SARA MANSOUR

Kylie Kwong celebrates the individuals helping to grow a stronger community. This month, we meet poet and lawyer Sara Mansour of the Bankstown Poetry Slam.

- ANNA MCCOOE and KYLIE KWONG

I first met lawyer and poet Sara Mansour through our participation in the 22nd Biennale of Sydney, “NIRIN” exhibition (thanks to artistic director Brook Andrew). Sara invited me to Bankstown Poetry Slam. Listening to the exceptional poets on stage, opening their hearts in the very safe space Sara has helped to create, I learnt so much about the many challenges faced when integrating into communities outside of one’s homeland. Beyond this, the slam was a reminder of Western Sydney’s rich cultural diversity, which overflows with creativity.

Sara Mansour has the spotlight. Standing against the dark backdrop, the silk hijab that frames her features catches the light. She approaches the microphone and the audience braces. Because when this wordsmith has something to say, she compounds it into two minutes of pure, spoken-word power.

The scene is the Bankstown Arts Centre. And a crowd of 300 has gathered for the Bankstown Poetry Slam, which Mansour co-founded in February 2013. She speaks in verse, hitting each word of her My Australia poem like a heartbeat right up to the big finish. “My Australia is Home When the rest of the world says no.” The audience snaps (the slam poetry preferred applause method). And so it goes, we have an understanding.