Poetry Africa
Encyclopedia
Poetry Africa is an international poetry
festival held annually in Durban
, South Africa
.
More than twenty poets, predominantly from South Africa and elsewhere on the African continent, participate in the 7–10 day Poetry Africa, an international poetry festival that is based mostly in Durban, South Africa, during the final quarter of the year. The festival's extensive programme includes theatre performances, readings, music and book-launches with a festival finale at BAT Centre. Day activities include seminars, workshops, open mic opportunities, and school visits.
Poetry Africa is organized by the Centre for Creative Arts which is a multi-disciplinary arts organisation within the Faculty of Human Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban. From the CCA Mission statement:
Over 240 poets and writers have attended the festival in its 12 editions, including:
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
festival held annually in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
More than twenty poets, predominantly from South Africa and elsewhere on the African continent, participate in the 7–10 day Poetry Africa, an international poetry festival that is based mostly in Durban, South Africa, during the final quarter of the year. The festival's extensive programme includes theatre performances, readings, music and book-launches with a festival finale at BAT Centre. Day activities include seminars, workshops, open mic opportunities, and school visits.
Poetry Africa is organized by the Centre for Creative Arts which is a multi-disciplinary arts organisation within the Faculty of Human Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban. From the CCA Mission statement:
The Centre fulfils a function as facilitator, promoter, networker, and capacity builder, and plays a vital role in bringing to fruition the artistic potential of the region. The CCA co-ordinates four annual festivals which are the foremost of their kind in the region; Time of the Writer, Poetry Africa, the Durban International Film Festival, and the Jomba! Contemporary Dance Festival. The CCA is also involved in other projects and programmes. These festivals reflect artistic integrity, are professionally produced, and receive excellent media coverage. All have strong international links that enhance intercultural artistic relationships with and within South Africa, the African continent, and the global community. All activities have important development components that reach into communities that do not have access to top-level art practitioners such as those participating in our festivals. Schools and tertiary institutions are a particular focus; as are grass roots community arts organisations.
Over 240 poets and writers have attended the festival in its 12 editions, including:
- Chris AbaniChris AbaniChristopher Abani is a Nigerian author. Abani's first novel, Masters of the Board, was about a Neo-Nazi takeover of Nigeria...
, 2002 - Gabeba BaderoonGabeba BaderoonGabeba Baderoon is the 2005 recipient of the DaimlerChrysler Award for South African Poetry.She was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa on February 21, 1969. She currently lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa and Pennsylvania, USA....
, 2005 - Dennis BrutusDennis BrutusDennis Vincent Brutus was a South African activist, educator, journalist and poet best known for his campaign to have apartheid South Africa banned from the Olympic Games.-Life and work:...
, multiple years - Sutardji Calzoum BachriSutardji Calzoum BachriSutardji Calzoum Bachri, known as Tardji, is a well-known Indonesian poet. A native Malay speaker, he successfully launched a credo of 'freeing words of their meanings'....
, 2004 - Gary CummiskeyGary CummiskeyGary Cummiskey is a South African poet and publisher.He was born in England and moved to South Africa in 1983. He is the editor of Dye Hard Press, which since 1994 has published writers such as Gail Dendy, Arja Salafranca, Alan Finlay, Philip Zhuwao, Roy Blumenthal, Gus Ferguson and Kobus Moolman...
, 2008 - Bob HolmanBob HolmanBob Holman is a poet and poetry activist in the United States.- Career :After graduating from Columbia University in 1970, Bob Holman founded, with Sara Miles and Susie Timmons, the NYC Poetry Calendar, a free monthly publication with all the readings and poets "on the same page"...
, 2003 - Stanley Onjezani KenaniStanley Onjezani KenaniStanley Onjezani Kenani is a Malawian writer born in 1976. A poet, Kenani has performed at the Arts Alive Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa, Poetry Africa in Durban, South Africa, Harare International Festival of the Arts in Harare, Zimbabwe, and at the Struga Poetry Evenings in Macedonia...
, 2007 - Werewere LikingWerewere LikingWerewere Liking is a writer, playwright and performer based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. She established the Ki-Yi Mbock theatre troupe in 1980 and founded the Ki-Yi village in 1985 for the artistic education of young people....
, 2004 - Gcina MhlopeGcina MhlopeNokugcina Elsie Mhlophe is a well-known South African freedom fighter, activist, actor, storyteller, poet, playwright, director and author. Storytelling is a deeply traditional activity in Africa and Mhlope is one of the few woman storytellers in a country dominated by males...
, multiple years - Bantu MwauraBantu MwauraBantu Mwaura was an award winning performing artist, director, playwright, storyteller, poet and university lecturer from Kenya. He was also a political and human rights activist and a cultural theorist who has worked mostly with civil society using theatre and performance in human rights and...
, 2008 (also for Poetry Africa at the World Social Forum, Kenya 2007) - Mamta SagarMamta SagarMamta Sagar was born in 1966 in Bangalore. India. She is a contemporary Kannada poet and playwright living in Bangalore, in Karnataka, India...
, 2005 - Benjamin ZephaniahBenjamin ZephaniahBenjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah is an English writer and dub poet. He is a well-known figure in contemporary English literature, and was included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008....
, 2000, 2006
See also
- List of South African writers
- List of South African poets
- South African poetrySouth African poetryThe poetry of South Africa covers a broad range of themes, forms and styles. This article discusses the context that contemporary poets have come from and identifies the major poets of South Africa, their works and influence....
External links
- Poetry Africa — International Festival of Poetry Main Page
- Poetry Africa discussed on Lebo Mashile's TV program
- Tonight reporter review of the 10th Edition of Poetry Africa that traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa
- http://poetry.about.com/cs/festivalsevents/a/poetryafrica03.htm'God-Father' of Slam Poetry, Bob HolmanBob HolmanBob Holman is a poet and poetry activist in the United States.- Career :After graduating from Columbia University in 1970, Bob Holman founded, with Sara Miles and Susie Timmons, the NYC Poetry Calendar, a free monthly publication with all the readings and poets "on the same page"...
, reports on his 2003 trip] - In Memory: Bantu Mwaura, St Lawrence University Communications page dedicated to Dr Bantu Mwaura, Kenya at his untimely death