US$1 000 up for grabs in the Nigerian Students Poetry Prize. Entries close on March 7

The Nigerian Students Poetry Prize, an initiative of Poets in Nigeria, has invited entries for its 2022 edition.

The competition, which is open to interested Nigerian undergraduates, will close on March 7, 2022.

Interested persons are expected to submit a 30-line poem on any theme of their choice.

Reputed as one of the foremost poetry l prizes for Nigerian students, the NSPP has awarded N2m to winning entrants and published 541 poems authored by selected entrants in six anthologies — The Sun Will Rise Again (2016), Mixed History (2017), Deep Dreams (2018, Micah (2019), The House That Built Me (2020), and Portrait of Water (2021).

Since its inception in 2016 at the University of Ibadan, the competition has received about 3,500 entries from students representing over 100 tertiary institutions.

In 2021, the awards ceremony was held at the University of Ibadan, with a cash prize of N400,000 (about US$1 000) shared among the winning entrants.

Afro Poetry Times 

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Global slam poets to converge in Nicosia for the 5th Poetry Slam Cyprus

Creatives around the island are celebrating poetry with several events coming up this March. 

Arriving first is a Poetry Open Mic and Poetry Jam in Limassol this Sunday at 7pm. Blend the Space is inviting writers, artists and poetry lovers to join the event and take the floor to perform their work be it spoken word, music, rap, stories and more.

“We want to encourage our local poets to keep writing and expose them to new inspiration,” write the organisers in the event description. “We are blessed to have so many bright minds that express themselves through poetry.”

A few weeks later the 5^th Poetry Slam Cyprus will take place in Nicosia with invited slam poets from abroad, some coming to compete and others simply to perform. 

The event on March 14-15 will also welcome Cyprus-based poets who were invited through an open call and will also compete, first between themselves for the place of the National Champion and on the following night three of them will compete against the international poets.

A five-member comprised of academic and literary critic Ahmet Yikik, actor-poet-writer Anthie Antoniadou, cultural event organiser Catherine Nikita, poet and psychotherapist Constantinos Papageorgiou and visual artist Lia Lapithi will select the winners of the competitions.

          Organiser: Catherine Nikita

Towards the end of the month, a poetry book launch event will take place at Exhibit 8 Gallery, Limassol. 

Alexia L Solomou will present her poetry book titled The Child Who Speaks to the Sea on March 19 and the event won’t be a mere reading or a presentation. The one-day event will include art performances to accompany the book. 

Paintings, sculptures and performances inspired by the poetry will also be exhibited in the gallery in the evening, dressing poetry with even more artistic flair.

Poetry Open Mic

February 27. Blend the Space, Limassol. 7pm-11pm. Tel: 96-688803

5th Poetry Slam Cyprus 2022

Slam poetry competition with poets from abroad and the country. Organised by Ideogramma. March 14-15. ARTos House, Nicosia. 7pm. Facebook @poetryslamcyprus and @IdeogrammaCyprus.Tel: 99-577006

The Child Who Speaks to the Sea

Poetry book launch by Alexia L. Solomou. March 19. Exhibit 8, Limassol. 5pm-7.30pm. Tel: 25-212171

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Want to perform in Ireland? Belfast Poetry Festival seeks poets

The 17th Annual Belfast Poetry Festival seeks teams of poets, performers, and artists, as well as individual artists and poets willing to be paired with someone of the festival’s choosing, for its annual juried presentation of original collaborative works featuring poetry combined with art in other mediums. 

The festival showcase will be held Saturday, October 15, 2022 in Belfast. 

Saturday night’s showcase combines poetry with visual arts (painting, film, etc.), performance arts (music, dance, etc.), and artistic collaborations never before imagined. 

Contingent upon current Covid recommendations, organizers plan that the work will be presented live in a multimedia hall with a performance stage, a sound system, and a large-scale projection screen for artwork, and will also be live-streamed.

Each collaborative team will have eight (8) minutes for presentation. 

Collaborations by teams of more than two people are welcomed and encouraged. The Belfast Poetry Festival is open to content of any kind and encourages the widest possible range of subject matter, tone, media, and style. 

Organizers prioritize teams in which one or more members have a connection to Maine.

“We are committed to an inclusive roster of participants, and strongly encourage proposals from underrepresented voices,” said the Festival, in a news release. 

“A celebrated and eclectic stalwart of the region’s arts and literary scene, the festival draws a devoted audience from across the state, and is one of the few community-based, non-academic literary festivals in the country.” 

To be considered for this year’s collaborative showcase, please address submissions to belfastpoetryfestival@gmail.com by April 1. 

Please embed poems in the email message text and/or send images or clips as attachments. Include “2022 Submission” in the title of your email, and send:

-2-5 poems

-2-5 images of the collaborating artist’s work or audio or video material

-Short bios for each team member (75 words or less)

Submissions will be reviewed by the Festival Committee. Organizers suggest that participants view more of the festival’s website to see past collaborations. Selected participants will be notified in May.

The festival follows a three-year rotation policy and discourages applications involving participants in the previous two festival years. 

For more info see the Belfast Poetry Festival website at belfastpoetry.com. 

Afro Poetry Times 

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Powerful poem about domestic workers pulls on the heartstrings of thousands

South African homes are largely dependent on the assistance of domestic workers. Compare our near 1 million registered domestic workers to that of other countries and it becomes a lot clearer.

R19.09 per hour or R3 000 per month is the minimum wage for domestic workers in South Africa, however, according to Business Tech, many aren’t afforded this rate, earning between R2,614 and R2,916 a month on average.

Author and activist Herman Le Roux recently shared a piece of writing — poetry — on social media that has since gone viral for the second time. The poem first began circulating last year.

His words cut into the reality of domestic work in South Africa. His narrative depicts the voice of one woman’s human experience. A single voice that echoes a million more: 

I get up at four.

I take a taxi, I wait.

You want me on duty by seven.

Rain or cold

I travel. Sometimes very far.

Some days I buy myself that vetkoek

from the street seller. It is only one Rand

other days I do not have that one Rand

But that is ok

my madam will give me yesterday’s bread.

Food is food.

Morning Mam

I have a skill.

I can fold clothes like my mother taught me.

I can iron like the iron is an extension of my being.

I can show you the secret of cleaning

the hidden talents only we know.

I clean your clothes, clothes I will never wear.

I sometimes prepare your meals, meals that

are something I can never afford.

The wet towels on the floor

that polish off your precious wood

the windows, the windows that never end.

The dust that is always there

Sometimes you treat me well,

I get a good salary, I get benefits

you care for me like I am one of the family

that happens to a few of us in our lifetime

the rest, we are just domestics, the maid.

I see your fights with each other

I dare not speak about it, it is not my business.

I see your secrets, your lives you really lead

the fake lives.

I am just the maid, the worker in the house

but I see it all.

And it makes me sad sometimes

to see that you have so much

yet you are so unhappy.

I wash the windows, that you hang curtains in front

to hide the real life you lead.

I clean the floors, where you walk on them

I play with your children,

they love me as I love them.

Sometimes I am just a thing

the thing that must come clean up after a drunk

weekend

I do that. I have to work.

I am grateful.

I fold your delicate underwear that you bought

in the finest shops

I clean the toilets you use

I wipe the sad away and make your

home beautiful.

I work for minimum wage

I am cheap labour.

Yet that labour is hard labour.

Wash the floors

Wash the walls

Vacuum

Iron

Hang the washing

Sweep

Do the dishes

Clean the toilets.

I know I am fortunate

I have a job.

With this job I have built a nation,

I fed my own kids, put them through school

I fed your kids, made their food,

I cleaned my children’s clothes as they go to school for a future

I cleaned your children’s clothes as they go to school for a future.

Sometimes I am treated well, decent.

Other times I am treated like rubbish, I may not sit

I get that separate cup and plate

as if I have some illness, yet I make your food.

That hurts me. It makes me feel that you

think I am dirty.

Your kids run to me, I often speak to them

I know your pets

I know all your likes

your dislikes

what do you know about me?

I am the one who holds your home together, clean it, do so many little things, important to you, while you go work.

You come home to a clean house, I still have to go clean mine.

I am the maid, the domestic, the cheap labour.

It is I, Sophie, Johanna, Maria

who have also built this nation, as I gave you your perfect home

for building a life.

I have as much value as the learned ones

I am the backbone of so many families

I am not just the maid.

I have a name

I have value

I am hope.

I am old now, my hands show the years of work

with water

in the cold.

There is no retirement package waiting for me,

no domestic to clean up after me.

I will work until I no longer can.

My name is future for many, food on the table, life, hard work

I am the worker in your house, I am the one willing to do that work so many will not, because I have honour, and I am not ashamed to clean a toilet. It is a good day’s work.

I am,

me.

© Herman H Le Roux

• Instagram: herman_h_leroux
• Facebook: Herman H Le Roux

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Amanda Gorman Future Voices Poetry Prize Open for Application

Beyond Baroque, one of the United States leading literary arts centers, has announced that the Amanda Gorman Future Voices Poetry Prize is now actively accepting applications. 

The prize, created in honor of Beyond Baroque alumna and U.S. Presidential Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman, will accept applications until May 1, 2022.

“We're very excited to start receiving submissions from young poets of color, and for the opportunity to foster their growth as artists,” said the nonprofit's executive director, Quentin Ring.

“The Amanda Gorman Poetry Prize is an important opportunity for young poets of color to be recognized for their poetic talent,” added Shonda Buchanan, President of Beyond Baroque's Board of Trustees.

“We hope it will inspire them to follow Amanda's lead in creating a legacy in which poetry and social justice work combine to infuse America with a richer human agency.”

The Amanda Gorman Future Voices Poetry Prize will award scholarships to college-bound student poets of color. As a special feature of the debut of the fund, there is a poetry contest for 9th, 10th and 11th graders, the same age at which Gorman began her development as a poet in the Beyond Baroque Student Poets' program. All told, $10,000 in scholarship and contest money will be awarded in 2022.

The prize continues Beyond Baroque's long history of nurturing some of Los Angeles' most prominent poets, including Wanda Coleman, Amy Gerstler, and Amanda Gorman herself. Gorman describes Beyond Baroque as the place “where a young poet found the love of her life” and shared more about her history with Beyond Baroque on the recent ABC 20/20 Special Amanda Gorman: Brave Enough with Robin Roberts. 

The Future Voices Poetry Scholarship is open for all poets currently enrolled in grades 9-12 in California, and who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color. College-bound students in 12th grade can apply for a scholarship award, and 9th, 10th and 11th grade can submit to the poetry contest. 

Prize winners will be announced by July 1, 2022.

Afro Poetry Times 

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Zimbabwean school girl challenges social ills faced by girls through poetry

Zimbabwean poet and a member of African Immortal Orators, Yvonne Charity Mavhuna popularly known as Detective Pombi Chirembawenduri, has said her poetry highlighted societal ills against the girl child.

“Poetry is a parablelike way of expressing what we cannot utter directly. It both entertains and educates the audience, hence poetry is an edutainment form of art,” she said.

“Poetry also resembles how our people in the past used to communicate important information through poets and this is the reason I chose to be a poet.”

An Upper Sixth student at St Eric High, Detective Pombi Chirembawenduri said her moniker came in pieces.

“I pull threads into different issues related to the rights and welfare of women and youths advocacy work, hence the name Detective,” she said.

“Pombi is a Shona name for a tap, a tap that channels water into our homes. I thereby applied the concept to our lives to spread relevant information on social issues such as drug abuse and child marriages, making it easily accessible to all.”

Detective Pombi Chirembawenduri said poetry had always been her hobby from a tender age.

“I write both English and Shona poems, but I am more comfortable with Shona, our mother language. I have ventured into several collaborations and I still believe more doors are still open for me,” she said.

“I am inspired by what I see around me, hear, read and experience, mostly issues pertaining to the way we are living in communities. I write as a voice to speak out what is whispered by hearts as I am determined to advocate for a better community.”

Detective Pombi Chirembawenduri said her desire was to perform at big international events and work with reputable organisations.

“Through poetry I want Africa to shake under the voice of Detective Pombi as poetry rearranges the issues of innovation, motivation and inspiration in our modern society, reinforcing values and dignity,” she said.

“Nevertheless, as a girl sometimes I face a lot of criticism and discouragement in my neighbourhood, which is regarded as home to social vices. I however, just look back and admire my own works, look up to my mentor and view a glimpse of who I want to be, then I pull through because of grace.”

She said funding had been a major hindrance in her endeavour to grow her career.

“I really wish to see poetry being recognised and appreciated like all other art disciplines. With the support from my fans and passion for art, I have faith that I will go far,” she said.

“I really appreciate the fans as they are the base of all art. Although art is not all fluent, through hard work, commitment and with focus and determination, one can rise to who they want to be and God will guide them through.”

Afro Poetry Times 

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Sara Garib brings Swedish poetry to South Africa

Swedish poet Sara Garib is headed to South Africa for a two-week writing residency.

The residency is set to take place in Joburg and Tshwane from March 10 till March 24.

“I’m beyond excited for this opportunity to take Swedish poetry to South Africa. I hope to interchange my love for writing with people outside of Sweden. I do not doubt that this trip will bring inspiration to both me and my pen,” says Garib.

Garib’s invitation forms part of a collaborative effort between South African non-profit organisation Hear My Voice and Swedish group Göteborgs Litteraturhus (Gothenburg House of Literature).

Garib, also a speech and language pathologist, will be provided with an all expenses-paid trip to South Africa to perform, share work, engage in conversations, facilitate workshops and develop work relating to the impact of writing, poetry and cross-cultural exchanges.

She started her career as a spoken word poet, competing in slams since 2018 at the Orten's bästa poet.

After her debut novel, which was awarded first prizes in a competition at a local library, she performed on a great variety of stages in front of diverse crowds.

In 2019 she wrote a poem (Hannah Montana) for a competition in a Swedish newspaper and won the first prize. The same poem eventually was used in two different exhibitions, one of them being at the city museum.

This was a very proud moment in her career, for she was able to share a story about in-between-ship and give a third-culture perspective, which is rarely spoken about in Sweden.

She was frequently invited to poetry workshops at libraries and high schools in the years that followed. In 2020 she self-published her first collection of poems. 

In the last year, she has been holding author talks, facilitating workshops, performing, and writing.

'"We are happy to host an incredible writer with such a quest for township exploration, be it in Sweden or South Africa,” comments Hear My Voice co founder and managing director, MoAfrika wa Mokgathi.

This residency is made possible through part funding from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and the Swedish Arts Council.

Afro Poetry Times

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Love whisky? There's a poem for that. Matthew Farmer scooped the prize for the UK-wide ‘Spirit of Whisky’ poetry competition

An Inverness whisky lover won a UK-wide poetry competition celebrating Scotland's national drink.

Matthew Farmer (34) has been crowned the winner of Whisky Investment Partners’, first ever Spirit of Whisky competition.

The national whisky stockist teamed up with BBC Radio Scotland presenter and whisky-lover, Vic Galloway, to kick off the competition and inspire budding poets to get involved.

Commenting on his win, he said: “I’m over the moon to have won The Spirit of Whisky competition. I’m a whisky lover myself, so to receive a rare bottle of it is amazing – especially as it’s inspired by Robert Burns. I’ll certainly be raising a glass to auld lang syne with this unpeated, single ex-bourbon cask matured malt!”

Read Matthew Farmer’s winning Burns Night poem here:

Mr. MacRitchie

Put ice in his whisky

Much to our private dismay.

He sang “What a bouquet!”

And pronounced it Is-lay,

Then told us his palate was a remarkable talent

And that this one had notes of damp hay.

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Mauritania celebrates the start of Nouakchott Arab Poetry Festival with Arab and African participation

The Mauritanian capital Nouakchott, witnessed the launch of the seventh edition of the Nouakchott Arab Poetry Festival, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, its activities will continue over three days with the participation of poets from Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Gambia and the Arab world.

The opening ceremony was attended by His Excellency Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture in Sharjah, His Excellency Mokhtar Ould Dahi, Minister of Culture, Youth and Relations with the Mauritanian Parliament, a large number of Mauritanian and Arab poets and intellectuals, and writers from countries neighboring Mauritania.

The activities of the seventh session began at the Conference Palace in Nouakchott with a musical pause with Mauritanian folkloric bands, before a documentary film was shown that reviewed the activities of the House of Poetry during the year 2021, while 3 Mauritanian poets were honoured.

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Kenyan poet tackles rape with robust poem

Watching and listening to Malaika Uwamahoro Kayiteshonga recite one of her latest poems How Many Times, I got chills. The poem is emotive, especially for men.

In the poem she tackles the subject of rape, a topic that has often been muffled by the heavy wall of patriarchy everywhere it has tried to permeate to the surface.

She uses plain and explicit language while describing the spectrum of crushing moments and emotions that a rape survivor goes through, and how it often ends with the victim blaming herself for what happened.

The US-based Rwandan poet says she created the poem to bring the often-avoided subject of rape to the forefront, to restart the conversation around shaming, rape apologism, victim-blaming and protection of rape perpetrators.

The sound, visual content and artistic video effects add to the boldness of the message, almost like giving power back to the victims.

Her biggest project is the new poem Black Skin, which navigates the pitfalls, racial prejudices and injustices black men and women face in the West.

It amplifies the reality of how black people’s killings are largely swept under the rug, not carrying the same weight as the deaths of white people.

In 2015 while she was in class, right after the terrorists attacks on Paris, her professor told the students to take a moment of silence for those slain.

The video, which was shot in Abu Dhabi in 2019, but has just been released, is also a convergence and celebration of black African heritage and Rwandan culture, the inclusion of cultural items like cow hides, imigongo designs and milk.

The scene where they are dressed in black pays homage to the Black Panther who fights for the rights of the black people in the US and elsewhere.

The poem kicks off with sound bites of a call she gets from her mother in Rwanda, wondering what has made her go silent for such a long time.

Then the poem starts with a line: “Hey mama, lately I have been feeling the weight of my black skin, it is a beautiful black skin but like stones it is crushing bones, it is squeezing my heart, it is squeezing my brain, I am losing sight of love mama.”

It continues:

“These days I see red as I break bread with those who inherit what we with black skin have to merit, I don’t know how much longer I can bear it,”

She said she intends to educate and spread messages of importance that can transform people. What she has learned is to stay true to herself as a person and an artist.

Kayiteshonga says her versatility as an artist has helped her as she takes her craft internationally, where her acting skills come into play while doing poetry projects.

She started out as an actress; she is also a singer and social justice activist. She has performed in different plays like Miracle in Rwanda, Notre Dame du Nil, movies like Yankee Hustle, Loveless Generation, and Operation Turquoise among others.

She also had poetry performances on different stages like the African Union Summit in 2016, Forbes 2020 Women Summit, Rwanda Day, and other solo performances.

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Meet Prisha Sharma - The 12-year-old whose tipped to become poetry's next big thing

At the age of just 12 Years, Prisha’s first Poetry book – was published on 9th February 2022.

It is said that poetry is the language of emotions; an extraordinary art to express emotions through words in powerful ways. In fact, it is believed to be the most potent and refined form of language. 

It is heartwarming to see young authors of India presenting their voices and perspectives on not just conventional everyday topics but also on deeper and finer nuances of life. Their originality and profoundness of expression are inspiring.

Prisha is one such young chirpy girl from Chandigarh who has recently published her book on poetry titled ‘Poetry for the young at Heart.’ All of 12 years of age (at the time of publication) Prisha says that her book is a collection of poems that display her love for animals, nature, and literature. 

Prisha believes that words are a powerful tool to weave magic and help express not just one’s own feelings but of others as well. She has already composed 100+ poems and several songs until now on various themes; including philosophy as well as humor. 

Her first book contains around 50 poems and her second poetry book is also a work-in-progress. She is also working on a short novel inspired by one of her songs.

In a foreword written for her book, Ex IAS Sh. Vivek Atray Ji says, “The mettle of her poetry lies in the simplicity of her language and the directness of her message. Poems such as “The things I love” and “My wonderful life” are reflective of her perceptive and grateful mind, well beyond her years.”

Additionally, one of Prisha’s poems was selected by Kids Poetry Club and published on their website. It made it to the top 10 for their International Poetry Competition and featured in their October podcast edition; where she herself recited her poem, ‘Little Outdoor Things.’

She began by writing on topics such as nature and family, later on displaying her unique understanding of life-giving her writings philosophical undertones as well. She has composed 100+ poems until now on various themes; including philosophy as well as humor.

Prisha’s book is available on various platforms such as Amazon, Kindle, GoogleBooks, Flipkart, MySubs, Magzter etc. She can be found under the hashtag EvergreenPrisha including Instagram.

Her Instagram account is : EvergreenPrisha

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Another book of poems for Thivhusiwi Gabriel Tshindane

Thivhusiwi Gabriel Tshindane is one of our local authors whose writing skills are maturing with time. After completing his secondary education at Khakhu High School, Tshindane went to the now-defunct Makhado College of Education, where he completed his secondary teacher’s diploma. Born at Lutomboni village in the Nzhelele Valley way back in 1963, Tshindane had realized that he was good at writing while he was still an educator some 28 years ago.

He wrote several poems and songs in his spare time. At that stage, Tshindane used to be invited to different gathering to sing and render some poems. His uncle, Mr Mashua Tshindane, encouraged him to write more poems and to try his luck at the book publishers. Mr Mashua Tshindane is a well-known local poet.

Tshindane did not take his uncle’s opinion for granted. A few years later, he published his debut book of poems, Na rine ri vhathu. The success of this first anthology made publishing his second book, titled Ndi mushumo une kha lino ndi khou Lilesa, easy for Tshindane. He then disappeared from the publishing industry for several years.

Asked why he had been out of the picture for such a long time, Tshindane revealed that he was preparing something special for his fans during his absence. He resurfaced with his third book of poetry, Nndwa I tshe khulu, which literally translates to “the struggle is still far from over”. This was published two weeks ago and contains 50 poems.

Most of the poems are political, while others are praise songs. Some of the poems that form part of Nndwa I tshe khulu include vhafumakadzi na vhoinwi ni vhathu, Mandela kha vuwe vhafuni, Mulalo shangoni, Masipala tshumelo kha iye vhathuni, mabulayo a sa gumi and Ramaphosa ri phuluse.

Tshindane said that the book had already sold more than 400 copies and has been available at most of the local bookshops since the beginning of last month. The author can be reached on 082 0416060.

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Walk with me - A poem by Nomfundo Khambule | South African | Poet

 

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LSU becomes new home of Most Important Private Collection of African American Poetry

The Wyatt Houston Day Collection of Poetry by African Americans, the most important private collection of Black poetry, now belongs to LSU. 

The LSU Libraries Special Collections will house the over 800 items previously owned by book collector and dealer Wyatt Houston Day. 

This collection includes works from the 18th century, the Harlem Renaissance and through to the 21 st century.

“This collection allows for a dynamic understanding of canonical African American poets and offers numerous avenues for new research and appreciation of the poetic voice of African Americans throughout American history,” said John Miles, curator of books at LSU Libraries Special Collections. 

“The acquisition of these books makes LSU an important research site for anyone interested in American literature and African American culture, as well as affording students the chance to materially confront this genre’s grand sweep, political importance, and remarkable intellectual contribution to the nation and the world.” 

Some of the main works in this collection include:

* a first edition of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s rare second book from 1895 “Majors and Minors” once owned by Frederick Douglass’ family and inscribed to his niece;

* a collection of books by Pulitzer Prize winner Gwendolyn Brooks, as well as a broadside published following the death of Martin Luther King, Jr.;

* the original typed manuscript of the music cues for Langston Hughes’ 12 part poem, “Ask Your Mama,” inscribed by Hughes to poet Amiri Baraka, also known as LeRoi Jones.

“More remarkable might be the many smaller, almost ephemeral, but nonetheless important chapbooks and other unheralded publications by minor and otherwise unknown authors. These rare materials add context to the more recognizable names and present a fuller sense of the scope and vibrancy of African American poetic accomplishment over 200 years. Beyond simply its literary value, this collection captures the lives and culture of a people as told in verse,” Miles said.

Appraised in September 2021 bybantiquarian Henry Wessells of the James Cummins Bookseller in New York, the Day Collection is valued at $612,940.00. 

But because of Day’s desire to have the works live at an educational institution, part of the collection was gifted in order to be used and appreciated in perpetuity.

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Poet uses the power of poetry to tackle climate change in Africa

Poet Ronald “Mr Loyal ZW” Mtatabikwa said he intended to use his artistic talent to raise public awareness on climate change.

Mtatabikwa, who is also a talkshow host, said he was engaging fellow artists to educate people on environmental issues.

“As there has been talk around climate change (mainly about the change in climate patterns), I decided to encourage artists to talk about it since it is in line with sustainable development goals,” he said.

“As artists, I am sure we can be able to make a positive change in society as a vehicle for spreading positive information. We already have the platform and people who support us so they can as well learn from our work if we use it to educate them”.

Mtatabikwa said it was crucial for people to know more about climate change issues to bring positive change in the manner people treat the environment.

“There are a lot of things we are experiencing because of climate change. These include change in weather patterns, pollution and heatwaves.

“So, if people are taught, they will know that whatever we do to the environment has a direct effect on us,” he said.

“If people can embrace different forms of art, they will surely embrace our mission to educate them on environmental issues through art.”

Apart from using art to educate people about climate change, Mtatabikwa said he had embarked on a treeplanting programme.

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Financial support for writers

If as a professional playwright you are struggling financially to find the time and space to write then the Peggy Ramsay Foundation might be your saviour. 

Eligible are playwrights, musical book writers and lyricists who may have had one work professionally produced, have had lots of successes or something in between. 

You must however be resident in the UK. Grants are not awarded to cover production costs, a workshop or reading or to pay for a dramaturg.

To apply submit a maximum 1.5 page application letter which should include details of the specific project you need time and space for and why you need the finance. 

Examples given are to pay your rent, buy a laptop, to cover a salary you would usually have from temping or other reason.

Essentially your letter should say who you are, what you want to write and the amount of financial support you need and how you arrived at that amount. If it is a new laptop you need, grants of £800 are usually awarded and are usually no more than £5,000.

Include also a clear and accurate CV saying what you have written and where it has been produced. Any direction or acting undertaken should be noted separately. 

You may include brief attributed press quotes for previous productions, not full reviews or scripts, but this is not essential.

On a separate sheet of paper note the title of your first professionally produced play, and most recent if different, where it was produced and the length of its run. 

Plays must be a minimum of one hour’s length. On a cover sheet include your postal and email addresses, date of birth, nationality and country of residence, the country in which you are a tax resident, your national insurance or other tax identification number and bank account details.

Details: Peggy Ramsay Foundation, 7 Savoy Court, London WC2R 0EX;
email: prf@harbottle.com; website: www.peggyramsayfoundation.org/ grant-applications.html

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Zimbabwean poet Hope Masike launches erotic poetry book

Sensational afro jazz artist Hope Masike launched her second poetry book collection titled Dzevabvazera last Friday at Theatre in the Park in Harare just in time to give lovers the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.

The poems are sizzling hot and deeply sensual, which celebrate the art of lovemaking and creatively interrogates love and sexuality in an environment of complete creative freedom. It also explores the healing and liberating power of love in its sensual and spiritual manifestations.

The launch was fused with a live music concert and book reading and also featured as guest performer, veteran township jazz crooner Tanga wekwa Sando, and a poetry recital by Fadzai Katanda.

The book has 14 steamy poems written in Shona with a brief overview in English which Masike recited accompanied by mbira music fused with the rattling sound of the hosho (shakers) and contemporary musical instruments comprising a set of alto and soprano saxophones.

Nominated for the Kora AllAfrica Music Awards in 2016, Masike looked stunning in hoop earrings, a tight fitting décolleté outfit that had a design of the iconic fertility symbol, the chevron motif, flowing down from her waist to the hem of her dark red dress.

Sex and sexual education is largely taboo in Zimbabwe and by launching the book, Masike has set the pace for discussion since sexual topics are rarely addressed in the public realm. 

Writing erotica as a genre is equally perceived as risky yet historically erotic poetry has a very long tradition and is renowned in African cosmology and just like a lot of our customs, it is one of those values that is gradually disappearing.

Story teller and author of Chibarabada, Tinashe Muchuri, said Dzevabvazera is a “reprimand giving hope in fighting the challenges that ruin happiness between lovers. The feared things have found a bold writer who has named them succinctly with depth as we relax and laugh while healing some of the challenges found in love”.

On why she chose erotic expressions in her second book, Masike said: “I wanted something different; I wanted to capture a theme that is not often spoken of. The book was born out of inspiration from a book that I was given by my friend the late jazz musician, Friday Mbirimi, titled How to Write Erotica, a book that I got deeply immersed in during the pandemic.”

Through music, lyric and metaphors Masike and her band took the crowd on an enticing and tantalising initiation into the riches and beauty of this venerable poetic tradition as she paired her outstanding vocals with experimental literature themed around sexual knowledge, evoking vivid sexual imagery giving fans who braved the rain an opportunity to ponder on how joyful and gratifying sex can and should be.

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Call for submissions - Whose Pleasure Is It Anyway?

Whose Pleasure is it Anyway? is a digital collection of essays, interviews, poems, visual art, film, music, and multimedia/hybrid works that will explore the feminist pleasures that activate or infuriate us. 

The editorial team want to feature ‘grouchy and disobedient desires, feral and exploratory delights, and playful and improvisational delectations.’
They seek work which ‘firmly places pleasure at the centre of their aesthetics, poetics, or politics’. They like submissions ‘that laugh, tickle, and shriek in the face of frivolity’.

Currently they want ‘submissions that explore the possibilities of pleasure in the digital space through hybrid art forms’. 

Work which ‘engages with media beyond traditional literary and art forms, such as video games, interactive stories, stand-up comedy, and more,’ is welcomed. Query by email. 

Traditional essays should be up to 1,500 words and hybrid/creative works 800 words. Email all submissions to editors Sarah and Manahil with Pleasures in the subject line, to digital@canthius.com. Include a bio and mention the work’s genre/s.

Response time is reasonable. Payment is Can$50 for traditional poems, essays, stories, or one visual art piece with an artist statement, and $100 for multimedia work.

Website: www.canthius.com

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Award winning South African poet is looking for African poems

Award winning South African poet and author Nontlantla Mthimkulu says she is in search of poems by Africans to be published in an African anthology titled My Mental Health Book 1 African Poetry Collection.

In an interview, Mthimkulu, who is also a member of Art for Transformation and Civic Engagement said she believed there was healing between the lines of poetry.

“I am compiling an African anthology and I need poets from African countries to contribute to this anthology titled My Mental Health Book 1 African Poetry Collection which is about mental health awareness,” she said. 

“I believe that African poets have voices that also need to be heard through their creation.”

A mental health advocate and founder of Feed A Mind Foundation, Mthimkulu said one has to stay authentic to own writing and not get confused.

“I used to face challenges of being authentic with my writings. As poets we get exposed to other poets and their writing styles, as there are styles of writing as a poet you will love that are different from yours,” she said.

Mthimkulu said artists should see art as it is, and respect it so that other people can also respect both the art and artist.
Her work has been featured in a global mental health awareness anthology titled Letting in the Light. 

She has also published a short story titled Blind But Not Blinded that is available on Amazon and her writings have been featured in a Ubuntu Poetry Collection compiled by African poets.

“I have been published on FunDza Literacy Trust and my Poem-on-Poem Hunters has received a four-star rating on Amazon,” she said.

“I am also the founder of My Mental Health Global Programme which got me nominated for the Global Start Up Awards 2021 and MAMA Best Movement Nominee 2021/22.”

Away from writing, Mthimkulu, who is a psychotherapist by profession, is involved in pageantry and she was recently crowned Miss Lejweleputswa 2021 finalist.

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Living in a woman’s body: Mama’s War – an original poem

In her latest work, the South African actor and writer Lebogang Mashile tackles the exploitation and sexism faced by Black women

Mama’s War

Mama’s gone viral
Mama’s screen shuffles faster
Than hashtags invented by Black women
Who turn tech into culture daily
Boardrooms and bedrooms are battlefields
What’s today’s share price for Mama
Mama’s the only profitable stock
Mama’s baby is five years old, mining coltan in Congo
Mama’s foster children’s root chakras never healed
Mama’s who George Floyd called out to
When home is a dangerous place
How does Mama lockdown?

When home is a dangerous place
How does Mama lockdown?

They pushed Mama into government for the numbers
Mama’s a brand ambassador with diplomatic impunity
Mama’s on the evening news talking like a man now
Mama calls it power moves
Mama’s war is the ocean
The refuse in Mama’s belly
The money in Mama’s mouth
The melting ice caps releasing variants
Mama’s heating up
Mama’s a pissed off hellscape
Mama’s asking what do you do when a child star explodes?
Mama’s last born is on YouTube suckling data
To feed the family

Mama wonders why bell hooks never saw 70 and how Winnie couldn’t live at least as long as Nelson
Mama is Shailja Patel, Assata Shakur, Stella Nyanzi, and Mona Eltahawy writing on the edge of the blade
Mama plays hopscotch on national borders
Mama is ungovernable terrain
Mama is death’s favourite lover
Mama is Henrietta Lacks’s blood in vaccines they won’t share
Mama’s comorbidities are 4C hair, commodified fertility, and soil so rich Mama can’t own it
Mama’s working extra shifts to buy herself back
Mama’s in her overdraft paying antiBlack tax
Mama’s talking to the therapist in her mind
About Auschwitz, Amazon and Palestine
Mama’s work keeps everyone alive
But they won’t call Mama a genius
They made Mama famous
And acted like it was a substitute
For being free

Atlas, what do you know
About carrying the world
Mama’s war makes
Myths out of men
Life from man’s rib
Lies from men’s pens
So that we would never gaze
Into Mama
And call her
God

Lebogang Mashile is an actor, writer and poet

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