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Jackie Kay becomes the new Makar, Scotland's national poet Jackie Kay named as new Scottish makar
(35 minutes later)
The acclaimed writer Jackie Kay, whose complex relationship with her own Scottish identity provides inspiration for much of her work, is Scotland’s new Makar, or national poet. The acclaimed writer Jackie Kay, whose complex relationship with her Scottish identity provides inspiration for much of her work, has been named as Scotland’s new makar, or national poet.
Accepting the appointment at the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh on Tuesday morning, Kay said: “As Robert Burns demonstrated, poetry holds up a unique mirror to a nation’s heart, mind and soul. It is the pure language that tells us who we are. I hope to open up the conversations, the blethers, the arguments and celebrations that Scotland has with itself and with the rest of the world, using the voice of poetry in its fine Scottish delivery.” Accepting the appointment at the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh on Tuesday, Kay said: “As Robert Burns demonstrated, poetry holds up a unique mirror to a nation’s heart, mind and soul. It is the pure language that tells us who we are. I hope to open up the conversations, the blethers, the arguments and celebrations that Scotland has with itself and with the rest of the world, using the voice of poetry in its fine Scottish delivery.”
She becomes the third poet to take the post since it was established in 2004, succeeding Liz Lochhead and her mentor Edwin Morgan, Scotland’s first Makar. Kay becomes the third poet to take the post since it was established in 2004, succeeding Liz Lochhead and her mentor Edwin Morgan, Scotland’s first makar.
Related: A life in writing: Jackie KayRelated: A life in writing: Jackie Kay
Kay won the Guardian fiction prize in 1998 for her first novel, Trumpet, and was given an MBE for services to literature in 2006. She is currently chancellor of Salford University. Kay won the Guardian fiction prize in 1998 for her first novel, Trumpet, and was awarded an MBE for services to literature in 2006. She is currently the chancellor of Salford University.
Known for the warmth and humour of her public performances, Kay has always explored themes of identity and belonging through her writing. Trumpet told the story of a jazz musician revealed after his death to have been a woman. Known for the warmth and humour of her public performances, Kay has always explored themes of identity and belonging through her writing. Trumpet tells the story of a jazz musician who, after his death, is revealed to have been a woman.
And in her best-selling memoir, Red Dust Road, Kay described her search for her birth parents – a young nurse from the Highlands and a Nigerian student at Aberdeen university in the early sixties. Born in Edinburgh in 1961, Kay was adopted by a white communist couple and brought up in Glasgow, later discussing the extreme rarity at that time of being a black child brought up by white parents. In her best-selling memoir, Red Dust Road, Kay described the search for her birth parents – a young nurse from the Highlands and a Nigerian student at Aberdeen University in the early sixties. Born in Edinburgh in 1961, Kay was adopted by a white communist couple and brought up in Glasgow, later discussing the extreme rarity at that time of being a black child brought up by white parents.
Kay remains close to her former partner, and current UK poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, whom she lived with in Manchester for over a decade with their two children. Kay remains close to her former partner, and current UK poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, with whom she lived in Manchester for more than a decade with their two children.
The final selection of Kay as Makar was made from from shortlist by first minister Nicola Sturgeon and former first ministers Alex Salmond, Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale and Henry McLeish. The final selection of Kay as makar was made from a shortlist by the first ministerm Nicola Sturgeon, and former first ministers Alex Salmond, Jack McConnell and Henry McLeish.
Announcing the appointment, Sturgeon saluted Kay’s “particular Scottish brand of gallus humour”.Announcing the appointment, Sturgeon saluted Kay’s “particular Scottish brand of gallus humour”.
She said: “The role of the Makar is to celebrate our poetic past, promote the poetry of today and produce new pieces of work that relate to significant events in our nation. She said: “The role of the makar is to celebrate our poetic past, promote the poetry of today and produce new pieces of work that relate to significant events in our nation.
“Jackie Kay’s poems sometimes deal with challenging subjects, taken from her own life experiences, and she has a particular Scottish brand of gallus humour.“Jackie Kay’s poems sometimes deal with challenging subjects, taken from her own life experiences, and she has a particular Scottish brand of gallus humour.
“She is hugely respected, is known for her poignant and honest words, and is a role model for many, and I am delighted to name her as the new national poet for Scotland.”“She is hugely respected, is known for her poignant and honest words, and is a role model for many, and I am delighted to name her as the new national poet for Scotland.”