Saja Kilani is a Palestinian-Jordanian-Canadian actress and spoken word poet. She is set to appear in upcoming feature films later this year. Her poetry explores themes of identity and empowerment, with her work reaching millions of viewers. She recently began sharing her spoken word on streaming platforms, debuting with her poem “TATA.” Her words have found a home in music, books, and live performances. A recipient of the Canadian Arab Institute’s 30 Under 30 Award, Saja continues to challenge the status quo through film and poetry.
KHAMSA engaged in an artistic conversation with Saja on our latest Creative Talks.
All images courtesy of Saja Kilani.
١. “TATA” feels like a voice note from the past, a DM from your grandmother’s soul. What was the moment that made you go, ‘I need to tell this story, and I need to tell it like this’?”
TATA is a poem that truly wrote itself. It tells the story of how working with my grandmother, Tata, on my first Arabic poem unexpectedly became the poem itself. As she helped me write a completely different Arabic piece, I noticed how her excitement overshadowed her recent sorrow. She experienced a tragic loss last year and has been trying to recover from it ever since. But writing poetry seemed to bring her back to life, and ultimately brought this poem to life. I couldn’t help but write about that.
٢. If your poetry was a playlist, what would be the track playing while you wrote “TATA”? And what song would your teta choose?
I collaborated with an incredible Lebanese qanun artist called Jihad Assaad who composed the original track for TATA so his composition is definitely what I would be listening to.
I think tata would either choose Helwa Ya Baladi by Dalida, or Hello by Lionel Richie; she’s a cool tata.
٣. Your poetry hits like a memory you didn’t know you had. How do you make the past feel so alive, especially for a generation always looking forward?
I love that phrase and, in my ways, my entire identity feels like a memory I didn’t know I had. I grew up listening to stories about places I’ve never been to, so my passion for writing and storytelling is deeply rooted in memory. I aim to modernize poetry, while honoring the past and bringing it to life in a way that feels tangible. I do this by drawing from experiences that have shaped me, keeping the past alive while connecting it to the present.
٤. There’s something powerful about writing from someone else’s perspectiv —especially an elder’s. Did stepping into your teta’s shoes teach you something about yourself?
I wouldn’t say I wrote this poem entirely from her perspective, but rather from my experience witnessing how poetry healed her. I begin the poem with, “I have to tell you a story that reignited my faith in art,” because I was capturing the moment I saw poetry rekindle something in her. That experience was a powerful reminder of how transformative art can be. Watching her suddenly glow showed me that words don’t just exist on a page, they have the power to reconnect us with ourselves.
٥. A lot of Gen Z poets use Instagram and TikTok as their stage. Do you ever think about how your poetry lives in a scroll-heavy world?
I do think about it often. If it were up to me, I’d prefer to perform live, coming from a theatre background. But I understand we live in a social media-driven world, and I appreciate how it connects people from all corners of the globe. It’s like having an international stage in the palm of your hand. Even so, I try to minimize the pressure of a fast-paced society and keep my work as real as possible. In a scroll-heavy world, it’s easy to become desensitized, so I aim to break that cycle.
٦. If you could sit with your younger self and read one of your poems together, which one would it be and why?
It would have to be Dear Vitiligo. This poem is a heartfelt conversation with my skin condition, spoken to my vitiligo and, in a way, to my insecure 8-year-old self. I believe that if someone had shared this poem with me back then, it might have shifted how I felt about my skin. I hope others experience that same change when they hear it. I first shared the poem on Instagram with visuals, and I am now recording it so I can share it on streaming platforms soon.
٧. Your poetry has this raw, unfiltered energy—like a handwritten note, not a polished email. Do you ever feel pressure to make it ‘perfect,’ or do you just let it spill out?’
Thank you, I appreciate that comment. As a Capricorn, I’ve been told we’re perfectionists, and while I’d love to say I don’t feel that pressure, I definitely do. But my process starts with letting the words spill out, no grammar, no perfect vocabulary, just raw emotions. With time, those raw words come together to better express how I really feel, in a way that’s actually readable.
٨. Your poems feel so personal, yet they resonate with so many. How do you think poetry builds bridges between generations, especially when our elders’ stories feel so different from ours?
I believe words transcend generations and poetry in particular is a timeless language. Because our grandparents passed down their stories through poetry, it is often seen as traditional. But the beauty of it is that when someone our age writes, it feels both fresh and familiar. It reminds us of the past while adding our own voice to the conversation, ultimately bridging us all together and continuing the emotional legacy.
٩. You juggle poetry, storytelling, modeling, acting and everything in between—how do you keep all the creative plates spinning without dropping them?
We live in a time where you can be more than one thing, and I absolutely love that. I’m an actor at heart; acting introduced me to spoken word and opened the door to all these creative outlets. The key is to give each craft my full attention when it’s time to focus on it. When I’m on set, I’m all in, and until filming is done, I put poetry and the rest on pause.
I’m not only passionate about what I do but I’m also committed to building a career from my art, so I approach every opportunity with serious intention.
١٠. What’s next for you? Are we getting another poetry drop soon, a book, a movie, or maybe something completely unexpected?
I’m so grateful to say that I’ve worked on a few feature films last year, which will hopefully be released this year. With acting, your job is done long before anyone sees the final product, so I can’t wait for that moment. As for poetry, I’m working on an experimental idea that pushes the boundaries of spoken word. I’m just as excited as I am nervous because I’ve never done anything like it before. I guess that also answers the unexpected part of your question, but I’ll admit, my guilty pleasure is surprising.
