Cultural commentators are to speak at De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester.

Broadcaster Darcus Howe, writer and comedian Hardeep Singh Kholi and poet Daljit Nagra are to take part in cultural eXchanges later this month,

The festival will feature top names in the media and the arts, with free lectures, talks, debates and performances from 26 February - 2 March.

Established six years ago, the annual event is run by 17 dedicated students in their final year of the Arts Management degree course.

On Wednesday, 28 February, Darcus Howe and Hardeep Singh Kholi will take part in a debate on the future of multiculturalism.

Darcus Howe is a broadcaster and columnist and has been described as "Britain's leading black radical commentator". His broadcast career began on Channel Four's Black on Black. Since then he has presented other shows including White Tribe, a look at Anglo-Saxon Britain, and the current affairs programme Devil's Advocate. He writes for the New Statesman.

Hardeep Singh Kholi is a writer, director and comedian. He has written various award-winning short films, screenplays and comedies.

He is best known for writing, directing and starring in the Channel Four comedy Meet the Magoons. He has also written and presented the documentary In Search of the Tartan Turban, which saw him exploring cultural identity as a Scot from an ethnic minority. He has also starred in a five part documentary series looking at race and religion amongst other topics.

Daljit Nagra will read from his much-anticipated poetry collection, Look We Have Coming to Dover, on Wednesday, 27 February.

The title poem won the Forward Prize for Best Individual poem in 2004. Daljit's poetry explores the idealism and reality of multicultural Britain with wit, intelligence and a little bit of mischief.

Both events are free. To book seats at events please call 0116 250 6229 or see www.dmu.ac.uk/culturalexchanges for details.