(Above: Slam Jam Poetry poets)
Celebrating the Healing Power of Words during Mental Health Awareness Month
As October marks Mental Health Awareness Month and the world observes World Mental Health Day on October 10, the Poetry Africa Festival returns with the theme: Somehow We Survive. Running from October 3 to 12, 2024, in both Durban and Johannesburg, with online access for a global audience, this year’s festival highlights the connection between poetry and mental well-being, emphasising poetry as a source of healing, resilience, and reflection.
(Right: Host: vangile gantsho)
Now in its 28th edition, Poetry Africa, presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, brings together a diverse line-up of local and international poets whose work resonates with themes of survival, mental health, and spiritual healing.
The festival acknowledges the challenges of mental health issues across societies and the role that creative expression can play in fostering emotional and spiritual recovery.
Festival curator Siphindile Hlongwa says: "Art, and poetry in particular, has always served as a mirror to our innermost emotions, offering solace and understanding in ways that few other mediums can. At a time when the world is grappling with a mental health crisis, this festival wants to offer a much-needed space for reflection, healing, and collective hope.”
Hosted by renowned poet vangile gantsho, known for her work on poetry as a medium of healing, gantsho has spent years exploring the intersection between creativity and mental well-being.
The panel will feature celebrated poets Busisiwe Mahlangu, Siza Nkosi, Luleka Mhlanzi, Pralini Naidoo, and Malika Ndlovu, all of whom have woven their mental health journeys into their poetic expressions.
Somehow We Survive, the overarching theme of the festival, serves as a reminder of poetry’s ability to hold space for vulnerability, strength, and hope. Poetry Africa’s programme, including performances, panel discussions, and workshops, provides poets and audiences alike the opportunity to connect deeply with these themes, encouraging dialogues around mental health, resilience, and healing.
(Right: Luleka Mhlanzi)
With poets hailing from Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, the USA, and beyond, the festival unites voices from around the world, reflecting the universal need for healing and connection.
The outreach component—bringing poets to schools, universities, and community centres—aims to inspire young minds to see poetry not just as an art form, but as a method for processing emotions and healing.
In addition to its mental health-focused sessions, Poetry Africa will feature the annual Slam Poetry Competition, where young voices take the stage to share their stories of survival, identity, and empowerment. The competition has become a highlight of the festival, offering participants the opportunity to compete for the title of South Africa's Slam Champion and represent the country on the world stage. This high-energy event is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to engage and inspire, especially among the youth, who often use it to grapple with and articulate their mental health journey.
Audiences can attend Poetry Africa 2024 both in person and online. For the full programme and ticket details, visit the Poetry Africa website: http://poetryafrica.ukzn.ac.za) or follow the festival on social media.
About Poetry Africa
Curated by the Centre for Creative
Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the Poetry Africa Festival has
been a platform for local and international poets since 1996. Through
performances, workshops, and dynamic conversations, the festival celebrates the
role of poetry in social change, personal reflection, and community building.
Its contribution to the cultural landscape has established Durban as a UNESCO
City of Literature and continues to support both emerging and established poets
from across the globe.
NB: For more information on the Centre for Creative Arts, click on the logo advert to the right of this article.
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