Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa (also known as Birdspeed) is a British born Barbadian raised poet and dancer whose work chiefly encompasses both disciplines. She often navigates themes on Afrofuturism, Caribbean folklore, and social commentary. Safiya is a recipient of the Jerwood Arts | Apples & Snakes Poetry in Performance Programme. Her work is published in a range of journals and anthologies including: The Caribbean Writer, The Amistad, and Alter Egos (Bad Betty Press), Poetry Birmingham Literary Journal, and more. She was shortlisted for the 2020 Outspoken Page Poetry Prize and longlisted for the Performance and Film Categories.
In 2019 she won the BBC Edinburgh Fringe Slam Championships, the UK Nationals and became a BBC Words First finalist. She has been commissioned by notable figures and organisations including The Original Wailers and BBC Bitesize.
She is the winner of the New Voice in Poetry Prize 2020 and has contributed to The Soundscape Poetry Project – out now, available on vinyl, digital and as print book from Culture Recordings and to stream from Spotify, iTunes and YouTube.
