Our National Poet

English

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced Jackie Kay’s appointment as the new Makar – National Poet for Scotland – on 15 March 2016, at the Scottish Poetry Library.

She was selected from a strong shortlist prepared by a panel of literary experts, convened by Dr Robyn Marsack, the Director of the SPL. The final selection was made by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and former first ministers Alex Salmond, Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale and Henry McLeish. Ms Sturgeon said:

Poetry is part of Scotland’s culture and history, it celebrates our language and can evoke strong emotions and memories in all of us. The role of the Makar is to celebrate our poetic past, promote the poetry of today and produce new pieces of work that relate to significant events in our nation.

Jackie Kay’s poems sometimes deal with challenging subjects, taken from her own life experiences, and she has a particular Scottish brand of gallus humour. She is hugely respected, is known for her poignant and honest words, and is a role model for many, and I am delighted to name her as the new National Poet for Scotland.

Ms Kay, an award-winning author recently elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, said:

It’s a tremendous honour to be chosen as Scotland’s new Makar , following in the footsteps of such wonderful poets as Edwin Morgan and Liz Lochhead.

As Robert Burns demonstrated, poetry holds up a unique mirror to a nation’s heart, mind and soul. It is the pure language that tells us who we are. I hope to open up the conversations, the blethers, the arguments and celebrations that Scotland has with itself and with the rest of the world, using the voice of Poetry in its fine Scottish delivery.

Jackie Kay was made MBE for services to literature in 2006, and is currently Chancellor of Salford University. Her poetry collections include Darling: New and Selected Poems (2007), and Fiere (2011), which reflects on her Nigerian and Scottish heritage. Her memoir Red Dust Road (2010), which she has called a ‘love letter’ to her white adoptive parents, won the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Book of the Year Award in 2011. Her latest collection, featuring poems from her residency at the Ardtornish Estate, is The Empathetic Store (Mariscat, 2015).

The National Poet for Scotland

The position of Scots Makar – the National Poet for Scotland – was created in February 2004 by the Scottish Government. ‘Makar’ is the Scots word for the author of a literary work, and particularly for a poet or bard. Announcing the creation of the post and the first holder, the First Minister Jack McConnell said:

It is vitally important that we recognise the significant contribution of poetry to the culture of Scotland. This position will symbolise the success and of Scottish poets in the past and the potential of Scottish poetry in the future. I hope that the Scots Makar will inspire young Scots to enjoy, and indeed to write, poetry. Professor Morgan’s work has done just that. Generations of Scots have had their lives enriched through his poetry, his vivid imagination and incredible use of language have sparked many an image into life. Edwin Morgan is an exceptional human being whose talent has touched the lives of thousands of people around the world. He is not just a poet for Scotland – he is a poet for our times.

Edwin Morgan was to hold the post for three years, but this was later extended as a lifetime appointment. The Scots Makar was asked ‘to represent Scottish poetry in the public consciousness, to promote poetic creativity in Scotland, and to be an ambassador for Scottish poetry.’ Morgan was commissioned to write a poem for the opening of Scotland’s new parliament building in October 2004. He rose to the challenge with For the Opening of the Scottish Parliament, 9 October 2004, a poem that brilliantly encapsulates both the historical context of this fresh start and the hopes of the Scottish people invested in their representatives.

After Edwin Morgan’s death in August 2010, it was decided by the Scottish Government that the post should be continued, and in January 2011 the First Minister, Alex Salmond, together with former first ministers Lord McConnell and Henry McLeish, met to decide on the next Makar from a shortlist complied by representatives of Scottish literary organisations. The appointment of Liz Lochhead was announced by Alex Salmond on 19 January:

In creating the post of national poet, the communities of Scotland demonstrated the importance it places on the many aspects of culture which lie at the heart of our identity. As an author, translator, playwright, stage performer, broadcaster and grande dame of Scottish theatre, Ms Lochhead embodies everything a nation would want from its national poet.

With a natural ability to reach all ages and touch both sexes through her writing, Ms Lochhead has also been immensely successful at championing the Scots language. She continues to reach out to school pupils through her work which is widely read in Scotland’s schools and she is also a much valued role model, advocate and inspiration for women who are given a strong voice in her writing.

The tenure of the post was specified as five years and the role is to advance the role of poetry in the lives of the people of Scotland, from all ages and walks of life. Liz Lochhead held the post from 2011 to February 2016. In March 2016, Jackie Kay was appointed Makar / National Poet for Scotland for a five-year term.

The post of National Poet is supported by Creative Scotland.

Gaelic

Air an 15mh den Mhàrt, 2016, ghairm am Prìomh-mhinistear Nicola Sturgeon Jackie Kay mar am Makar ùr, Bàrd Nàiseanta na h-Alba.

Chaidh Kay a thaghadh bho fhìor dheagh gheàrr-liosta a chaidh a chur còmhla le panail luchd-eòlaIs litreachais, leis an Dr Robyn Marsack, Stiùiriche Leabharlann Bàrdachd na h-Alba, mar neach-gairm. Chaidh an roghainn deireannach a dhèanamh leis a’ Phrìomh-mhinistear Nicola Sturgeon agus na seann phrìomh-mhinistearan, Ailig Salmond, Seoc MacConaill (Morair Ghleann Sgoradail) agus Eanraig MacGillÌosa. Thuirt Ms Sturgeon:

Tha bàrdachd na pàirt deatamach de chultar agus eachdraidh na h-Alba; bidh i a’ comharrachadh ar cànain agus ’s urrainn dhi faireachdainnean làidir agus cuimhneachain a thoirt gu bàrr annainn uile. An lùib obair a’ Mhakair tha ar traidisean bàrdail a chomharrachadh, bàrdachd an là an-diugh a bhrosnachadh, agus pìosan bàrdachd ùra a chruthachadh ceangailte ri tachartasan cudromach ar dùthcha.

Bidh dàin Jackie Kay aig amannan a’ dèiligeadh ri cuspairean toinnte, bho a beatha fhèin, agus tha tuigse aice air àbhachdas a tha gu tur Albannach. Tha urram mòr ann dhi, is tha mòran ga h-aithneachadh airson a faclan tiamhaidh agus geura. Thathar cuideachd ga faicinn mar dheagh-eisimpleir, agus tha e a’ toirt toileachas mòr dhomh a bhith ga gairm mar Bhàrd Nàiseanta ùr na h-Alba.

Thuirt Ms Kay, ùghdar a tha air duaisean a chosnadh agus a tha ùr-thaghte mar Bhall de Chomann Rìoghail Dùn Èideann:

Tha e na urram a bhith taghta mar Mhakar ùr na h-Alba, is mi a’ leantainn slighe bhàrd air leth mar Edwin Morgan agus Liz Lochhead.

Mar a sheall Raibeart Burns, bidh bàrdachd a’ toirt dhuinn sgàthan air cridhe, inntinn, agus anam dùthcha. ’S e fìor chànan a dh’innseas dhuinn cò th’ annainn. Tha mi an dòchas na còmhraidhean, bleadrachadh, argamaidean agus na h-amannan comharrachaidh a th’ aig Alba leatha fèin, agus leis an t-saoghail, a chur an cèill, a’ cleachdadh guth na Bàrdachd, na lìbhreagadh Albannach fhèin.

Fhuair Jackie Kay MBE airson taic a chumail ri litreachas an 2006, agus tha i an-dràsta na Seannsalair air Oilthigh Salford. Am measg nan cruinneachaidhean bàrdachd aice tha Darling: New and Selected Poems (2007), agus Fiere (2011), a tha a’ cnuasachadh air a dualchas Nigèirianach agus Albannach. Bhuannaich an eachdraidh-beatha aice, Red Dust Road (2010), a bha na ‘litir-gaoil’ dha a h-uchd-pàrantan geala, Duais Leabhar na Bliadhna an 2011 bhon Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust. ’S e The Empathetic Store (Mariscat, 2015) an cruinneachadh as ùire aice, agus na bhroinn tha bàrdachd bhon mhuinntireas aice aig Oighreachd Àird Tòranais.

Bàrd Nàiseanta na h-Alba

Chaidh dreuchd a’ Mhakair – Bàrd Nàiseanta na h-Alba – a chruthachadh anns a’ Ghearran 2004 le Riaghaltas na h-Alba. ’S e facal Albais a th’ ann am ‘Makar’ airson ùghdar litreachais, gu h-àraidh airson filidh no bàrd. Thuirt am Prìomh-mhinistear aig an àm, Seoc MacConaill, is e a’ gairm  na dreuchd ùire agus an neach a bha soirbheachail:

Tha e air glè chudromach gun aithnich sinn na tha bàrdachd air cur ri cultar na h-Alba. Bidh an dreuchd seo mar shamhla air soirbheachas bhàrd Albannach anns an àm a dh’fhalbh agus na tha comasach do bhàrdachd na h-Alba anns an àm ri teachd. Tha mi an dòchas gum brosnaich am Makar Albannaich òga gus tlachd a ghabhail ann, agus gu bàrdachd a sgrìobhadh. Tha saothair an Ollaimh Morgan air sin a dhèanamh. Tha ginealachdan de dh’Albannaich air fàs beairteach a thaobh mhac-mheanmna agus chànan tro a bhàrdachd. ’S e duine air leth a th’ ann an Edwin Morgan, agus tha an tàlant aige air beatha iomadh duine air feadh an t-saoghail atharrachadh. Chan e a-mhàin bàrd airson Alba a th’ ann – ’s e bàrd ar làithean-ne a th’ ann.

Bhathar an dùil gun dèanadh Edwin Morgan an dreuchd airson trì bliadhna, ach chaidh seo atharrachadh gu dreuchd fad-beatha. Chaidh iarraidh air a’ Mhakar ‘bàrdachd na h-Alba a riochdachadh gu poblach, cruthachalachd bhàrdail a bhrosnachadh, agus a bhith na riochdaire airson bàrdachd na h-Alba.’ Chaidh iarraidh air Morgan dàn a sgrìobhadh airson togalach Pàrlamaid na h-Alba fhosgladh anns an Dàmhair, 2004. Sgrìobh e ‘For the Opening of the Scottish Parliament, 9 October 2004‘, dàn a tha a’ toirt còmhla an dà chuid co-theacsa eachdraidheil an togalaich ùire agus an dòchas a th’ aig muinntir na h-Alba nan riochdairean.

Às dèidh bàs Edwin Morgan anns an Lùnastal 2010, roghnaich Riaghaltas na h-Alba an dreuchd a chumail a’ dol, agus anns an Fhaoilleach 2011, choinnich am Prìomh-mhinistear, Ailig Salmond, agus an dà sheann phrìomh-mhinistear, Seoc MacConaill agus Eanraig MacGilleÌosa, airson an ath Mhakar a thaghadh bho gheàrr-liosta a chaidh a dhèanamh le riochdairean bho bhuidhnean litreachais Albannach. Ghairm Ailig Salmond gun robhar air Liz Lochhead a thaghadh air an 19mh den Fhaoilleach.

Le bhith a’ cruthachadh na dreuchd seo, sheall coimhearsnachdan na h-Alba am beachdan a thaobh dè cho luachmhor ’s a tha cultar dhaibh, mar phàirt den fhèin-aithne againn. Mar ùghdar, eadar-theangaiche, dhràmaire, chleasaiche, chraoladair, agus grande dame tèatar na h-Alba, tha Ms Lochhead mar shamhla air a h-uile nì a bhiodh dùthaich ag iarraidh bhon bhàrd nàiseanta aice.

Le tàlant airson ceanglaichean a chruthachadh ri gach aois agus gnè tro a sgrìobhadh, tha Ms Lochhead cuideachd air a bhith air leth soirbheachail ann a bhith a’ brosnachadh cànan Albais. Tro a cuid saothrach, a tha tric air a leughadh ann an sgoiltean, tha i fhathast a’ cruthachadh ceanglaichean ri sgoilearan òga, agus tha i cuideachd tric air a faicinn mar dheagh-eisimpleir, thagraiche, agus brosnachdainn airson boireannaich, aig a bheil guth làidir na cuid sgrìobhaidh.

An turas seo, chaidh a ràdh gum maireadh an dreuchd còig bliadhna, agus gur ann airson adhartachadh bàrdachd ann am beatha muinntir na h-Alba a bha an dreuchd. Bha Liz Lochhead na Makar bho 2011 chun a’ Ghearrain, 2016. Anns a’ Mhàrt, 2016, fhuair Jackie Kay an dreuchd mar Mhakar/Bàrd Nàiseanta na h- Alba airson còig bliadhna.

Bidh Alba Chruthachail a’ cumail taic ri dreuchd a’ Bhàird Nàiseanta.