Linton Kwesi Johnson at Contact Theatre, 13th October

Manchester Literature Festival present the world's first reggae poet at Contact Theatre.

Seeing Linton Kwesi Johnson in performance can be a remarkable experience. He is one of the most well-respected black poets in the UK, and through his work has chronicled the experience of living as an African-Caribbean in England for the last 40 years.

Positioning himself outside the English canon through his use of Jamaican creole in his written poetry and by performing over dub and reggae, often ritten by Dennis Bovell, Johnson's poems are often fiercely political. He first began to explore race issues when still in school, joining the Black Panther movement and running a poetry workshop for members. However, it was his poems exposing police brutality directed towards the black community during the Thatcher government which earnt him widespread recognition.

His appearance as part of the Manchester Literature Festival is in connection with Speakeasy., who will celebrate the launch of their album. Based in Manchester, Speakeasy has grown from a small group of poets who regularly performed at Greenroom to become a hugely influential and vibrant poetry and music collective. The collective boast an impressive history of winning slams, inspiring jams and taking stands against the staid, middle-aged, complacent poetry scene by combining international performers and urban talent. They also run Youth Identity, a group of 20 young writers from around Mosside, Hulme, Old Trafford and other South Manchester areas who have won medals around the country as Inna Voice.

This event is part of the Black Writers Conference.