Poetry Africa - International Festival of Poetry edit
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More than twenty poets, predominantly from South Africa and elsewhere on the African continent, participate in the 7-10 day Poetry Africa - international poetry festival that is based mostly in Durban, South Africa, during the final quarter of the year. The festivals' 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 230 Poets and Writers have attended the festival in its 11 editions and these include:
Past Participants Poetry Africa:
Abani, Chris (Nigeria) 2002 Chris_Abani
Adewale, Toyen (Nigeria) 2000
Afrika, Tatamkhulu (South Africa) 1997
AJA (Adisa Andiwele)(Barbados) 2002
Alexander, Meena (India/USA) 2002
Alfonso, Domingo (Cuba) 2005
Anyidoho, Kofi (Ghana) 2001
Aridjis, Homero (Mexico) 1997
Bachri, Sutardji Calzoum (Indonesia) 2004
Bacilio, Gibi (Curaçao) 2006
Baderoon, Gabeba (South Africa) 2005 Gabeba_Baderoon
Banoobhai, Shabbir (South Africa) 2002, 1998
Battson, Jill (Canada) 2002
Bebey, Francis (Cameroon) 2000
Ben Jelloun, Tahar (Morocco) 1998
Berold, Robert (South Africa) 2003
Bhatt, Sujata (India) 1997
Bila, Vonani (South Africa) 2005
Blandiana, Ana (Romania) 1998
Blonk, Jaap (Netherlands) 2003
Bowers, Henry (Sweden) 2006
Bowers, Henry (Sweden) 2006
Breytenbach, Breyten (South Africa) 1997, 1998
Brutus, Dennis (South Africa) 2003, 2006
Cai, Tianxin (China) 2003
Campert, Remco (Netherlands) 1997
Cele, Ntando (South Africa) 2005
Cheney-Coker, Syl (Sierra Leone) 1999
Chingono, Julius (Zimbabwe) 2006
Chirikure, Chirikure (Zimbabwe) 2001, 2007
Chiwoniso (Zimbabwe) 2005, 2007
Christiansë, Yvette (South Africa) 2001
Claus, Hugo (Belgium) 1997
Comanescu, Denisa (Romania) 2003
Combrinck, Lisa (South Africa) 2000
Comrade Fatso (Zimbabwe) 2007
Conning, Lueen (South Africa) 1998
Cresswell, Evelyn (South Africa) 2003
Cronin, Jeremy (South Africa) 1999
Crozier, Lorna (Canada) 1997, 1998
Cullinan, Patrick (South Africa) 1998
Dabydeen, David (Guyana) 2001
Dao, Bei (China) 1998
Darbellay, Claude (Switzerland) 2001
de Kok, Ingrid (South Africa) 1998, 2002
de Villiers, Phillippa Yaa (South Africa) 2007
Deelder, Jules (Netherlands) 1998
Def P (Netherlands) 2006
Dikeni, Sandile (South Africa) 2001
Dladla, Angifi (South Africa) 2007
Dove, Rita (USA) 2000
Dowling, Finuala (South Africa) 2006
Du Plessis, Clinton (South Africa) 1999
Egan, Desmond (Ireland) 2000
Espi-Sanchis, Pedro (Spain/South Africa) 2005
Ewok (South Africa) 2004, 2006
Eziefule-Emenekwum, Perpetual (Nigeria) 2006
Fall, Habib Demba(Senegal) 2007
Fenton-Keane, Jayne (Australia) 2002
Ferguson, Gus (South Africa) 2000
Ferrus, Diana (South Africa) 2003
Finck, Otis (South Africa) 2000
Fouad, Zien El-Abedin (Egypt) 1997
Fynn, Quincy (South Africa) 2004
Glenn, Celena (USA) 2005
Goodison, Lorna (Jamaica) 1998, 1999
Gray, Stephen (South Africa) 1998
Greig, Robert (South Africa) 2005
Gumbi, Bandile (South Africa) 2004
Gwala, Mafika (South Africa) 2006
Haarhoff, Dorian (South Africa) 2004
Hadebe, Eric (South Africa) 2000
Halter, Jürg (Switzerland) 2002
Hammial, Philip (Australia) 2000
Handal, Nathalie(France/Palestine) 2007
Harjo, Joy (USA) 2004
Hawad ( Central Sahara) 1998
Henri, Adrian (United Kingdom) 1997
Holman, Bob (USA) 2003
Horwitz, Alan Kolski (South Africa) 2004
Hove, Chenjerai (Zimbabwe) 1997
Ie, Tan Lioe (Indonesia) 2006
Ishle (USA) 2007
Jack, Drisana Deborah (Saint Martin) 2004
Janssen, Leo (South Africa) 2005
Jenkins, Myesha (South Africa) 2004
Johnson, Linton Kwesi (United Kingdom) 1998
Judice, Nuno (Portugal) 1999
Ka Ngwenya, Siphiwe (South Africa) 2004
Kaganof, Aryan (South Africa) 2005
Kamanda, Kama Sywor (Democratic Republic of Congo) 2006
Kantor, Peter (Hungary) 2000
Kenani, Stanley Onjezani (Malawi) 2007
Kester, Norman (Canada/South Africa) 2003
Kgositsile, Keorapetse (Willie) (South Africa) 2002, 2006
Khoury, Nidaa (Palestine) 2001
Kiguli, Susan (Uganda) 2000
Kitchen, Syd (South Africa) 2007
Komrij, Gerrit (Netherlands) 1999
Konte, Lamine (Senegal) 1999
Kozain, Rustum (South Africa) 2006
Krog, Antjie (South Africa) 1997, 2001
Kruger, Haidee (South Africa) 2007
Kunene, Keith (South Africa) 2003
Kunene, Mazisi (South Africa) 2001
Lamko, Koulsy (Chad) 2002
Lane, Patrick (Canada) 1998
Lasisi, Akeem (Nigeria) 2003
Leggott, Michele (New Zealand) 2002
Lexikon (South Africa) 2005, 2006
Were Were (Cameroon/Ivory Coast) 2004 Were_Were_Liking
Liyong, Taban lo (Sudan) 2001
Lucey, Roger (South Africa) 2001
Lundberg, Liv (Norway) 2002
Madosini(South Africa) 2005
Magogodi, Kgafela (South Africa) 2003
Mahlaba, Botsotso (South Africa) 2006
Mahlasela, Vusi (South Africa) 2001
Mahola, Mzi (South Africa) 2006
Malange, Nise (South Africa) 2001
Mann, Chris (South Africa) 2002
Mapanje, Jack (Malawi) 1999
Marais , Danie (South Africa) 2007
Masheane, Napo (South Africa) 2004, 2007
Mashile, Lebogang (South Africa) 2003, 2004, 2006
Mateer, John (Australia) 2001
Matshikiza, John (South Africa) 2006
Mattera, Don (South Africa) 1997, 2003
Matthews, James (South Africa) 2002
Maunick, Edouard (Mauritius) 1997
Mazwa, Ntsiki (South Africa) 2004
Mbangeni, Jessica (South Africa) 2006
Mbuli, Mzwakhe (South Africa) 2004
McGough, Roger (United Kingdom) 2000
Metelerkamp, Joan (South Africa) 2005
Mhlophe, Gcina (South Africa) 1997, 2006
Mitchell, Adrian (United Kingdom) 1999
Mkiva, Zolani (South Africa) 2000, 2006
Mkuti, Lukas (Mozabique) 2005
Molapong, Keamogetsi Joseph (Namibia) 2007
Moolman, Kobus (South Africa) 2004
Morris, Tracie (USA) 2001
Motana, Masello (South Africa) 2005
Mtukudzi, Oliver (Zimbabwe) 2006
Muhoho, Njoki (Kenya) 2005
Muila, Ike Mboneni (South Africa) 2004
Murphy, Richard (Ireland) 2004
Murray, Sally-Ann (South Africa) 2006
Nabhany, Ahmed Sheik (Kenya) 1997
Narain, Jit (Surinam) 2004
Ndlovu, Malika (South Africa) 2005
Nel, Gert Vlok (South Africa) 1998
Noel, Bernard (France)1998
Noiret, Gérard (France)1999
Nolan, Patricia (Ireland) 2003
Nowadayz Poets (South Africa) 2004
Ntloana, Joe (South Africa) 2006
Ntuli, Pitika (South Africa) 2000, 2006
Nyamubaya, Freedom (Zimbabwe) 1999
Nyathi, Albert (Zimbabwe) 2004
Ojaide, Tanure (Nigeria) 2005
Okai, Atukwei (Ghana) 2002
Oni the Haitian Sensation (Canada/Haiti) 2007
Or, Amir (Israel) 2001
Osundare, Niyi (Nigeria) 1997
Otten, Christine (Netherlands) 2004
Patel, Shailja (Kenya) 2007
Peeters, Hagar (Netherlands) 2005
Pfeijffer, Ilja Leonard (Netherlands) 2001
Phandliwe, Mandisa (South Africa) 2006
Polonskaya, Anzhelina (Russia) 2003
Press, Karen ( South Africa) 1999, 2004
Raji, Remi (Nigeria) 2001
Ramos, Edessa (Philippines) 2002
Rampolokeng, Lesego (South Africa) 1999, 2003
Rendra (Indonesia) 1998
Robertson, Heather (South Africa) 1997
Roggeman, Willem M (Belgium) 1999
Sadoun, Abdul Hadi (Iraq) 2005
Sagar, Mamta (India) 2005
Said, Amina (Tunisia) 2001
Salafranca, Arja (South Africa) 2007
Sall, Amadou Lamine (Senegal) 2005
Sartorius, Joachim (Germany) 1997
Seboni, Barolong (Botswana) 2004
Sedakova, Olga (Russia) 2000
Sekou, Lasana M (St. Martin) 2001
Serote, Mongane Wally (South Africa) 1998
Shiraishi, Kasuko (Japan) 1997
Shrinivasi (Suriname) 2006
Shuntaro, Tanikawa (Japan) 2002
Sissay, Lemn (United Kingdom) 2005
Sitas, Ari (South Africa) 2001
Smartt, Dorothea (United Kingdom) 2001
Snijders, Ronald (Suriname / The Netherlands) 2006
Sobekwa, Zola (South Africa) 2005
Sole, Kelwyn (South Africa) 2000
Sôls, Loit (South Africa) 1999
Stenson, Susan (Canada) 2003
Stockenstroem, Wilma (South Africa) 1997
Susso, Alhaji Papa (Gambia) 2006
Swart, Valiant (South Africa) 2001
Sweeney, Matthew (Ireland) 1999
Tavares, Ana Paula (Angola) 2002
Thabs, Hymphatic (South Africa) 2004
The Guests - Victor Mavedzenge and Michael Kudakwashe (Zimbabwe) 2006
Thumboo, Edwin (Singapore) 2003
Tidholm, Thomas (Sweden) 2000
Tladi, Lefifi (south Africa) 2006
Tsundue, Tenzin (Tibet) 2005
Tumi - without the Volume (South Africa) 2004, 2006
Tuwhare, Hone (New Zealand) 2001
Uetz, Christian (Switzerland) 2004
van de Werk, Jan Kees (Netherlands) 2002
Vinkenoog, Simon (Netherlands) 2000
wa Bofelo, Mputlane (South Africa) 2005, 2007
wa Dibinga, Omekongo (Congo/USA) 2004
Wangusa, Timothy (Uganda) 2003
Waro, Danyel (Reunion) 2007
Watta, Chehem (Djibouti) 1998
White, Edwardo (Mozambique) 2006
Wilson, Sheri-D (Canada) 2001
Wondel, Louise (Suriname) 1999
Wylie, Dan (South Africa) 1999
Xaba, Makhosazana (South Africa) 2006
Yuson, Krip (Philippines) 2005
Zephaniah, Benjamin (United Kingdom) 2000, 2006
Zimunya, Musa (Zimbabwe) 2003
Zorro (South Africa) 2007
Zrika, Abdallah (Morocco) 2003
External Links edit
The 'It girl of the spoken word' and winner of the 2006 Noma prize for African writing, Lebo Mashile, devoted a whole episode of her TV show to Poetry Africa's poets: http://lebomashile.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=45
Tonight reporter review of the 10th Edition of Poetry Africa that traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa: http://www.tonight.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3478169&fSectionId=444&fSetId=251
'God-Father' of Slam Poetry, Bob Holman, reports on his 2003 trip: http://poetry.about.com/cs/festivalsevents/a/poetryafrica03.htm