Elected: 2013
Year of birth: 1952
Image credit: Danny da Costa
Linton Kweis Johnson is a Jamaican dub poet and activist who has been based in the United Kingdom since 1963. In 2002 he became the second living poet, and the only black poet, to be published in the Penguin Modern Classics series. His performance poetry involves the recitation of his own verse in Jamaican patois over dub-reggae, usually written in collaboration with renowned British reggae producer/artist Dennis Bovell.
In July 2020, he was awarded the PEN Pinter Prize – established in Harold Pinter‘s name to defend freedom of expression and celebrate literature – for his commitment to political expression in his work.
Fellows are nominated by peers and elected by our Council of writers – our governing Board. Being elected a Fellow of the RSL is a lifetime honour. This role gives them the opportunity to support other writers, readers and the future of literature. The RSL connects writers in the Fellowship to one another, and to a wider readership.
