Exploring Identity and Reflection Amidst Global Lockdown
COVID: THE WORDY WILDS OF A MIND UNDER LOCKDOWN by N Chamchoun is a cultural fusion poetry collection. It explores themes of identity, duality, displacement, loss, race, feminism, culture, family, love. Hence, the search for inner peace as experienced alongside the effects of mental health, menopause, the pandemic and world events. Lockdown was a shared global experience which allowed for introspection and self-exploration. It allowed us to examine and nurture parts of ourselves that busy life often causes us to neglect. I was inspired to write the collection by the wordy wilds of our own thoughts in a restricted environment.
Exploring Cultural Duality and Taboos Through Personal Challenges
My writing is influenced by my cultural duality. I am interested in female voices in the diaspora community. The challenges they face within both communities and the taboos around female sexuality and mental health within their ancestral communities. I experienced lockdown with two hormonal teenagers. My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I struggled with mental health and if that wasn’t enough I also started menopause. We also saw the rise of Trumpism in the US and far right politics in Europe. These were certainly things that gave pause for thought and inspired pieces.
Enriching Cultural Understanding Through Multicultural Narratives
My target audience is the multicultural community since we inhabit a multicultural world. It will certainly speak to women of culturally ethnic backgrounds but I think also to those interested in understanding the diaspora experience. Certain cultural practices and the feeling of having a foot in two different continents. After all, how does humanity progress collectively without understanding and accepting our differences?
I hope that readers will feel both culturally and emotionally enriched by the collection and also feel a little more enlightened by a world view through a cultural lense. To quote Harper Lee “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. * And I think this collection allows the reader to do just that.
Exploring Transitions and Relationships Through Cultural Perspectives
My future plans are to keep promoting the message of COVID: THE WORDY WILDS OF A MIND UNDER LOCKDOWN. Which is understanding, acceptance, unity and harmonious existence. My second collection Saging Not Ageing has been published June 1st 2024. This is a collection that delves deeper into cultural issues. SAGING NOT AGING is a poetry collection which explores transition and relationships. In particular, transitions through various stages in our lives and our relationship with ourselves, our loved ones and an ever-changing world.
I feel that this is a topic that is relatable people across the globe since as humans we are always evolving and adapting to face the challenges of our changing environment and lives. SAGING NOT AGING offers a view of the human experience through the lens of culture, mental health, duality and class/gender/ race disadvantage. However, at the very heart of it beats a pulse of emotional growth, spiritual, cultural and sexual awakening.
British-Moroccan Poet and Performer in London’s Poetry Scene
I am a British Moroccan writer, poet and performance poet. An active member of London’s vibrant Poetry and Spoken Word community, the international Poetry community online. I have performed my work at several Poetry Open Mic events including the Grenfell 5-year Anniversary. Also this year’s 7-year Anniversary. My work has also featured on BBC Radio London several times and I was part of BBC Radio London’s first ever in studio Open Mic to commemorate World Poetry Day.
My work featured in The Lockdown Exhibition in The House of Commons in June 2023 which explored female voices during lockdown. I have also run community Writing Workshops and was privileged enough to perform my work at the Nuyorican Bowery Poetry Club in New York.
You can out my book on Amazon.
