Lemn Sissay

Lemn Sissay born in Lancashire to Ethiopian parents is a poet, playwright and author. After being adopted as a baby and raised by a white foster family, Sissay was abruptly given up again for adoption at age 11 and his writing and performance discusses his search for family, identity and belonging. Sissay released his first book of poetry in 1988 at the age of 21. In 2005 his drama Something Dark which deals with his search for his family was adapted for BBC Radio 3 and won the 2006 RIMA award (Race in the Media award). Sissay has been poet-in-residence at the Southbank Centre in London, and is Patron along with Jacqueline Wilson of a Booktrust initiative to get books to children in foster care.