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 1996.
The Centre for Creative Arts’ other major events are Time of the Writer and the Durban International Film Festival.
In August, The Centre of Creative Arts announced that this year’s poetry extravaganza will be hosted in its traditional month of October.
In August, The Centre of Creative Arts announced that this year’s poetry extravaganza will be hosted in its traditional month of October.
They followed that with the revelation of the guests to take part on September 16. The poets to take part in this edition are many of the leading poets in the Southern African nation as well as some from other African countries.
They include Mongane Wally Serote, Phillippa Yaa de Villiers, Napo Masheane, vangile gantsho, Eugene Skeef, Nhlakanipho Thabethe, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Noluthando Buthelezi, Ọbáfẹ́mi Thanni, Omar Badsha, Ongezwa Mbele, Philile Nkabinde, Pralini Naidoo, Professor Heidi van Rooyen, Raquel Lima, Ronelda Kamfer, Rudy Francisco, Saif Arbee, Sanguilla Vabrie, Sarah Lubala, Muxe Nkondo, Nana Asaase, Adjei Agyei-Baah, Akabiru, Amanda Zuma, Amee Slam, Angela Hough, Anton Krueger, Ashwyn Mberi, Athingahangwi Ramabulana, Carol Simango, Chioniso Tsikisayi, Dr Raphael d’Abdon, Duduzile S. Ndlovu, Solly Ramatswi, Thuthukani Myeza, Thuthukani Ndlovu, Torsten Clear Rybka, Tshegofatso Makhafola, Ernest Dawkins, Fumane Ntlhabane, Hape Mokhele, Indigene “Gene” Corefio, Zuhura the African Lioness, Jonathan Lefenya, Keith Oliver Lewis, Langelihle Ellah Moyo, Larissa Hassim, Lebohang ‘Nova’ Masango, Lehlohonolo Mazibuko, Lesedi Mogale, Lex LaFoy, Maleshoane Ladybird Mphutlane, Mandi Vundla, Manqoba Mtsweni, Marc Vanicatte aka Daréka, Mariusca Moukengue, Masai Sepuru, Mlungisi Mlangeni, Vus’umuzi Phakathi, Wanga Fosiko, Whitney De Jongh, Xolani Mbhele, Zama Madinana, Zizipho Bam, and Lebo Mashile.
During that period, South Africa will be the centre of activities like the Keorapetse Kgositsile Annual Lecture, the Mafika Gwala Memorial Lecture, Slam Poetry Workshop, the Slam Jam, poetry performances, Resonating Rhythms, panels, and other activities like The Four Horsemen Production.
Residents of Durban, Johannesburg, and Bloemfontein will also be treated to activities like school and community visits as well as campus invasions.
