Work
Where she’s been featured
In addition to being long-listed for the 2023 Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize, — in the top 7% of over 1,000 entries, judged by Caleb Femi, Brwn Girl in the Ring™ has been published as a featured poet by Ink, Sweat and Tears with her poem, ‘Woodland Creature’.
‘Dear Aani’ and ‘Stolen’ have been published in the Grime-e-tales ebook, Search party for Liberation: A grimy poetry anthology and the related Grime album (see below), produced by DeFaceless Producer in collaboration with Casey Bailey. Featured tracks: ‘Dear Aani’ and ‘Stolen’.
She was commissioned by Black Country Touring to write and perform an outdoor theatre piece with artist Emma Waterford as part of the community garden engagement project - Where We Grow; and to work on spoken word commission with Wolverhampton’s poet laureate, Emma Purshouse, for for Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.
Commissions & Artist Residencies
Artist-in-residencies
Performance at Wolverhampton Health Hub
‘Hello Manders’ — Wolverhampton NHS Health Hub
Black Country Touring / Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust · Jan–Feb 2024
Care, Create, Conserve explored the heritage of Wolverhampton’s hospitals and healthcare services, and provided co-creation opportunities for the local community to share their experiences and perspectives on healthcare. The programme included the creation of Wolverhampton’s first healthcare museum and co-creation centre, artist residencies, and community co-creation projects.
Working alongside spoken word artist and Wolverhampton’s former poet laureate Emma Pursehouse, the commission focused on how people from different backgrounds have approached or accessed healthcare, how culture and tradition might play into this, and the existence of certain barriers in healthcare systems both in the past and today.
Working with the NHS base in the Health Hub, they co-created with a wide demographic of Wolverhampton’s diverse population and gained insights from staff and healthcare professionals, culminating in a series of performances in the NHS Health Hub, in Wolverhampton city centre.
Performance at Hawbush Community Gardens.
‘The Wild Wood Within’ — Where We Grow
Black Country Touring · Sept 2023
Where We Grow celebrated community gardens and the local people who work, volunteer and spend precious time in them across the Black Country. Brwn Girl in the Ring was one of nine artists commissioned to develop family-friendly micro performances in community gardens across the Black Country.
She collaborated with artists Emma Waterford and Katy Rose Bennett to create ‘The Wild Wood Within’ - A magical story of the path of womanhood, Mama Earth's wisdom and the dance of the sun and the moon (Inspired by Hawbush Gardens in Brierly Hill).
Performed at four sites:
Gatis Community Space, Wolverhampton (15 Sept)
Caldmore Community Garden, Walsall (16 Sept)
Dorothy Parkes Allotments, Smethwick (23 Sept)
Hawbush Gardens, Brierley Hill (24 Sept)
‘Dear Aani’ Poem-Mini-Movie
Collaboration with Rida Suleri-Johnson · May 2023
A visual poem dedicated to the 363 Bishnois killed in the 1730s Khejarli massacre, who gave their lives protecting a grove of Khejri trees. Brwn Girl in the Ring™: “Dear Aani is my love poem dedicated to them.”
Photography, creative direction and mini-movie by Rida Suleri-Johnson. Music: El Orfanato Riddim (Instrumental) by DeFaceless Producer.
Brwn Girl in the Ring™: “For the women who led the 18th century Kherjali movement 🪬✨🌺 In the 1730s, 363 Bishnois in Northern India were murdered for peacefully protecting a grove of Khejri trees from being chopped down by the military in what became known as the Khejarli massacre. Dear Aani is my love poem dedicated to them.” 🌳🌸✊🏾✨
Rida Suleri-Johnson: “All the stars, stems and sarees aligned; when @brwngirlinthering arrived adorned, looking beautiful mA at my home, a bag full of sarees used as decor for her sister’s wedding in hand, we discussed over coffee and pastries about which poem we would like to create a visual for. I was immediately drawn to Dear Aani, and with the bag of sarees sat there, I just felt that a symbolic tying of fabric around the trees, would be beautiful. There is both life and death in the fleeting blossom season; amongst the joy and beauty, there is also destruction and suffering. Hope and pain.
Whatever it moves in you, I hope it does move you 🙏🏽🌸 “ }
The Day the StarTribe Made a Magical Cake
Children’s book & storytelling EP audiobook · 2024
She authored and narrated her debut children’s book and storytelling EP audiobook ‘The Day the StarTribe Made a Magical Cake’. The project, funded by Arts Council England, was a collaboration with illustrator Malikah Holder, music producer, singer and theatre director Reisz ‘Odd Priest’ Amos, and theatre director, choreographer and DJ Paul ‘Steady’ Steadman. Launched November 2024 at The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. Proudly published by More Than A Moment.
Performing at The Belgrade Theatre for the launch of The Day the Star Tribe Made A Magical Cake
Creative Collaborators from left to right: Simone Herbert, Steady Steadman, Brwn Girl in the Ring AKA Sophina, Reisz ‘Odd Priest’ Amos & Malikah Holder
Performances and Hosting
Brwn Girl in the Ring™ has performed at a variety of online and in person events including:
Performing at My Kahaani at the Center for Performing Arts, Minneapolis
Performing at the Commonwealth Games Birmingham Festival 2022 in Centenary Square, Birmingham
Headlining at Shua’ra Kohetry Festival at Centrala, Birmingham
Performing at the Incubator Sessions at Birmingham Symphony Hall
2026
My Kahaani, SAATH — Center for Performing Arts, Minneapolis, MN (Jan 2026)
Freewriting for Minneapolis communities — virtual (Jan 2026)
2024–2025
Host — Poetry After Chai, Bangla Week, Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham (Nov 2024)
Storytelling and book signing of her children’s book and EP — Bear Bookshop, Birmingham (Nov 2024)
StarTribe launch event and listening party of her children’s book and storytelling EP — The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (Nov 2024)
Verve Poetry Night, Birmingham (April 2024)
‘Hello Manders’ Health Hub — artist-in-residence commission, Black Country Touring & Wolverhampton NHS Trust (Feb 2024)
2023
‘The Wild Wood Within’ — outdoor theatre commission, Black Country Touring (Sept 2023). Venues: Gatis Community Space, Wolverhampton, Caldmore Community Garden, Walsall, Dorothy Parkes Allotments, Bearwood Allotments, Smethwick & Hawbush Gardens, Brierley Hill
‘What is it to be a Girl?’ — Brwn Girl in the Ring x Amplify Sounds x Festival 23, Birmingham Festival 23, Centenary Square (Aug 2023)
That’s What We Said Poetry Takeover — Shambala Festival, Northamptonshire (Aug 2023)
Kohetry Festival presents Shu’ara — Headliner, Birmingham (July 2023)
The Original Poets Open Air Open Mic — featured artist, Brooklyn, New York / Instagram Live (July 2023)
Busboys and Poets, Washington DC (July 2023)
Poetic Justice — poets against racism, Birmingham (May 2023)
Medizen Lounge, Birmingham (April 2023)
Verve Poetry Festival all day open mic, Birmingham Hippodrome (Feb 2023)
Verve Poetry Night, Birmingham Hippodrome (Feb 2023)
I Put the T in Poetry with special guests — performance with music, Baby People, Derby (Feb 2023)
2022
Incubator Sessions — Poetry Co’Lab & B:Music Symphony Hall, Birmingham — performance with music (Oct, Nov, Dec 2022)
Hayati Open Mic, Ort Gallery, Birmingham (Nov 2022)
Knock Knock! Soul Food Poetry, Luton — performance with live band (Oct 2022)
InstaLive open mics on a variety of platforms, including @CloudzofHaze, @afroillipino, @thedivinestyles, @poeticunity, @thegalaxy_of_poets, @supaflynowings (Sept - Dec 2022)
Commonwealth Games Birmingham Festival 2022, Centenary Square (Sept 2022)
North Sea Jazz Festival, Rotterdam — performance with live band (July 2022)
Medizen Lounge, Birmingham (Aug 2022)
Empower Poetry, Birmingham (May 2022)
Hit the Ode — Apples & Snakes, Birmingham (May 2022)
GrimeBoy pre-show open mic, Birmingham (Apr 2022)
South Asian Arts Collective Bazaar, Birmingham (April 2022)
Host — Transforming Narratives Three Day Contemporary Arts Festival (March 2022)
Gully Live, Birmingham (Jan 2022)
2021
For Books’ Sake Festive Farewell to 2021 — 10-minute feature set, online (Dec 2021)
Sip n Stroke, Birmingham — 5-minute set (Dec 2021)
South Asian Arts Collective Bazaar II — 15-minute set (Dec 2021, postponed due to COVID)
Work in Progress podcast interview — Instagram, YouTube, Soundcloud (Oct 2021)
Nymphs and Thugs — Instagram feature
2020
SheGrowwls — Instagram Live (Nov 2020)
The Hotline — Rose Garden Events, online (Oct 2020)
That’s What She Said, Manchester — 15-minute feature set (May 2020, postponed due to COVID)
Poetry Jam — Instagram Live (May 2020)
Poetry Jam, Birmingham (March 2020)
Azaad Arts presents: Mehfil — evening of Punjabi-influenced poetry and song, Birmingham (Feb 2020)
Poetry Jam Birthday event, Birmingham (Feb 2020)
2019
That’s What She Said, Bristol — 10-minute feature set (Dec 2019)
Incubator Sessions — Poetry Co’Lab & B:Music Symphony Hall, Birmingham — performance with music (Oct, Nov, Dec 2022)
Hayati Open Mic, Ort Gallery, Birmingham (Nov 2022)
Knock Knock! Soul Food Poetry, Luton — performance with live band (Oct 2022)
CloudzofHaze Instagram Live open mics (Sept/Oct 2022)
Commonwealth Games Birmingham Festival 2022, Centenary Square (Sept 2022)
North Sea Jazz Festival, Rotterdam — performance with live band (July 2022)
Medizen Lounge, Birmingham (Aug 2022)
Empower Poetry, Birmingham (May 2022)
Hit the Ode — Apples & Snakes, Birmingham (May 2022)
GrimeBoy, Birmingham (April 2022)
South Asian Arts Collective Bazaar, Birmingham (April 2022)
Host — Transforming Narratives Three Day Contemporary Arts Festival (March 2022)
Gully Live, Birmingham (Jan 2022)
2021
For Books’ Sake Festive Farewell to 2021 — 10-minute feature set, online (Dec 2021)
Sip n Stroke, Birmingham — 5-minute set (Dec 2021)
South Asian Arts Collective Bazaar II — 15-minute set (Dec 2021, postponed due to COVID)
Work in Progress podcast interview — Instagram, YouTube, Soundcloud (Oct 2021)
Nymphs and Thugs — Instagram feature
2020
SheGrowwls — Instagram Live (Nov 2020)
The Hotline — erotic open mic night, online (Oct 2020)
That’s What She Said, Manchester — 15-minute feature set (May 2020, postponed due to Coronavirus)
Poetry Jam — Instagram Live (May 2020)
Poetry Jam, Birmingham (March 2020)
Azaad Arts presents: Mehfil — evening of Punjabi-influenced poetry and song, Birmingham (Feb 2020)
That’s What She Said, Bristol — 10-minute feature set (Feb 2020)
Poetry Jam Birthday event, Birmingham (Feb 2020)
2019
That’s What She Said, Bristol — open mic (Dec 2019)
She hosted an Instagram Live conversation discussing ‘What does Womanhood mean to you?’ and has been featured on Abdullah Adekola’s Work in Progress podcast.
In Conversation
Host, Instagram Live conversation: ‘What does Womanhood mean to you?’ (2022)
Featured on Abdullah Adekola’s Work in Progress podcast
Featured on Switch Radio with Ashlee Elizabeth Lolo
Facilitated the South Asian Creative Workforce Radical Listening Session — watch the discussion
Workshops
Brwn Girl in the Ring™ has facilitated a number of poetry and creative writing workshops:
Freewriting sessions for Minneapolis communities - online (Jan 2026)
School workshops with 120 children — Clifton Primary School, Birmingham (May 2025)
Family workshops — Central Library (West Bromwich), Wednesbury Library & Thimblemill Library, Smethwick (May 2025)
My Heart Sings - Bear Bookshop, Bearwood (Nov 2023)
Breathing new life into the wonderful world around us - Wednesbury Museum & Art Gallery (Sept 2023)
Sights & Sounds — 5-week in-person creative writing programme, Saathi House, Birmingham (May–June 2023)
Discover your inner magick in community - For Books’ Sake, online (Oct 2022)
Poetry workshop - Willowbrook Arts & Music Festival 2022, Willowbrook Farm, Oxford (Aug 2022)
Handbags & Gladrags — 6-week creative writing programme for 26 women, Saathi House, Birmingham (June–July 2022) — featured on ITV News Central
Moon Magic - Who Knows Poetry, Zoom (May 2022)
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