Kay! Lettres à un poète disparu: Lamine Diagne's Homage to Claude McKay at Avignon OFF 2026

At the Avignon OFF 2026 festival, Lamine Diagne presents 'Kay! Lettres à un poète disparu', a multimedia performance honoring Jamaican poet Claude McKay. The show blends jazz, slam, narrative, and video, creating an imaginary correspondence between Diagne and McKay across a century. Co-written with director Matthieu Verdeil, the piece features a live jazz band and explores McKay's travels from Jamaica to Harlem, London, revolutionary Russia, and Marseille. On July 15, 2026, a day dedicated to McKay includes a roundtable at Théâtre des Halles titled 'Claude McKay, un poète face au chaos du monde' with Alain Damasio, Mike Ladd, Pinar Selek, Carine Magen, Matthieu Verdeil, and Lamine Diagne. That evening, a reading and musical performance 'FIGHTING BACK! Claude McKay' takes place at the Jardin du Palais des Papes as part of the IN festival. A documentary film 'Claude McKay Errances d'un poète révolté' directed by Matthieu Verdeil and narrated by Gaël Faye screens at Cinéma Utopia on July 16. A CD and audiobook of 'Kay! Lettres à un poète disparu' are available, with the first single 'I Shall Return' featuring Mike Ladd.