Burns Night: Scottish singer delights Maya Angelou

25 January 2023

African American writer and poet Maya Angelou was so passionate about the works of Robert Burns that in 1996 she went on a pilgrimage to Scotland to celebrate his life and work. In this clip, she talks about how passion is the key to understanding Burns, while fellow enthusiast Donnie O'Rourke gives a stirring rendition of a classic Bard ballad.

Angelou on Burns is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

The programme follows her pilgrimage to Burns Country in Scotland.

She is welcomed to Ayrshire by a group of Burnsians who hold a party in her honour to celebrate Rabbie Burns's genius. They sing his songs and read his poems, while Angelou, in return, performs one of her own works.

Originally broadcast to commemorate the bicentenary of Burns's death in 1996, it is an evening where a shared passion for the Scottish bard creates a unique atmosphere.