Join the global dialogue at Poetry Africa
Lydol at Poetry Africa 2022
Image: Lindo Mbhele
The 29th edition of Poetry Africa, an annual international poetry festival, curated and presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, kicks off on October 6.
The festival is a platform where poets can both celebrate and critically reflect on their contributions toward social change, addressing issues that resonate locally and globally.
Taking place at the Seabrooke’s Theatre in Durban, it will open with a keynote address by Professor Ari Sitas, a renowned sociologist, poet, and civic activist.
From October 6 until October 11, Poetry Africa will host a programme featuring both in-person and free online events that cater to poetry enthusiasts from all walks of life.
About 70 poets from across South Africa, Mexico, Nigeria, Kenya, Sudan, Palestine, Somalia, Uganda, Réunion, the UK, the US, Jamaica, India, Côte d’Ivoire, Ukraine and Belgium / Brussels.
The poets will come together under the theme, “Poetry: an Architecture for Social Justice”, questions how poetic expression becomes a structural framework for equity, inclusion and transformation: bridging divides, giving voice to the marginalised and challenging injustice.
Ismail Mahomed, director for the Centre for Creative Arts, said poets and participants will be afforded the opportunity to explore how poetic expression can serve as a structural framework to build and sustain movements for equity, inclusion, and transformation by bridging societal divides, giving voice to the marginalised, and challenging injustices.
"Growing inequality and conflict across the world call for urgent and innovative interventions. Where weapons have failed to find solutions, words always remain an option,” said Mahomed.
Siphindile Hlongwa, festival curator said: “At a time when international borders are contested and barriers omnipresent, poetry builds bridges, and we are proud of the international bridges and relationships that Poetry Africa builds not only across our continent but across the world.”
Visitors can expect global dialogues, a celebration of New Coin’s 61st anniversary, rights and authorship sessions, and the live crowning of South Africa’s National Slam Poetry champion.
Some of the highlights taking place online include the African Poetry Book Fund spotlight, a session on the role of African literary magazines, and Global Conversations linking SA to Canada and the UK. As well as writing through conflict brings together voices from Sudan, Somalia, Palestine and Ukraine; while Speculative Futures explores Afrofuturist poetics and world-building.
During the week there will be readings hosted in Durban, as well as screenings and dialogues. The programme also features outreach at tertiary institutions and sessions on copyright and digital authorship for poets.
The National Slam Poetry finals will take place on October 10 and 11. Only the 10 top slam poets in South Africa have made the cut for Durban’s semi-final. They are Belita Andre, Hlengiwe Mnyandu, Karabo Bopape, Khayalethu Mguzulo, Natasha Mubanga, Noel Diketane, Rea Mmethi, Tiisetso Maeane, Tshepo Molefe and Zewande Bhengu.
Full details and registration is on the festival website: www.poetryafrica.ukzn.ac.za