Anthony Anaxagorou is a British-born poet and writer. In 2002 Anaxagorou was the first young poet to win the London Mayor's Poetry Slam with his poem "Anthropos". Following this he made a number of television and radio appearances reading poetry, including a live recital on BBC London Radio and a television interview followed by a recital with Vanessa Feltz on the Community Channel. In 2003, he appeared alongside fellow poet Kate Tempest on Young Nation, presented by Richard Blackwood, where he performed a number of poems themed around social issues relating to young people. He went on to feature as a member of the panel on the talk show itself, which focused on wider issues such as racism, history, religion, addiction and abuse, encouraging young people to speak out and voice their thoughts.
Anaxagorou is the writer/poet in residence in several London schools where he devises programmes to help engage students who are regularly underachieving due to low literacy rates. He is also the artistic director and founder of Out-Spoken, London's premier monthly night of poetry and live music. He is also the chief editor and founder of Out-Spoken Press, which published his most popular collection A Difficult Place To Be Human. He works with the Poetry Society assisting in numerous creative writing projects and mentoring other young poets in developing their ideas and expressing themselves through a positive creative medium. He speaks extensively about the arts and elitism and how they impact the perception many people have of poetry. In 2009 he published his first book Card Not Accepted, a collection of essays, short stories and poetry all reflecting moments from his life and an overall commentary of western living. Much of his work centres on the spiritual search for inner peace and the detachment from various societal ideals; however, a huge section of his work encompasses themes that deal with politics, racism, history and philosophy. He writes from his own personal experiences in a style that is honest and compelling, this is what has so far won him the admiration and affection of many. In May 2009 the poem "Himself", from the book Card Not Accepted, was chosen by MOBO award-winning hip-hop artist Akala to be read out on BBC Newsnight Review as part of the arts and poetry weekend. In June 2010 he released his fourth publication. A digital ebook entitled The Lost Definition of Hope which featured a number of poems written over a space of four months. A portion of the books price was given to Médecins Sans Frontières, an independent organisation who deal with getting aid out to countries caught in heavy conflict. In November 2010 he toured the UK supporting MOBO award-winning hip-hop artist Akala in his "DoubleThink" tour. Anaxagorou performed poetry from all his works in cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Exeter and Liverpool. In July 2011 he wrote a piece called "If I Told You", which begins by questioning the validity and accuracy of historical documentation especially that regarding Africa. The poem then begins to explore current affairs, propaganda systems, the prison industry complex, as well as the more existential issues such as ego, love, insecurity and hope. In the short space of a week the poem received more than 2,000 views on YouTube, as well as being featured at the British Urban Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation. Anaxagorou has spoken about poetry at universities and colleges that include Oxford University, the University of Nottingham, Bradford University, the University of Roehampton and Tower Hamlets College. In April 2012 he performed at the Venezuelan Embassy alongside dub-poet Linton Kwesi Johnson as part of an event to mark the defeat of the US backed coup that aimed to assassinate President Hugo Chavez in 2002. In 2014 Anaxagorou wrote theatre pieces for both The Bush Theatre and physical theatre company Tangled Feet. During this time he also released his debut collection of short stories, The Blink That Killed The Eye, which was published by Jacaranda Books. In 2014 Anaxagorou completed his first solo tour of Australia, where he performed his poetry and ran workshops across Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne with local writers and indigenous people. His vast body of work won him the Groucho Maverick Award in 2015, which consisted of a £10,000 prize, a lifetime membership to the club and a Gavin Turk sculpture.
Collaborations
Anaxagorou has collaborated with a number of artists including singer/songwriter Josh Osho on a track called "The Voice", which was released by Universal Records in June 2012 on his debut album L.I.F.E. His poem was also used by the Cirque du Soleil and The Nevada Ballet Theater in a dance piece choreographed by Mukhtar O.S Mukhtar entitled . In July 2013 he wrote and performed the poetry for a piece of physical theatre produced by Tangled Feet entitled 'One Million'. It was part of the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival and held in Artillery Square in Woolwich for two nights. Anaxagorou released a spoken-word in EP with classical composerKarim Kamar entitled It Will Come To You. The poems explore love, loss, racism, domestic violence, masculinity, adultery and imperialism.
