Plenary Speakers

Linton Kwesi Johnson

With Mi Revalueshanary Fren: Selected Poems Linton Kwesi Johnson became in 2002, only the second living poet and the first black poet to have his work included in Penguin's Modern Classics series. Born in the town of Chapelton , Jamaica , in 1952, he migrated to London in 1963; there, he attended Tulse Hill secondary school and later studied Sociology at Goldsmiths College , University of London .
In 1974, Race Today published his first collection of poetry, Voices of the Living and the Dead . He has had four more books published since then, including 1980s Inglan is a Bitch . Mr. Johnson's first album, Dread Beat An Blood was released in 1978. Since then he has released at least 14 more, including LKJ Live in Paris in 2004, a CD and DVD celebrating his 25th anniversary as a reggae recording artist.
Linton Kwesi Johnson has been running his own record label, LKJ Records, since 1981. He has worked in journalism and still regularly tours around the world with the Dennis Bovell Dub Band. He is also a Trustee of the George Padmore Institute. In 2003 Johnson was bestowed with an honorary fellowship from his alma mater, Goldsmiths College .

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