Scotland’s new laureate, or makar, Jackie Kay, will one of the poetry stars of the Edinburgh book festival taking place from 13-29 August in Edinburgh’s Charlotte Square Gardens.

In an event with Zaffa Kunial on Monday 15 August, the two poets will examine what it means to be a British writer of mixed heritage in the 21st century - Kay was born to a Scottish mother and Nigerian father, Kunial to an English mother and Kashmiri father.

On Wednesday 17 August Kay will be teaming up with her former partner, poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy, for a dialogue in poems – not surprisingly, this event is already sold out. The following day, in another sell-out event, Kay and Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, get together to discuss the poems that Kay has been producing in her role as makar.  

Meanwhile the previous Scottish makar, Liz Lochhead, winner of the Queen’s gold medal for poetry, will be launching her new collection, Fugitive Colours, on Sunday 14 August, while Alice Oswald will reading from her new collection, Falling Awake, on Friday 19 August.  

Other poetry events at the book festival include Agnes Török, a Swedish spoken word performer living and working in Edinburgh whose projects include shows such as If You’re Happy and You Know It - Take This Survey appearing with Chimwemwe Undi, who was raised in southern Africa, and is now a spoken word poet living in Winnipeg, Canada.

The festival’s list of big poetry names also includes Don Paterson, Lemn Sissay, Sarah Howe, Helen Mort, Andrew McMillan, Hollie McNish, Luke Wright, Attila the Stockbroker, John Glenday, JO Morgan, and Jim Carruth. More details

Background: Scotland's new national poet