News | Thursday, 18th February 2021

Multilingual poetry takes centre stage on International Mother Language Day

Manchester Poetry Library join city literary partners to deliver programme of virtual events

A huge virtual schools celebration, this year’s launch of the University’s award-winning multilingual writing competition and the unveiling of two new Manchester Poetry Library collections are part of a packed schedule for International Mother Language Day 2021.

UNESCO’s International Mother Language Day is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity.

Manchester is home to around 200 community languages, a city where half of all adults and four in 10 young people are multilingual.

To mark the day, UNESCO Manchester City of Literature will host dozens of online fun, family-friendly events and performances, including several led by Manchester Metropolitan University.

For many years, the University has been celebrating and promoting the region’s diverse languages, not least through its Queen’s Anniversary Prize-winning poetry competition Mother Tongue Other Tongue, which launches for entries again on International Mother Language Day.

Manchester Poetry Library is up and running as a digital space, and will open its doors to the world later in 2021 when COVID restrictions permit, is also heavily involved in the programme.

A Multilanguage Mushaira interactive poetry event will be hosted by Anjum Malik on the theme of ‘friendship’.

Poetry will be written children from six Manchester schools, who have been inspired by an exciting schools programme and multilingual poetry resource developed by artist Emma Martin from Stanley Grove Primary Academy. The event will share children's poetry inspired by the work of writers including Anjum Malik and Usma Malik from Manchester Metropolitan University, Valerie Bloom, and Fielding Ronshaugen and Emma Martin to inspire pupils across Manchester and beyond.

Schools wishing to participate can run their own Mushairas, create their own poetry and artwork and submit videos and photographs online, to make this a huge celebration of the many languages spoken by children in the city.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Manchester Poetry Library has been growing its collections, with a particular focus on poetry in different languages and translation. Over the coming weeks, they will be launching their new Chinese and Polish poetry collections during special virtual events as part of the International Mother Language Day programmme.

Once the Poetry Library is open, the books will be available to borrow and feature first as a small exhibition with an introduction from the poets about their choices and the experience of doing this research.

Jennifer Lee Tsai, poet and curator of the Chinese poetry collection, said: “It has been so exciting to work together with Manchester Poetry Library over the last year to support and develop the new collection of Chinese Language poetry. The collection is intended to be extensive and eclectic, incorporating a wide range of selections from ancient and traditional Classical Chinese texts whilst simultaneously including the very latest titles available of contemporary Chinese poetry.”

Becky Swain, Director of Manchester Poetry Library, said: “We are delighted that Manchester Met is part of International Mother Language Day celebrations taking place in Manchester and across the globe.

“As well as events to launch our Chinese and Polish poetry collections, you can join us next Sunday for the fantastic Our City of Languages event co-hosted by Senior Lecturer and writer Anjum Malik, and poet Hafsah Bashir.

“You will be able to find out more about the University’s commitment to developing our collection of poetry in the many languages of Manchester, and how to find resources to inspire children aged 8-18 years to submit their poems to the Mother Tongue Other Tongue poetry competition.”

A full list of International Mother Language Day events and activities can be found on the UNESCO Manchester City of Literature website.