(Natalia Molebatsi)
The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts
(CCA) will once again transform Durban into a platform to share and celebrate
cultural reflections and discourses through the 21st edition of Poetry Africa
International Festival.
The festival, which commences on October 16, 2017, at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre (UKZN,
Howard College) and culminates in a finale at BAT Centre, showcases not only
poetry but provides workshops and community outreach programmes at different
venues around Durban.
The organisers promise that audiences will be enthralled by
the variety of delivery approaches from four prelude-poets and 18 seasoned
dynamos of the spoken word, hailing from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, USA, Spain, Ukraine
and Reunion Island and, of course, South Africa.
This year’s line-up includes the likes of South African male
poets such as Kelwyn Sole, a poet with six individual published collections of
poetry under his belt. Qwa-qwa native Hlox The Rebel, is a must-see as he will
certainly entertain with his bold and brazen verses. Durbanites will be
familiar with Durban-born poet, Minenhle Mthembu, winner of the best male poet
at the 2013 Original Material Awards. Rounding up the KwaZulu-Natal natives is
Ukhozi FM resident poet, known as “Imbongi”, for his powerful use of the
vernacular language, Siyabonga Mpungose. No line-up is complete without
stand-up poet, storyteller, essayist, columnist, and spoken word theatre
director Kgafela Oa Magogodi, who has graced stages across Southern Africa and
abroad.
Influential female poets, Myesha Jenkins, Natalia Molebatsi
and Siphokazi Jonas are also part of this year’s South African line-up. Jenkins
is a writer and poet who currently has two poetry collections to her name.
Molebatsi, is a writer, performance poet, workshop facilitator and programme
director who has presented and performed in shows in South Africa, Zimbabwe,
Holland, Italy, Nigeria, Senegal, Azerbaijan and England. Lastly, Jonas is a
‘triple-threat’ who has written, produced, and performed in three one-woman
poetry productions: Poetry Under the
Stars, Wrestling with Dawn, and Conspiracy
Theory.
In an effort to bring audiences a plethora of culture, the
festival is flying in the best that other African countries and the
Global-North has to offer. From Ukraine, founder and curator of the
International Ukrainian-African Literature Project Hannah Yanovska, and Oksana
Rozumna, professional linguist and author of two books of poetry, shall be
taking the stage. Zimbabwean-born, Andrew Manyika, known as “the Gentleman of
Poetry”, will bring his debonair charm to the festival. Audiences who prefer a
little academia with their humour will look forward to Dike Chukwumerije;
Lagos-born Spoken Word, Performance Poet and award winning published author
with eight books to his name.
Poetry Africa has also pulled in Spanish veteran poet and
cultural activist, Eduard Escoffet who has practiced various aspects of poetry
including oral and visual poetry, poetry-action, and live recitals. Reunion
Island based actress, storyteller, and author Judith “Kaloune” Profil, will grace
the stage with her faithful instrument “the mbira”. As a special treat, New
York born poet, Miles Hodges, featured in the series Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices, will add some Hollywood
humour to Poetry Africa; whilst Peabody, The Tony & Emmy Award winning,
6-time HBO and Broadway Def Poet, Black Ice promises to blow the audience away
with what has become his signature outstanding live performances. Also from the
United States of America, is Bronx-born writer, activist and educator, Crystal
Valentine, who is the 9th ranked woman poet in the world by way of the 2016
Woman of the World Poetry Slam. And
finally, is Durban-born Nazlee Arbee, who is well-known for often playing with
the imaginary binary between ‘rap’ and ‘poetry’.
Tickets for the evening sessions taking place at 19h00 at
the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre are R60 (R40 students and pensioners).
Tickets for the finale happening at the BAT Centre are R100
and can be purchased at Computicket or one hour before the performance begins
at the box-office.
For more information go to www.cca.ukzn.ac.za, call 031 260
2506/1816 or email Maju Radebe at radebem3@ukzn.ac.za. Like the Poetry Africa
Facebook Page or follow @PoetryAfrica on Twitter for instant updates about the
festival.
Presented by the
Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal), the 21st Poetry Africa
is made possible by the continued support of the eThekwini Municipality, KZN
Department of Arts and Culture and Alliance Française de Durban, Institut Ramon
lull, Ukrainian Association of South Africa. The Centre for Creative Arts is
housed in the School of Arts, College of Humanities at the University of
KwaZulu-Natal.
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