At around the age of 9 Yomi found himself as the unintentional storyteller. Writing stories without actually knowing the potential of the pen.
Born in Oyo State Nigeria, Award-winning Yomi Ṣode grew up around music. Once long-listed as one of MTV’s Brand New Artist’s, Yomi has been performing for the past 12 years. He balances the fine line between both Nigerian and British cultures, which can be, at times, humorous, loving, self-reflective and uncomfortable.
Highlights include opening for Saul Williams and The Last Poets, with appearances at Yahoo! Wireless Festival, Latitude, Lovebox, Olympic Village, New York Public Library, Sadler’s Wells Theatre as well as working with Channel 4 and BBC Radio 1xtra. He os the founder of Boxedin. A monthly poetry night in shoreditch. He is a member of Malika’s Poetry Kitchen, and has had work commissioned by The Mayor’s Office, Southbank Centre, V&A, UN Humanitarian Summit, UCL Grant Museum of Zoology, The Foundling Museum, BBC World Service/ BBC Africa and various charities.
Short Bio
Yomi Ṣode is an award-winning Nigerian British writer. He is a recipient of the 2019 Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowship and was shortlisted for The Brunel International African Poetry Prize 2021.
His acclaimed one-man show COAT toured nationally to sold-out audiences, including at the Brighton Festival, Roundhouse Camden and the Battersea Arts Centre. In 2020 his libretto Remnants, written in collaboration with award-winning composer James B. Wilson and performed with Chineke! Orchestra premiered on BBC Radio 3.
In 2021, his play, and breathe… premiered at the Almeida Theatre to rave reviews. Yomi is a Complete Works alumnus and a member of Malika’s Poetry Kitchen. He is the founder of BoxedIn, First Five, The Daddy Diaries, and mentorship programme, 12 in 12. Yomi’s debut collection, Manorism is published by Penguin Press.
