Poet in the City and LSE are honoured to be holding a special showcase event with the world famous poet and writer Ben Okri. Born in 1959 in Minna, northern Nigeria, he became world famous as a writer in 1991 when he won the Booker prize for his novel The Famished Road. Set in a Nigerian village, this was the first in a trilogy of successful novels about Azaro, a spirit child. In all he has published eight novels, and won countless awards and honours for his writing. His latest novel, Starbook, was published in 2007.

Ben Okri is also a distinguished poet Poetry editor for West Africa magazine between 1983 and 1986, collection of his poems, An African Elegy, was published in the UK in 1992, and an epic poem, Mental Flight, was published in 1999. Appropriately, in his latest book, Tales of Freedom (2009), he brings together poetry and story. He also writes short stories, essays and plays. Ben Okri, who now lives in London, was awarded an OBE in 2001.

Ben Okri will be reading from his own work and will be in conversation with a guest interviewer.

This event is part of the 'Poetry and Choices' series, organised in conjunction with Poet in the City. Other events in the series include Poetry and Choices panel discussion with some of the UK's leading poets and a New Audiences event. Poet in the City is a registered charity committed to attracting new audiences to poetry, making new connections for poetry, and raising money to support poetry education, in particular the placing of poets in schools.

This is part of the LSE Space for Thought Literary Weekend, the LSE's first ever Literary Festival, celebrating the completion of the New Academic Building.

Ticket Information

All public tickets for this event have now been allocated. Anyone unsuccessful in requesting a ticket will be notified.

LSE students can still collect a ticket from the LSESU reception, located on the Ground Floor, East Building, Houghton St.

Returns Queue

There will be a returns queue in operation at this event. Any empty seats left by ticket holder will be filled by those in the returns queue shortly before the start of the event. The returns queue will be situated outside the Wolfson Theatre. Entry via the returns queue is not guaranteed.

Media queries: please contact the Press Office if you would like to reserve a press seat or have a media query about this event, email pressoffice@lse.ac.uk