Where I'm From
Where I’m From brings together nine writers, each with their own story, memories and way of seeing the world.
Through poems, stories, letters and memoirs, the collection explores identity, heritage, family, belonging and the places we call home.
Rooted in African, Caribbean and wider diaspora experiences, these are individual stories that often meet in unexpected places. Different journeys, different perspectives, but shared experiences of resilience, reflection and connection.
Many Truths, Nine Voices, One Root.
Genre: Anthology | Poetry, Stories & Memoir
This book is currently a free publication whilst stocks last.
This book was funded by Black History 365, by the Royal Borough of Greenwich 2026 and will be distributed at local event and donated to libraries in South-East London. Further prints will be made available to purchase soon.
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Read by Nadia Burton-Bangura
Read the Extract
I’m from two worlds that when they meshed
gave me my looks being freckles, brown skin,
button nose and small ears.
I’m from two worlds that when they meshed
gave me a real figure-eight body shape,
big bum, big thighs and arms.
I’m from two worlds that when they meshed
made me a yardie by heart
but an African queen by nature.
I am from two worlds that when they meshed,
I became Ms Nadia Burton Bangura.
How This Collection Came to Life...
Where I’m From grew from our Scribes with Vibes creative writing course, where we explored the question of where we come from, not simply as a place on a map, but through the people, memories, cultures and experiences that have shaped us.
The theme was inspired in part by George Ella Lyon’s poem Where I’m From, which uses the everyday details of life to explore identity and belonging. We used this as a starting point, then travelled deeper into our own stories.
We looked beyond where we were born or where we live. We explored family, childhood, migration, language, traditions and the memories carried from one generation to another. We considered our connections to parents, grandparents and ancestors, and how their journeys continue to live within our own.
But something else happened as we wrote.
There was laughter and joy, but there were also moments of deep emotion. Memories surfaced that had not always been spoken about, and stories were shared that required trust. As we listened to one another, that trust grew. We created a space where people could share openly, knowing their words, memories and experiences would be received with respect.
Sometimes another person’s story awakened a memory of our own. Sometimes our experiences were very different, yet the emotions behind them felt familiar. Through writing, listening and sharing, deeper connections began to form between us.
The poems, stories, letters and memoirs in this collection grew from that experience. Nine individual voices, each speaking from their own truth, yet connected through heritage, memory, resilience, identity and belonging.
Where I’m From became more than the theme of a creative writing course. It became an invitation to look backwards, inwards and around us, to recognise those who came before us, understand more about ourselves, and consider what we carry forward.
Many Truths, Nine Voices, One Root.