19th Poetry Africa Festival a Treat for All

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A select group of poets from South Africa and around the world are in Durban to showcase literature and storytelling at the 19th Poetry Africa Festival.

The Festival, which runs until Saturday (October 17), is being hosted by UKZN’s Centre for Creative Arts (CCA) within the College of Humanities. 

It provides a space for intercultural exchange and dialogue by featuring an extensive community outreach programme with poetry readings, performances and workshops in community centres, campuses and schools across Durban to share ideas about poetry. 

Evening poetry readings and discussions are taking place at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on UKZN’s Howard College campus. The Festival finale is on Saturday at the Rivertown Beer Hall in Durban’s CBD, with a closing performance by singer, Nakhane Touré. 

The CCA is proud to feature nine Durban poets in this year’s 24-strong line up. They are: Africa Dlamini, Celiswa Majali, Khanyi Shusha, Kwazi Ndlangisa, Matt Vend, Nokulunga Dladla, Nosipho Magcaba, Thando Fuze, Tshebeletso Mohale. 

‘We are very proud that Durban has produced nine poets in this 19^th edition of Poetry Africa, almost half of the programme,’ said Mr Guy Redman, Head of Department: Libraries, Heritage, Arts and Culture. ‘This is a testament to our city’s tremendous talent and artistic integrity as well as its developmental programmes focused on poetry, literature and the arts.’ 

The Poetry Africa stage will also feature prelude poets Khanyi Shusha, Kwazi Ndlangisa, Nosipho Magcaba and Tshebeletso Mophale. 

The annual Prelude Poets programme provides an opportunity for Durban’s creative and undiscovered poets to take part in the Festival. Entrants audition before a panel of judges and those selected display their talent on stage as a prelude to the main programme. 

Tickets for the evening sessions which start at 19h00 in the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre are R40 reducing to R25 for students and pensioners.  They are available at Computicket or at the door.

Tickets for the Festival finale at Rivertown are R70 (or R80 at the door). 

For more information go to www.cca.ukzn.ac.za or like the Facebook page PoetryAfrica or follow on Twitter @PoetryAfrica.

 

*The Poetry Africa Festival is presented by UKZN’s Centre for Creative Arts and made possible by support from the eThekwini Municipality, the KZN Department of Arts and Culture, the National Arts Council and the Goethe Institute. The Centre for Creative Arts is housed in the College of Humanities and is a special project of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl Potgieter.

Melissa Mungroo