MOBO award-winning ‘Akala’ ready to rap in Rochdale

Acclaimed MOBO award-winning rapper Akala is on his way to Rochdale and will be performing tracks from his last 2 albums ’The Thieves Banquet’ and ‘Doublethink’ on Saturday 26 October at 4pm during Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival.

Akala, who has taken the Hip-hop Shakespeare live show to enthuse audiences across the globe, will be appearing at the festival which runs at the end of this month.

The performance at Rochdale Central Library, promises to bring George Orwell’s ‘1984’ and renowned Kenyan author Ngugi Wa Thiong'o’s ‘Devil on The Cross’ to life through music. 

Akala, who fuses rap/rock and electro punk with storytelling has featured on numerous television programmes and has a reputation as one of the most dynamic and literate talents in the country.  Tickets are being snapped up for his live show, in addition to a panel discussion and a ‘Hip Hop Shakespeare Company’ workshop he will also be taking part in during the festival.

Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival runs from 25 to 27 October with an inspiring schedule of events covering drama, dance, music, theatre, films and visual arts. The festival will also include a series of live performances and family friendly activities, all linked to literature and philosophy.  Over 40 shows are on the line-up which also includes Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, Dragons Den winner Mark Champkins, former Coronation Street star Kevin Kennedy and poet Simon Armitage.

Councillor Peter Williams, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Customer Services said Akala’s performance really will bring the festival to life:

“Akala is one of those artists that will amaze, entertain and make you think, which is what the festival is all about. We want to improve the way our libraries engage with young people so what better way to do this than bring such an acclaimed artist as Akala to perform and talk about how reading has inspired his own work.”

The festival is due to the generosity of Annie and Frank Maskew, a Rochdale couple who shared a passion for reading and thinking, and originally met in Rochdale Library. They left a sum of money to be used on resources and events related to literature, and philosophy to ensure classic works are available for future generations.

Tickets to see Akala are £5, and are available from www.rochdaleliteraturefestival.co.uk

The event is organised by Rochdale Borough Council, funded by the Maskew Bequest and the Arts Council’s Grants for the Arts Award.