Migrant Voice Ambassador and activist Loraine Masiya Mponela launches her first book

Migrant Voice Ambassador and activist Loraine Masiya Mponela launches her first book

THURSDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2022

Migrants’ rights campaigner, activist and Migrant Voice Ambassador Loraine Masiya Mponela will launch her first poetry book this Saturday in Coventry, at the Herbert Arts Gallery and Museum.

The collection, titled I Was Not Born A Sad Poet, features 21 poems about Loraine’s life and experience of going through the British asylum and immigration system.

Loraine recently spoke with Migrant Voice about her book and her fight to have her refugee status recognised. She said: “This book has been documenting my own experiences as an asylum seeker. But a lot of these are collective experiences too.”

She finally received her status in August this year, but she told Migrant Voice she will continue to advocate for a better system for all asylum seekers, “until the last person is free.”

Nazek Ramadan, director of Migrant Voice, said: “Loraine is an inspiring poet, capturing the lives of people who are forced to flee their homes and who end up in a place they saw peace in, only to find out their journey has not ended there. But Loraine's book shows that amongst the struggle there is hope, solidarity and support."

Find more information about the launch event here.

You can purchase Loraine’s book here.