Ayan Aden

Poet | Cultural Curator | Strategic Consultant

Poet | Cultural Curator
Strategic Consultant

BIRMINGHAM POET LAUREATE 2024–2026

Rooted in heritage and driven by vision, Ayan Aden transforms poetry, strategy, and cultural leadership into powerful acts of change

Her voice carries stories that bridge generations, her work builds systems that honour community. With every stage she graces and every project she shapes, Ayan turns creativity into legacy.

—Ayan Mo Aden

© 2023–2025

All Rights Reserved

She sees poetry as both archive and agent—preserving what
must endure while imagining what is yet to come.

She sees poetry as both archive and agent
—preserving what must endure while
imagining what is yet to come.

She sees poetry as both archive and agent—preserving
what must endure while imagining what is yet to come.

Her work merges Somali oral tradition with contemporary poetics
-blending intimacy and provocation to preserve culture, affirm
identity, and shift narratives.

Her work merges Somali oral tradition with
contemporary poetics -blending intimacy and
provocation to preserve culture, affirm
identity, and shift narratives.

Her work merges Somali oral tradition with contemporary
poetics-blending intimacy and provocation to preserve
culture, affirm
identity, and shift narratives.

Philosophy & Voice

"Empowering people to tell their stories on their own terms—through art and poetry—
opens dialogue and challenges entrenched perspectives. It sparks the process of change,
and that is what drives my work. If we don’t tell our stories, who will?"

"Empowering people to tell their stories on
their own terms—through art and poetry—
opens dialogue and challenges
entrenched perspectives. It sparks the
process of change,and that is what drives
my work. If we don’t tell our stories,
who will?"

"Empowering people to tell their stories on their own terms—through art and poetry—
opens dialogue and challenges entrenched perspectives. It sparks the process of change,
and that is what drives my work. If we don’t tell our stories, who will?"

When asked why storytelling is her chosen tool for change, she explains:

When asked why storytelling is her
chosen tool for change, she explains:

When asked why storytelling is her chosen tool for change, she explains:

Ayan wrote her first poem at eight and, by twelve, had won a National Poetry Competition.
From an early age, she understood the power of words to reimagine the world.

Ayan wrote her first poem at eight
and, by twelve, had won a National
Poetry Competition. From an early age,
she understood the power of words to
reimagine the world.

Ayan wrote her first poem at eight and, by twelve, had won a National Poetry
Competition. From an early age, she understood the power of words to reimagine
the world.

‘If we dont tell our stories, who will?

‘If we dont tell our stories,
who will?

Ayan writes to honour her people’s resilience, challenge silenced
voices, and carve space for truth where it has long been
absent..

Ayan writes to honour her people’s resilience,
challenge silenced voices, and carve space
for truth where it has long been absent..

Ayan writes to honour her people’s resilience, challenge
silenced voices, and carve space for truth where it has
long been
absent..

Connect now

Highlights & Milestones:

Highlights &
Milestones:

Delivered a TEDx talk at 18, becoming one of the youngest Somali diaspora speakers globally,
and has since performed at Parliament, corporate firms, festivals, and international stages.

Delivered a TEDx talk at 18,
becoming one of the youngest
Somali diaspora speakers globally,
and has since performed at Parliament,
corporate firms, festivals, and international stages.

Delivered a TEDx talk at 18, becoming one of the youngest Somali diaspora speakers
globally, and has since performed at Parliament, corporate firms, festivals, and
international stages.

TEDx & Global Stages

As head of fundraising, secured £170,000 in just one month, driving six-figure
investment into cultural and community projects in under three years.

As head of fundraising, secured £170,000 in
just one month, driving six-figure
investment into cultural and community
projects in under three years.

As head of fundraising, secured £170,000 in just one month, driving six-figure
investment into cultural and community projects in under three years.

Record-Breaking Fundraiser

History-maker

Youngest, first Somali, and first Muslim Birmingham Poet Laureate in the UK’s oldest city laureateship.

Youngest, first Somali, and first Muslim Birmingham
Poet Laureate in the UK’s oldest city laureateship.

Youngest, first Somali, and first Muslim Birmingham Poet Laureate in the
UK’s oldest city laureateship.

Cultural powerhouse:

Directed Europe’s largest Somali Independence Day celebration: 800 guests, 12 media partners, and
international press coverage in 3-weeks

Directed Europe’s largest Somali Independence
Day celebration: 800 guests, 12 media partners, and
international press coverage in 3-weeks

Directed Europe’s largest Somali Independence Day celebration: 800 guests,
12 media partners, and international press coverage in 3-weeks

Recognition

Winner of the EU in Somalia’s Silsiladda Nabadada International Poetry Competition (2019),
Run Your Mouth Slam Winner (2024), and UniSlam Finalist (2024).

Winner of the EU in Somalia’s Silsiladda
Nabadada International Poetry Competition
(2019), Run Your Mouth Slam Winner (2024), and
UniSlam Finalist (2024).

Winner of the EU in Somalia’s Silsiladda Nabadada International Poetry
Competition (2019), Run Your Mouth Slam Winner (2024),
and UniSlam Finalist (2024).

Cultural Architect

Founded Somalinimo UK, the British Somali Poetry Collective, and co-founded Ururka Bahda Af
Soomaaliga to preserve Somali language and culture through literary events,
workshops, and intergenerational engagement.

Founded Somalinimo UK, the British Somali
Poetry Collective, and co-founded Ururka Bahda Af
Soomaaliga to preserve Somali language and culture
through literary events,
workshops, and intergenerational engagement.

Founded Somalinimo UK, the British Somali Poetry Collective, and co-founded
Ururka Bahda Af Soomaaliga to preserve Somali language and culture through literary
events, workshops, and intergenerational engagement.

Policy & Arts Strategist

Advanced arts access in Birmingham’s schools and shaped regional policy for HS2, the
Commonwealth Games, and the Mayor’s Office.

Advanced arts access in Birmingham’s schools
and shaped regional policy for HS2, the
Commonwealth Games, and the Mayor’s Office.

Advanced arts access in Birmingham’s schools and shaped regional policy for HS2, the
Commonwealth Games, and the Mayor’s Office.

"Poetry is accessible, Poetry is modern, Poetry is for all.

Poetry is both John Keats, but also someone who looks like me too. Poetry is both precision on a page, but also a mic and performance. "

—Ayan Aden

Poet | Cultural Strategist
Birmingham Poet Laureate 2024–26

Ayan Aden

Poet | Cultural Curator | Strategic Consultant

Poet | Cultural Curator Strategic Consultant

BIRMINGHAM POET LAUREATE 2024–2026

© 2023–2025

All Rights Reserved

Philosophy & Voice

Philosophy & Voice

"Empowering people to tell their stories on their own terms—through art and poetry—opens dialogue and challenges entrenched perspectives. It sparks the process of change, and that is what drives my work. If we don’t tell our stories, who will?"

"Empowering people to tell their stories on their own terms—through art and poetry—opens dialogue and challenges entrenched perspectives. It sparks the process of change,and that is what drives my work. If we don’t tell our stories, who will?"

"Empowering people to tell their stories on their own terms—through art and poetry—opens dialogue and challenges entrenched perspectives. It sparks the process of change, and that is what drives my work. If we don’t tell our stories, who will?"

When asked why storytelling is her chosen tool for change, she explains:

When asked why storytelling is her chosen tool for change, she explains:

When asked why storytelling is her chosen tool for change, she explains:

Ayan wrote her first poem at eight and, by twelve, had won a National Poetry Competition. From an early age, she understood the power of words to reimagine the world.

Ayan wrote her first poem at eight and, by twelve, had won a NationalPoetry Competition. From an early age, she understood the power of words to reimagine the world.

Ayan wrote her first poem at eight and, by twelve, had won a National Poetry Competition. From an early age, she understood the power of words to reimagine the world.

‘If we dont tell our stories, who will?

‘If we dont tell our stories, who will?

"Poetry is accessible, Poetry is modern, Poetry is for all. Poetry is both John Keats, but also someone who looks like me too. Poetry is both precision on a page, but also a mic and performance. "

"Poetry is accessible, Poetry is modern, Poetry is for all. Poetry is both John Keats, but also someone who looks like me too. Poetry is both precision on a page, but also a mic and performance. "

Poet | Cultural Strategist Birmingham Poet Laureate 2024–26

Poet | Cultural Strategist Birmingham Poet Laureate 2024–26

Poet | Cultural Curator
Strategic Consultant

"Empowering people to tell their stories on their own terms—through art and poetry—
opens dialogue and challenges entrenched perspectives. It sparks the process of change,
and that is what drives my work. If we don’t tell our stories, who will?"

"Empowering people to tell their stories on
their own terms—through art and poetry—
opens dialogue and challenges
entrenched perspectives. It sparks the
process of change,and that is what drives
my work. If we don’t tell our stories,
who will?"

"Empowering people to tell their stories on their own terms—through art and poetry—
opens dialogue and challenges entrenched perspectives. It sparks the process of change,
and that is what drives my work. If we don’t tell our stories, who will?"

When asked why storytelling is her
chosen tool for change, she explains:

Ayan wrote her first poem at eight and, by twelve, had won a National Poetry Competition.
From an early age, she understood the power of words to reimagine the world.

Ayan wrote her first poem at eight
and, by twelve, had won a National
Poetry Competition. From an early age,
she understood the power of words to
reimagine the world.

Ayan wrote her first poem at eight and, by twelve, had won a National Poetry
Competition. From an early age, she understood the power of words to reimagine
the world.

‘If we dont tell our stories,
who will?

"Poetry is accessible, Poetry is modern, Poetry is for all.

Poetry is both John Keats, but also someone who looks like me too. Poetry is both precision on a page, but also a mic and performance. "

"Poetry is accessible, Poetry is modern, Poetry is for all.

Poetry is both John Keats, but also someone who looks like me too. Poetry is both precision on a page, but also a mic and performance. "

Poet | Cultural Strategist
Birmingham Poet Laureate 2024–26

Poet | Cultural Strategist
Birmingham Poet Laureate 2024–26