Lillian Allen grew up in Spanish Town, Jamaica where she attended Barracks (Spanish Town Primary) and later St Jago High School.
She studied in New York City and in Canada where she resides. An acclaimed foremother of Canadian Poetry and a long-time arts activist, she was bestowed an honourary doctorate by Wilfrid Laurier University for her contributions to Canadian literary culture.
She is a leading international exponent of dub poetry with its politically charged reggae-infused aesthetic of resistance. The winner of many awards and citations, Ms Allen has also been a successful Cultural Strategist who played key roles in transforming the Toronto and Canadian cultural and literary landscapes.
She is a globally recognized recording artist and a two-time Canadian Juno award winner for her recordings Conditions Critical (1988) and Revolutionary Tea Party (1986) which was nominated for the prestigious Polaris Heritage Prize in Canada. Other full length recordings are Freedom & Dance (1999) and ANXIETY(2012). Her latest single is titled, Woken and Unbroken.
Lillian is the author of Make the World New-The Poetry of Lillian Allen- selected with an introduction by Ronald Cummings, WLU Press 2021, other books include Rhythm an’ Hardtimes, Women Do this Every Day and Psychic Unrest. Her books and recordings for children and young people include Why Me, Nothing But A Hero and If You See Truth. www.LillianAllen.ca
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Poet Laureate 2021-2024
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