SLAMbassadors UK
SLAMbassadors UK is a national youth poetry slam, considering work from young people aged 12–18. It started in 2001 as "The London Mayor's Poetry Slam", making it the UK's longest running youth slam. In 2003 it became known as the "Rise Slam", before settling on its current name, SLAMbassadors. Throughout the history of the slam, it has been run by its Artistic Director Joelle Taylor, with the support of the Poetry Society.
Over the years the slam has produced numerous winners who have gone on to make excellent careers for themselves in the UK performance poetry scene.
List of Winners (Incomplete)
Year |
Winners |
Judges |
Venue |
2002 |
Anthony Anaxagorou |
Joelle Taylor |
|
2003 |
Kayo Chingonyi |
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2004 |
Louise Hill |
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2005 |
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2006 |
Hussain Manawer, Chris Preddie OBE |
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2007 |
Naga MC |
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2008 |
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2009 |
Naga MC |
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2010 |
Vanessa Kisuule |
Linton Kwesi Johnson |
The Drill Hall |
2011 |
Megan Beech, Aaron Denyer, Harry Wilson |
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2012 |
Gabriel Akamo, Charlotte Higgins |
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2013 |
Aakifah Aboobakar, Jennifer Burville-Riley, Nafeesa Mohammed, Samilah Naira, Ollie O'Niell, Anna-Rose Thomas |
Holly McNish, Bea Colley |
Royal Festival Hall |
2014 |
Abdullah Alselami, Ibukun Badmus, Jemima Higgins, Saoirse Lennon, Tommy Sissons, Katie Walters |
Kate Tempest |
|
2015 |
Ruth Awolola, Damayanti Chatterjee, Abi Cook, Damilare Haastrup, Jay Hulme, Tane Prior, Georgie Smith |
Anthony Anaxagorou |
Royal Festival Hall |
2016 |
Ana, Zubeyda Elmi, Aislinn Evans, Neha Singh, Maya Sourie |
Lemn Sissay MBE |
|
2017 |
Sabrina Mahfouz |