Milton Keynes poet backs City of Culture 2029 bid with Reggae Land performance
A poet performed her love letter to Milton Keynes in front of 50,000 people, to show her support for its upcoming bid.
Popular Milton Keynes poet Maureen Onwunali is backing the city’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2029 with a powerful new poem celebrating the people, places, innovation and diversity that makes Milton Keynes unique.
She performed the poem live for the first time to an audience of around 50,000 people at Reggae Land Festival, one of the city’s biggest cultural events.
With Nigerian heritage and proudly rooted in Milton Keynes, Maureen’s work often explores identity, belonging and community. Her latest poem reflects both her cultural perspective and deep personal connection to the city she calls home.
The poem is a love letter to Milton Keynes, celebrating the people, ideas and innovations that have shaped the city from its beginnings to the present day.
It has references to Bletchley Park, pioneering technology, green spaces, diverse communities and everyday life, capturing the full essence of the city and its progress over the years.
The closing line, 'and we’re just getting started', echoes the central theme of Milton Keynes’ bid for UK City of Culture 2029.
More than 2,500 people of all ages from across Milton Keynes have already helped shape the city’s bid, demonstrating the strength of local support and the belief that culture can play a transformative role in the city’s future.
The campaign is now entering its next phase, showing judges through both the submission and ongoing cultural activity why Milton Keynes is ready to become UK City of Culture 2029.
The theme 'We’re Just Getting Started' reflects the city’s ambition, creativity and potential. One of the UK's youngest cities, and the youngest bidding city, Milton Keynes plans to create opportunities for people from all ages and backgrounds to connect through arts and culture.