Warsan Shire

Warsan Shire

Keynote Speaker: Award-Winning Poet' Displacement & Belonging Advocate; Author of "Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth"

Warsan Shire Biography

Warsan Shire is a poet and writer born in Somalia and raised in London. She is the author of the collections "Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth," "Her Blue Body," and "Our Men Do Not Belong to Us". In addition to these chapbooks, she has completed a full-length debut poetry collection titled "Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head". Her work has been published in journals and magazines, including Poetry Review, Wasafiri, and Sable LitMag; the anthologies Salt Book of Younger Poets, Long Journeys: African Migrants on the Road, and Poems That Make Grown Women Cry; and the Penguin Modern Poets series.

Shire's poetry extends beyond print to include significant collaborations in the audio-visual domain. She wrote the poetry for the Peabody Award-winning visual album "Lemonade" in collaboration with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, and for the Disney film "Black Is King". Not limiting her work to music and film, she also penned the short film "Brave Girl Rising", bringing to light the experiences of Somali girls in Africa’s largest refugee camp.

Shire’s work embodies the kind of shape-shifting, culture-juggling spirit lurking in most people who can’t trace their ancestors to their country’s founding fathers, or whose ancestors look nothing like those fathers. In that limbo, Shire conjures up a new language for belonging and displacement. Her poems connect gender, war, sex, and cultural assumptions. In her work, poetry is a healing agent for the trauma of exile and suffering.

Additionally, Shire has held noteworthy positions in the literary world, serving as the first Young Poet Laureate of London, was awarded the inaugural Brunel International African Poetry Prize, and is the youngest member of the Royal Society of Literature. As the poetry editor of Spook Magazine, while also guest editing Young Sable LitMag, Shire continues to actively participate in mentoring and workshops. She has read her work at events across the globe and further expanded her reach by serving as the poet-in-residence for Queensland, Australia. Shire resides in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Warsan Shire and other top speakers and celebrities.

Warsan Shire Videos

Warsan Shire reads her poetry
89plus Marathon 2013: Warsan Shire - A Reading

How do I book Warsan Shire to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Warsan Shire for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Warsan Shire, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Warsan Shire or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Warsan Shire for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Warsan Shire, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Warsan Shire, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Warsan Shire speak about?

Warsan Shire is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Poetry, Authors, Creativity, Creative Writing, Immigration, Diversity & Inclusion, Black Heritage, College, Commencement and Belonging.

Where does Warsan Shire travel from?

Warsan Shire generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Warsan Shire?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Warsan Shire for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Warsan Shire for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Warsan Shire or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Warsan Shire is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Poetry, Authors and Creativity. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Warsan Shire generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Aaron Samuels, Malcolm London and Morgan Jerkins​. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Warsan Shire for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 14/07/2024.

Warsan Shire Videos

Warsan Shire reads her poetry
89plus Marathon 2013: Warsan Shire - A Reading
  • How do I book Warsan Shire to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Warsan Shire for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Warsan Shire, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Warsan Shire or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Warsan Shire for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Warsan Shire, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Warsan Shire, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Warsan Shire speak about?

    Warsan Shire is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Poetry, Authors, Creativity, Creative Writing, Immigration, Diversity & Inclusion, Black Heritage, College, Commencement and Belonging.
  • Where does Warsan Shire travel from?

    Warsan Shire generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Warsan Shire?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Warsan Shire for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Warsan Shire for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Warsan Shire or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
BOOKING INFORMATION REQUEST
WARSAN SHIRE

We are happy to assist you with your interest in booking a speaker or celebrity for your event, your organization, and the type of talent you would like to secure, and an agent will be in touch shortly.

Fill out the form below to or call us at 1-800-698-2536 if need immediate assistance.

Tell us about your event!

We respond to most inquiries within 4 hours. Under special circumstances, it may take up to 24 hours.


This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.