Poet Linton Kwesi Johnson has been awarded the PEN Pinter Prize 2020, seven years after receiving the Golden PEN award from charity English PEN in 2013. Formed in 2009, the annual Pinter Prize, also an English PEN award, defends freedom of expression and celebrates literature in memory of Nobel Laureate playwright Harold Pinter. On this year's panel were Claire Armitstead, Sharmaine Lovegrove and Max Porter.

Johnson said, “Awards are the nourishment of every artist’s ego. It is always nice to be acknowledged. It is especially gratifying to receive an award that honours the memory of esteemed dramatist, Harold Pinter, free thinker, anti-imperialist and human rights champion. I would like to thank English PEN and the judges for their kind consideration in honouring me again.”

He will receive the award in an online ceremony co-hosted by the British Library on 12 October. At the event Johnson will announce his co-winner, the International Writer of Courage 2020.