Poetry Africa Festival announces dates, theme and tour

The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts (CCA) will host the 26th Poetry Africa International Festival from October 6 to October 16. The theme is: ‘Poetic (In)Justice: Voices That Breathe, Move and Transform’, and the festival is an ode to the depth of perspective...

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The most expensive poem in the world - the US$525,000 Poem

In November 2021, a poem was presented for sale at the Christie’s Auction House in New York. This was not a manuscript or a printed bound book – this was something a little different. The poem which was titled “Arcadia” was in fact a nine and 48-second long animation with an electronic...

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Young author releases a book that has a deep Xhosa perspective

A young Eastern Cape author has written a book aimed at anyone who wants to know more about the Xhosa culture and traditions, aptly named Don’t Upset ooMalume! A Guide to Stepping Up Your Xhosa Game.Hombakazi Mercy Nqandeka said the guide to Xhosa culture with stories from daily rural...

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Music, poetry, comedy kick off Bay Arts Festival

Music, poetry, theatre and dance are on the menu for arts lovers in Gqeberha as the inaugural Mandela Bay Arts Festival kicks off on Friday. From 6pm, six productions of different genres will light up stages at three different venues to ensure no Nelson Mandela Bay arts lover is left out. Dancers...

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We wake up and shine not because we are bright - Afro Poetry Times October issue carries the dosage for inspiration.

In his poem titled "Sweet hurting", the Afro Poetry Times editor uses the following words to describe positive energy when one feels down and out. ....We wake up and shine not because we are bright. We glisten and sparkle not because our resumes are polished with doctrines. We...

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Helenvale poets punch above weight with wise words

Poetry is one of the most difficult things to write, and even more so to have published.But five young aspiring poets in Helenvale have since 2011 been taken under the wing of Brian Walter, a highly accomplished poet who won the 2000 Ingrid Jonker Prize for his debut, Tracks. Each year,...

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Growth of African literature hailed

As literature from the African continent gains international stature due to its growth, it is commendable that Botswana is not left behind, said Botswana National Library Service director, Jacob Sekgoni. Sekgoni was speaking at the recent Gaborone Book Festival. He quoted the country’s...

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Young South African writer who enjoys writing wins R20 000 for her short story

On Saturday 17 September Kamdebo Primary School in Lotusville, Aberdeen, made history again. Reshanique Jantjies, won two first prizes in the Growsmart provincial competition. Reshanique, 12-years-old and in Grade 6, with her story titled, A Secret Passage, won the 1st prize for most creative...

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The Missouri Review's 32nd Annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editors' Prize

Deadline: October 1, 2022The Missouri Review invites entries for its 32nd annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ Prize. Winners receive $5000, publication, and promotion. Fiction or nonfiction entries up to 8,500 words, poetry entries up to 10 pages. Regular entry fee: $25. All-Access...

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Tik Tok's #BookTok is rekindling a love for reading. "#BookTok Made Me Read It" shelves pop up in book store's

Colleen Hoover, CoHo to her fans, is a prolific author of at least 20 gut-wrenching romances and thrillers. But it wasn’t until her 2016 novel It Ends with Us, based on the relationship between her mother and father, captured the hearts of TikTok’s devoted and vibrant community of literature...

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Pupils rewarded for their eccentric Xhosa poems

Three Merrifield pupils whose isixhosa poems won gold at the East London Eisteddfod are proud of elevating their home language. Lilitha Madikizela, Zizikazi Bidla and Mbutokazi Mavuso said impressing the judges with their native language while delivering their poetry was a fulfilling feeling. The...

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Poet Marilyn Nelson wins US$100,000 lifetime achievement prize

Poetry is indeed a rewarding career!Marilyn Nelson has won the $100,000 Wallace Stevens Award, a lifetime achievement honor presented by the Academy of American Poets for “proven mastery in the art of poetry.”“For decades Marilyn Nelson has written a poetry that is insightful, moving, and...

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South Africa’s Poetry Africa reveals keynote speaker

Poetry Africa 2022 will be hosted in the South African cities of Johannesburg, Durban, and Pietermaritzburg from October 6-16, 2022.Poetry Africa is an international poetry festival first hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa in...

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Kendeka Prize for African Literature 2022 shortlist announced

The shortlist for the Kendeka Prize for African Literature 2022 was announced on Thursday, September 15, 2022.The Kendeka Prize for African Literature is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short story either fiction or creative non-fiction. The first edition of the prize founded...

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Gaborone Book Festival highlights need to preserve culture by writing in vernacular

The Gaborone Book Festival was back for the fifth year in a row this past week running from September 15-17 at various venues. A panel discussion was held on Friday at Maitisong where author, Professor Rose Letsholo-Tafila explained that culture and language were intertwined. She...

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Zimbabwean author cum poet is living his writing dream

After years of collaborating with fellow authors, South Africabased Zimbabwean writer Meluleki Sibanda has gone solo to publish his debut novel, Akugwatshwa Ngokuzala. The novel touches on various societal issues that people encounter such as teenage pregnancy, human and drug trafficking,...

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Poet Amanda Gorman recites powerful poem at UN General Assembly

South Korean pop band Blackpink and American poet Amanda Gorman took to the UN stage on Monday to urge action on climate change and other global goals that include achieving gender equality and ending hunger and poverty.Gorman read a new poem in the UN General Assembly chamber in New York,...

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Rural poet gets chance to see her work published

Mdantsane poet Pheliswa Nonfenu, who goes by the stage name Nolinothi Ntombezinyanya, found refuge in writing poems when her schoolmates teased her when she struggled at school. Today, she is a step closer to fulfilling her goal of seeing her work published. This is after she won the...

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Book Extract | Patrice Motsepe - On a mission to create hope and aspiration

The business aspect of Patrice Motsepe’s life is the golden thread. He grins when he talks about the "family enterprises – they made me what I am".Involved in rebuilding the old shopping centre that the Motsepes once owned and ran in his home village of Mmakau in North West, he reflects...

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South African poet writes a reflection of poetry written over 10 years

Writing lyrically about her feelings, emotions and life’s fleeting moments over 10 years meant former East Londoner Micharn Pollock produced a collection of 100 poems which has now been published in a book called A Long Look in the Mirror.Pollock, who matriculated at DSG before obtaining...

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The finalists of the US’ Kirkus Awards 2022 revealed

The finalists for the Kirkus Awards 2022 were revealed on Thursday, September 8, 2022. Here are the writers of African descent among them.Kirkus Reviews is a US book review magazine that publishes previews of books prior to their publication founded by Virginia Kirkus in 1933. The Kirkus...

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Meet the poetic family from Botswana

Often times, we meet individuals in a family who are incredibly talented. These individuals go on to carry their family names and make them proud. However, in the case of Kunkuru, a family comprised of a couple and their son whose poetry talents cannot go unnoticed, is a rare story. The...

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Win US$1000 in the MAYDAY Creative Non Fiction Prize

Deadline: October 1, 2022$1,000 award and publication.To submit, send an essay (2,000–7,500 words) exploring the theme of “Disappearance” (of people, places, things, etc.). Final judge: Darin Strauss, bestselling author of several books, including the National Book Critics Circle Award-winning...

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Gaborone Book Festival 2022 kicks off on Thursday

The Gaborone Book Festival 2022 runs at the University of Botswana from September 15-17, 2022. It will be brought to you in partnership with IDM, Botswana, Maitisong, and the University of East Anglia.The Gaborone Book Festival, founded by Keikantse Phele and Kenanao Phele, first ran in...

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Teacher launches fourth poetry book

A High School history teacher from Zimbabwe has launched his fourth poetry book titled The Heart’s Detritus. Beaven Chiweshe said he used the Covid-19 lockdown to complete the book. He officially launched it on Saturday. The 29-year-old decided to share his thoughts, expressions,...

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Social Media Poem About The Queen Goes Viral

As the sad news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II broke on Thursday, and people began to pay tribute to her majesty, a poem about the monarch and her late husband went viral on social media.The poem is the work of Joanne Boyle, an English poet, and starts with the following lines: ...

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All set for Vrystaat Arts Festival 2022 in Bloemfontein. And it has its fair dosage of poetry and literature

In July, the Vrystaat Arts Festival successfully presented the first ever Mini-Market, on the Bloemfontein campus of the University of the Free State (UFS). Now the festival team is getting ready for a significantly larger festival, which will also take place on the UFS campus from...

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In the grand scheme of things – Poetry by South African poet Alexander Matthews

I’ve gotten off lightly.No incarceration in Ward 22 — or a concentration camp.No chemical castration or conversion therapy. I am not hanging from a crane.I didn’t heed the siren call of suicide, thoughAt 17 it was wailing loudly.I slept with a steak knife in my bedside drawer,Willing myself...

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Samira Bawumia Literature Prize announces 2022 winners

The Samira Bawumia Literature Prize (SBLP) has announced winners for the 2022 edition.  The Literature Prize is a biennial writing competition which was launched in 2020 to support and encourage aspiring young Ghanaian writers while contributing to the growing Ghanaian literary space.The...

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Poetic triumph for health lecturer

Health lecturer and poet Dr Michael Leach recently won an award in a Melbourne writing competition.The competition, run by Minds Shine Bright, was open to international poets, with Leach named a joint winner in the poetry category for his piece Emergence of Voice.The poem recounts Leach’s...

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Griffin Poetry Prize to award $130,000 for a single book of poetry - richest such prize in world

Scott Griffin thinks that Canadian poetry can stand on its own, competing with the best poetry in the world. And he’s putting his money where his belief is to create one big prize for a single book of poetry, with international and Canadian poets competing for a $130,000 award, making...

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