Hafsah Aneela Bashir

Hafsah is a Manchester-based poet, playwright, performer and mother originally from East London.

Her work blends narrative, free verse and lyric poetry, exploring relationships between the private, public and political. Her lyrical activism reflects a strong desire to effect social change drawing on spoken word and her mother tongue of Urdu.

Founder and co-director of Outside The Frame Arts, she is passionate about championing voices outside the mainstream, challenging the gatekeepers of knowledge and increasing Black and Brown representation within the arts. She is founder of the Poetry Health Service, a digital service providing free poetry panaceas by the people for the people. Launched in July 2020 during lockdown, the PHS is a creative service offering both contemporary and classical poetry as a tool for connection and healing with over 80 contributing poets.

Her debut poetry collection The Celox And The Clot is published by Burning Eye Books.

Hafsah Bashir, Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellow 2019-20. Supported by Jerwood Arts and Arts Council England. Image by Mirren Kessling.