Coventry Poet Laureate and Coventry Young Poet Laureate
The Coventry Poet Laureate and Coventry Young Poet Laureate are honorary posts, first appointed by Coventry Libraries and Information Service and Coventry UK City of Culture in 2021.
Coventry Libraries and Information Service, Coventry City Council are pleased to announce two new Poets Laureate on National Poetry Day 2 October 2025 for the 2-year period 2025 to 2027. The Coventry Poets Laureate selection process was supported by Writing West Midlands, Nine Arches Press and Coventry Libraries.
Cllr Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said:
“The importance of poetry, performance and reading for pleasure is invaluable for our emotional enrichment, literacy, learning and future attainment. I’d like to congratulate Andrea and Diamond for their achievement in becoming Poets Laureate for Coventry for the next two years and in representing our city nationally through verse.”
During the celebration event on Tuesday 4 November 2025, Coventry’s new Poets Laureate were joined by the Coventry Poets Laureate 2023-2025, John Bernard and Aamani Kanda.
Coventry Poet Laureate 2025 - 2027: Andrea Mbarushimana
Andrea's poetry journey start early with a love of children's verse. Her first collection 'The Africa in my House' was published in 2017, followed by the competition winning 'Airshow' in 2019 and Fatbergs in 2021. Her latest collection 'Chatbot' was published this year by Hedgehog Press. Andrea has performed poems in the UK and Ireland and via a poetry vending machine in Dresden. A BBC Contains Strong Language and Cov/Cork exchange poet, Andrea writes all kinds of verse from silly to serious and straightforward to downright impenetrable. She loves working on community projects with a social justice theme. Visit her website
Coventry Young Poet Laureate 2025 - 2027 Diamond Kayode-Osunlana
Diamond is a 16 year-old writer whose work provokes deep thought, and bursts with rhythm. Hailing from Coventry, Diamond blends spoken word poetry and page poetry to explore community, society, and identity, on a personal level, and on a wider scale. Diamond’s verses weave social consciousness with lyrical grace, inspired by the modern world, and derived from quieter perspectives. When she’s not writing poems, Diamond facilitates young writing workshops, and dreams of her own novel one day. She hopes to make a difference, and to evoke a response in people through her writing.
Previous Poets Laureate
- Coventry Poet Laureate 2023 to 2025 – John Bernard
- Coventry Young Poet Laureate 2023 to 2025 – Aamani Kanda
- Coventry Poet Laureate 2021to 2023 - Emilie Lauren Jones
- Coventry Young Poet Laureate 2021 to 2023 - Hawwa Hussain
The Coventry Poet Laureate and Coventry Young Poet Laureate are honorary positions which will involve during their tenure, writing poems to commemorate significant moments, giving performances of their work and encouraging an interest in poetry across the city.
How do I apply to be Coventry Poet Laureate or Coventry Young Poet Laureate?
Applications are now closed for Coventry Poet Laureate and Coventry Young Poet Laureate 2025 to 2027.
How often are the Coventry Poet Laureate and Coventry Young Poet Laureate appointed?
Both positions are now appointed every 2 years.