Edinburgh Festival in 2009 and later transferred to the Royal National Theatre, London. Other plays include Barber Shop Chronicles, The Half God of Rainfall, An Evening with an Immigrant (2020).
In graphic art and design, online and in print, he mixes the old with the new, juxtaposing texture and pigment with flat colour and vector graphics. Based in London, he founded and curates the Midnight Run, The R.A.P Party and Poetry + Film live events. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and Royal Society of Arts. In 2023, Ellams was honoured with an MBE for services to the arts and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of The Arts, London.
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Photo courtesy of Inua Ellams
