Video transcript: Let It Be Named by Khadijah Ibrahiim

Transcript for the video embedded on the news article “Khadijah Ibrahiim shows vision for Leeds’ research culture through powerful poetry”.

Let it be named
Performing change
Could be the way we retune a space

Like – rooting up the
Earth – we find things
Buried when the soil is turned

The inscription “Mechanics” graces the entrance,
invoking a sense of inspiration and purpose.

The fragrance of flowers creates the pathway.
progressive minds - conjoin
to the soil and stones – current flows

The gentle glow of a subdued white light
invites wandering thoughts to roam freely

like praise-songs patterned to make us listen
In uncertain times, hope and optimism
can guide us forward.

And change — change brings fear/
sometimes a joy
of scattering emotions

The only thing between an ordinary day and new
opportunities to socialise
is the distant rooms between us

Performing change
Is turning pages Into the future -

beyond the heaviness of cold metal
to warm breath of bodies
Measuring research rituals

capturing the rhythm of
thought-provoking ideas
the backdrop to another space

free-flowing environment
cutting-edge tech – could be countless reasons
for conversations or room for reflection

where the excitement to unwrap ways to imagine
reimagine treasure – and thirst
Grounding new tapestries of first light –
with no confusion

we can be like rainfall remembering to return
to retune this space
to name a promise
to ignite the imagination
to transcend limitations and manifest our aspirations.
to craft the extraordinary.

Here we can navigate the space between generations
and allow our imagination to soar.

Whether perched high above buildings
as we move, like flowers, from one to another
we can make our dreams a reality.

For in this moment,
our aspirations collide
to create something extraordinary.

Credits:
Performed by Khadijah Ibrahiim
Concept and realisation: Dr Briony Thomas
Directed and edited by Dan Waters
Camera: Micheal Godsall and Connor Orton
Composer: David John Brady
Development and realisation: Paolo Feroleto, Sarah Jenkins, Francisca Mayambala, Selina McGonagle, Jane Wilcox, Professor Sophie Williams
Contributing engineers: Dr Meisam Babaie, Rafeeq Chaudry, Dr Saikat Dutta, Dr Jen Edwards, Dr Caetano Espejo, Dr Justin Gallagher, Dr Raymond Holt, Dr George Jackson-Mills, Dr Bilal Kaddouh, Dr Sepideh Khodaparast, Dr Farnaz Motamen Salehi, Dr Ida Shafagh, Dr Liuquan Yang

This work was supported by Research England under the Enhancing Research Culture and Participatory Research funding streams.