Sheniz Janmohamed

Poet, Spoken Word Artist

Author's Bio

Sheniz Janmohamed is a freelance writer, poet and spoken word artist. A graduate of The University of Toronto (B.A. with Honours in English and Religion), she has also completed her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at The University of Guelph—her thesis is a multi-genre exploration of her identity as a second generation South Asian Canadian and how it relates to
ancestry in Kenya and India.

Sheniz is the founder and president of Ignite Poets, a spoken word youth initiative that promotes peace and social awareness through poetry. She recently traveled to Kenya to establish the Kenyan branch of Ignite Poets, work with local artists and musicians and raise money for the Hawkers Market Girls Centre in Nairobi.

Her first book, Bleeding Light (TSAR), released in September 2010, is a collection of Sufi-inspired ghazals that explore the complex, nuanced and ever-changing relationship between the lover and the Beloved.

Publications & Prizes

Poetry

Anthology:
Yellow as Turmeric, Fragrant as Cloves: A Contemporary Anthology of Asian American Women's Poetry (Deep Bowl Press, 2008)
Book:
Bleeding Light (TSAR Publications, 2010)
Journals:
Misunderstandings Magazine
,
Poetry Canada Magazine

Spoken Word

Performances:
Masala! Mehndi! Masti! Festival, The Fountain Room, Queen Elizabeth Building, CNE (2010)
,
DISHOOM! South Asian Performance Festival, Factory Theatre (125 Bathurst St, Toronto) (2009)
,
For Haiti (Markaz Shisha Lounge, 222 Richmond Street W, Toronto) (2009)
,
Hersterics, Toronto Women's Bookstore (73 Harbord Street, Toronto) (2009)
,
Mini Shebang High School Tour, Dreamwalker Dance Company (Various high schools in Toronto) (2009)
,
Word, An Aerial Poetry Jam (326 Carlaw Avenue,Toronto) (2009)
,
Toronto Poets Saturday Night Love (Ritz Caribbean Restaurant, Toronto) (2008)
,
Underground Sounds, The Central (603 Markham St, Toronto) (2007)

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
South Asian
Prefers to work with: 
Adults, At Risk Youth, LGBTQ, Naturalists/Environmentalists, Teachers, Teenagers
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
Toronto
Canada
Raised in: 
Toronto, ON
Canada
Ontario
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Dec 03, 2010