“It's not about power it's about grace, it's not about hatred it's about love. These are the lessons I learnt whilst in prison so you don't have to go there to learn the same lessons. The choice is yours, I choose to be unchained.”
Brenda Birungi also known as Lady Unchained is a poet, performer and broadcaster. She is the Founder and Creative Director of Unchained Poetry, an artistic platform for artists with lived experience of the Criminal Justice System. She hosts Unchained Night’s in partnership with Arts admin at Toynbee Studios, a night of inspirational storytelling through poetry and music. Brenda runs poetry workshops in prisons and in the community in Women Centres such as Pecan part of Southwark Women’s hub to help women find their creative voice. She is now a member of the NCJAA Steering group. Nominee for New Voice Award 2020 by Audio Production Awards and Runner Up for CJA Awards 2020- Outstanding Documentary, winner of The Insight awards 2021 for Insight through Journalism. She received a Bronze award for her show Free Flow on National Prison Radio at the ARIAS Awards 2021 and she continues to challenge the ex-offender label through creativity. Lady Unchained also curated the Soul Journey To Truth Exhibition at HOME gallery in Manchester in partnership with Koestler Art and Ripples of Hope Festival highlighting creativity within the criminal justice system in the North West.
