Sumia Juxun. Photo: s*an d. henry-smith Sumia Juxun
Sumia Juxun is an elder sister, poet, producer, and educator currently based between Rotterdam, London, and Toronto. Her work often explores themes of memory, movement, and the cyclical process of leaving, as well as the rituals of departure. Juxun is known for integrating cultural traditions, such as Somali Buraanbur, into her poetic performances, offering a transformative exploration of these themes. She has received recognition for her work, including winning the FourHubs’ 2018 Poetry Prize and being shortlisted for The White Review Poet’s Prize in 2022 and shortlisted for the Creative Future Writer’s Award in 2024.
Juxun is also the co-founder of SAWTI (2018-2022), a project that promotes East African literary and artistic expression. Her work is interdisciplinary, and she frequently engages in public readings, workshops, and performances that delve into acts of refusal, grief, and dreaming, as seen in her contributions to events like the Poetics of Refusal series.
Juxun is a Barbican Young Poet Alumni and has presented her work at various international festivals and institutions, including the Belfast International Arts Festival. Forthcoming in 2025 is a selection of Sumia’s poems alongside visual work by Alanna Fields, published by Meteoro Editions. Juxun is also a contributor to the ongoing research project, The Anarchist Citizenship: People Made of Stories, on show at Framer Framed from 27 October until 26 January 2025.
Exhibitions
