This fall, Mustafa and Dua Lipa will be talking all things poetry.
The British pop star has tapped the Toronto-born artist for an in-conversation event at her London Literature Festival on Oct. 24 at Southbank Centre for its 75th anniversary.
Lipa will sit down with Mustafa, whom she considers a close friend, for a conversation about “the poems that move them,” to discuss Mustafa’s free poetry publication, Nour. Drawing on themes of faith, ceremony and worship, the publication "is a meditation on religious devotion, love, grief and the beauty of everyday rituals."
Released in 2025, Nour is Mustafa's first-ever poetry publication. Sharing the news on social media, he said its release was "a lifetime in the making," thanking the artists, writers and contributors who helped put the project together.
During the conversation, Mustafa will discuss “his lifelong relationship with poetry,” while he and Lipa "talk about their poetry idols, in an evening featuring readings by very special guests.”
From Oct. 21-Nov. 1, the pop singer will curate a number of events in partnership with her lauded book club, Service95. In addition to Mustafa, Lipa will be in conversation with author Zadie Smith and musician Patti Smith during the festival’s opening weekend.
The singer calls curating the lineup “a true joy,” explaining that the festival will include literary icons and emerging voices from across the arts, that she claims “the world needs to know.”
“I wanted to create a space that brings together some of the most exciting writers, poets, and thinkers from around the globe,” Lipa said.
Ted Hodgkinson, head of literature & spoken Word at Southbank Centre, praised Lipa for her expansive curation: “Her programme reflects the full depth and breadth of her passion for books,” he said. “From fierce new sensibilities pushing the boundaries of the form, to some of the most iconic writers at work today.”
While Mustafa and Lipa have never publicly collaborated on music, their friendship goes back at least a couple of years. The “Levitating” singer interviewed the homegrown multihyphenate at a Dunya fan listening event in 2024, in celebration of his debut album.
During the conversation, he told Lipa: “I feel a deep reverence, appreciation and grace for you. I’m so proud to be alongside and in community with you.”
A year later, they publicly reunited. During the second night of Lipa’s shows in Toronto, she brought out Mustafa to sing his Prism Prize-winning track “Name of God,” as a special treat for fans.
“This person happens to be one of my closest friends in the world,” she said, calling Mustafa a “folk hero.”
Since its inception, Lipa has featured multiple Canadian authors on Service95, including Margaret Atwood, Mona Awad, Omar El-Akkad and more.
Click here for more information and to find out when tickets go on sale.
