Poetry Africa is an annual international poetry festival curated and presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of Kwazulu-Natal in Durban. Each year during October, the festival features Spoken Word & Published Poets in performances and dynamic engagements, which includes panel discussions, campus & school visits, poetry exchanges, book launches, open mic sessions and the ever popular slam jam competition. The 28th edition of the Poetry Africa festival will extend performances to Johannesburg.
Poetry Africa 2024: Event Poster
An essential aspect of Poetry Africa, which will be held in Durban and Johannesburg from the 3rd to the 12th of October, is the crowning of the Winning Slam Poet. Slam Poetry, which originated in Chicago in the early 1980s, is a popular form of spoken word poetry where competitive poetry performances are staged. It has widened the reach of poetry in the past decades and has created an appreciative and diverse audience that previous genres may not have.
The festival provides a vital platform for the celebration and critical reflection about the contribution of poets in the movement for social change both nationally and internationally.
Poetry Africa 2024: Featured Poets that will be performing in October
Lethu Nkwanyana, who was crowned South African Slam Champion last year and uses English and isiZulu to connect with his audience, will be representing South Africa at the 2024 World Championships, which will be held in Togo from the 12th to the 18th of November.
Lethu Nkwanyana, 2023 crowned South African Slam Champion
This year’s festival boasts an impressive lineup of 72 poets from 21 countries, featuring renowned figures such as Lefifi Tladi, Cheryl Boyce-Taylor, Bash Amuneni, and many more. It will be hosted in Johannesburg and Durban, with additional online sessions to allow participation from across the country and the globe.
Impressive Poets at Poetry Africa 2024: (Left to Right) Dr Phillapa Yaa Devilliers, Lefifi Tladi and Uhuru Phalafala
At the 2024 Slam Jam finale, audiences will be thrilled and entertained as the seasoned poets compete for the crown. There are however, aspiring young poets waiting in the wings. In their ongoing bid to grow poetry and poets and given the increasing popularity of slam poetry, Poetry Africa will launch a school’s competition this year. The inaugural competition will host ten schools from Durban and surrounding areas to compete in a high-energy slam, showcasing their writing talent and performances. An international panel of judges, including Hawa Kimbukwe (Uganda), Hatem Alshehri (Saudi Arabia), Sindiswa Zulu, and Nkateko Masinga (SA), will decide the winner.
Do not miss any of the excitement or slam action in Joburg and Durban. Visit Poetry Africa for more information on Tickets
