11th POETRY AFRICA
International Poetry Festival
Durban : 1 – 6 October 2007
Twenty poets from 10 different countries will descend on Durban for an exhilarating rollercoaster of words, rhythms, and ideas at the 11 th Poetry Africa international poetry festival which takes place from 1 to 6 October. Musical Voices at Poetry Africa 2007
The close relationship between music and poetry is made explicit through several of the participants in this year's Poetry Africa, International Poetry Festival (1-6 October).
The music on show at this year's festival includes maloya maestro Danyel Waro , from Reunion on his first visit to South Africa, who will be accompanied by band members Laurent Dalleau , Damien Mandrin and Vincent Phileas playing traditional island percussion instruments. Waro, living in the middle of sugarcane fields high up in Saint-Paul, is probably the most famous maloya singer of Reunion Island . Sega, a traditional Indian Ocean dance rhythm, is internationally known, but few people outside the island of Reunion have heard of maloya. Maloya is a compound rhythm on which plantation workers have long been singing their joys and woes. Waro, who was imprisoned for refusing to do military service, sings of love, death or politics, using a popular, peasant creole vocabulary that his urban listeners have often forgotten, creating unexpected, beautiful and powerful imagery and, most importantly, articulating the convergence between words and music that makes great songs.
Waro will give a must-see featured performance on 4 October at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at 19h30. He will also present a workshop entitled ‘Maloya Man' on Wednesday, 3 October at the Centre for Jazz at 12h15.
The beautifully voiced mbira player Chiwoniso ( Zimbabwe ), winner of the UNESCO Prize for Arts, KORA nominee, and front woman of the popular band Vibe Culture, released her first solo album, Ancient Voices, to global critical acclaim. In the years since, Chiwoniso's solo career has continued to grow in leaps and bounds. She has worked with the voices of Marie Boine, Kris Kristoffersen and Sinead O'Connor on a CD for world peace in honor of the Nobel Peace Prize Award's 100th commemoration and, in 2005, released her album Timeless. She is currently at work on her third solo album.
Chiwoniso will perform on 2 October at the Sneddon at 19h30, and will present a workshop, ‘Magic of the Mbira' on Tuesday, 2 October at Howard College Campus at 14h10.
Durban legend Syd Kitchen and the prolific young Korean-American Ishle, both guitar-toting poets with startling lyrical bite, will give featured performances on 5 October at the Sneddon.
Afro-Saxon minstrel poet, guitarist and singer song-fighter Syd Kitchen has been a dynamic, innovative contributor to the SA musical landscape since the 1970's. The Durban based artist's often biting lyrics and crafty guitar work have earned him a dedicated following at festivals and clubs throughout SA; be it as a solo performer, with the Aquarian Quartet or with Madala Kunene in Bafo Bafo.
Ishle Yi Park is a Korean American world-travelling poet, singer, and the first woman to be named the Poet Laureate of Queens – the largest and most diverse borough in New York . Dubbed “the Queen of Queens” by her fans, Ishle's
poetry album, Work is Love , includes tracks with Korean traditional drums, Spanish guitar, beatboxing, and music produced by Japan 's critically acclaimed DJ Honda. Ishle has opened for artists such as KRS-One, Ben Harper, and Saul Williams, and has been featured at literary and music festivals performing her unique blend of poetry and song at over three hundred venues around the world, including Cuba, Jamaica, Singapore, Korea, and New Zealand.
Other highlights include two musically-rich Poetry Africa showcases at respectively, Awesome Africa (30 September at Midmar Dam, Howick, 15h00) and the Centre for Jazz (3 October, Centre for Jazz, 17h15).
Durbanites can catch a short preview of Danyel Waro on the 29 th at 8pm at the Flavours of Durban Main Stage, Outside City Hall, Smith Street, where Madala Kunene will also perform. Opening Night of Poetry Africa, 1 October at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, includes another musical treat with the in demand OSCA Choir.
The full programme of activities, plus participant bios and photos, is available on www.cca.ukzn.ac.za Enquiries to 031-2602506
Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal), the 11th Poetry Africa festival is supported by the Department of Arts and Culture, Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation (HIVOS), Royal Netherlands Embassy, Stichting Doen, French Institute of South Africa, Ethekwini Municipality, and the City of Durban.
-ends
For Media Queries Contact Sharlene Versfeld
T: 031 201 1650
F: 031 201 1654
E: sharlene@versfeld.co.za
|
