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2 unusual facts about Linton Kwesi Johnson


Linton Kwesi Johnson

His middle name, "Kwesi", is a Ghanaian name that is given to boys who - like Johnson - are born on a Sunday.

In 2005 he was awarded a silver Musgrave Medal from the Institute of Jamaica for distinguished eminence in the field of poetry.


Dub poetry

Linton Kwesi Johnson (LKJ)'s album Dread Beat an' Blood first appeared in 1978, then Oku Onuora's Reflection In Red in 1979, followed by Benjamin Zephaniah's Rasta, and many others in the early 1980s onwards.

Nation language

Writers who also notably use nation language include Samuel Selvon, Louise Bennett, Archie Markham, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Marc Matthews, John Agard, Jean Binta Breeze, as well as others of a younger generation.

Oliver Foot

Many high profile customers frequented the location including the then Mayor of London Ken Livingston, Suggs, Ian Brown, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Joe Strummer and the rocksteady musician Alton Ellis.

Poetry Live

The next step was to offer days with poets such as Ted Hughes, Seamus Heaney, Derek Walcott, James Fenton, Tony Harrison, U A Fanthorpe, Benjamin Zephaniah, Simon Armitage, Glyn Maxwell, Gillian Clarke, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Carol Ann Duffy, Liz Lochhead and Andrew Motion.


see also