Sai Murai (Sai Murray)

Biography

Sai Murray is a writer, poet, spoken word artist, artist, graphic designer… In a former life he worked in advertising. He has been clean for over 13 years. The first part of his debut novel, ‘Kill Myself Now: The True Confessions of an Advertising Genius‘ is published by Peepal Tree Press. His first volume of poetry ‘Ad-liberation’ is due out in early 2013. Sai has performed across the UK, Barbados and the US collaborating with musicians including: members of Nneka’s band, Virtual Migrants, Chris ‘Christafari’ Campbell (Finley Quaye/Logical Progression/Roots Family), DJ Eric Soul (Afrogroov), the Speakeasy band, Bronzehead, Danny Templeman (Submotion Orchestra), Sam Hobbs (Dread Supreme). He is currently working on an EP. As a slam poet, Sai has been a finalist in the Superheroes of Slam (Leeds), the Ilkley Festival Open Mic (2009) and the Mo Juice Poetry Slam 2008, Barbados. As a poet-coach Sai has coached teams to victory in the UK’s leading Youth Literature Festival at both the 2009 and 2010 Leeds Young Authors Voices of a New Generation Slam; at the GSAL Speak Up Slam 2012; and this year at the largest ever UK National Slam Shake the Dust. Sai is a poet/facilitator on Platform’s youth arts and activism project, Shake! – Young Voices on Arts, Race, Media & Power; politics and culture editor of Sable magazine; artistic director of Scarf magazine; and the editor of the poetry anthologies: Re-Membering – A Creative Journey to Wholeness (AiM, 2010); No Condition Is Permanent (PLATFORM, 2010); The Write Stuff #1-3 (AiM, 2009-2012). In 2009 Sai was commissioned as one of two poets for Platform’s C Words: Carbon, Culture, Climate & Capital project. He was lead artist/writing facilitator on the Re-Membering Project (2010), and was chosen as one of Yorkshire’s eight most talented literary/visual artists for FWords: Creative Freedom (2008). Sai currently runs creative writing workshops with the radical arts organisation and mental health charity, Artists in Mind (AiM) and is a resident poet at Numbi. As creative director of Liquorice Fish (artist/activist design & promotions agency) Sai also publishes/designs/and contributes artwork to a select number of grassroots community organisations (see Design Bibliography). A captivating performer, and a brilliant, thought-provoking, wordsmith… seriously playful, and playfully serious… ~ Dorothea Smartt, poet/ author of Ship Shape Exploratory, original and engaged… ~ Robert Newman, political comedian/ author A linguistic energy which is potent both in performance and on the page ~ Caryl Phillips, author of Foreigners Easily one of the most talented writers that I have worked with… A quite distinct voice ~ Kadija Sesay, Peepal Tree Press A truly original voice ~ Courttia Newland, author of Snakeskin One of the foremost Black writers to emerge from Yorkshire in recent years; his distinctive voice will surprise and will draw praise, I feel, from many. ~ Kadija George, Sable Magazine

Samples

Hawk = Dove When a hawk can camouflage itself as a dove The wolf smiles beneath it’s fleece And the flock bleats in tune pup-pets win peace prizes... war criminals become heroes freedom fighters / terrorists the empire naked while shepherds sleep

All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.