Unsilenced: Poems for Palestine Book Launch

On May 20, 2025, Daraja Press marked a significant literary and political moment with the launch of Unsilenced: Poems for Palestine, a stirring anthology edited by John P. Portelli. Bringing together the voices of 50 poets from across the globe, this collection weaves together art and activism, offering a lyrical testament to Palestinian resistance, resilience, and the enduring call for justice.

This special podcast episode presents a lightly edited recording of the powerful launch event in Ottawa, hosted by Adrian Harewood—award-winning journalist, professor at Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication, and former CBC anchor. With his decades of experience in media and cultural storytelling, Harewood guided an evening of profound reflection, where poetry became both witness and weapon against oppression.

The panel featured an extraordinary gathering of contributors, each lending their unique perspective to the conversation:

• John Portelli, the anthology’s editor, a poet, novelist, and professor emeritus whose work bridges academia and literary activism;
• Firoze Manji, Daraja Press publisher and public scholar, whose work centers African and global liberation struggles;
• Nahla Abdo, Carleton University professor and anti-colonial feminist scholar, whose research exposes the gendered violence of settler colonialism;
• Leila Marshy, writer and community organizer, whose novel The Philistine and family history inform her advocacy for Palestinian rights;
• Nibal Khalil, Palestinian anthropologist and gender studies expert, whose work amplifies marginalized voices;
• Shirani Rajapakse, award-winning Sri Lankan poet, whose writing explores themes of war, displacement, and healing;
• Omar Sabbagh, Lebanese-British poet and critic, whose forthcoming collection Night Settles Upon the City (Daraja Press) delves into Beirut’s layered histories;
• Xanthi Hondrou-Hill, Greek-German poet and translator, whose award-winning work bridges cultures and languages;
• Joseph Ogbonna, Nigerian poet and educator, whose verses resonate with historical and contemporary struggles.

Their readings and discussions illuminated how poetry can transcend borders, challenge silence, and forge solidarity. From personal narratives to collective calls for justice, Unsilenced is more than a book—it’s a movement.

Listen to this unforgettable day of words and resistance on Daraja Press’s podcast. Available now on all major platforms.

#UnsilencedPoems #PoetryForPalestine #LiteraryActivism #DarajaPress

Produced by Pierre Loiselle, Music by Arlo Maverick. Thanks for listening.