POETRY AFRICA 2008

International Poetry Festival

29 September – 4 October 2008

School Poetry Competition:

“What Heritage Means to Me”

The Centre for Creative Arts ( University of KwaZulu-Natal ) will be hosting the 12 th POETRY AFRICA , International Poetry Festival from 29 September to 4 October 2008. The evening events will take place mainly at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre (19h30), University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , where poets will read and perform their poetry.

A major component of the festival is the schools programme which consists of a schools roadshow by participating poets and a poetry competition. Poetry Africa invites learners to submit material for the poetry competition which is held in conjunction with the festival. Learners should please submit poems by Monday, 8 September 2008 for our judges to make the final selection of winners. Entries received after this date will not be accepted.

The theme this year revolves around the statement “What Heritage Means to Me.” Poems must engage creatively with this theme and can be written in either English, Zulu or Afrikaans. Illegible entries will not be considered – poems to be typewritten or printed if possible. No more than 2 poems per pupil are to be submitted, with a maximum length of one A4 page per poem.

Prizes will be given for the best entries and all winners will be given complimentary tickets to attend the festival on the evening of Friday, 3 October 2008 when it is hoped they will read their poems and where they will receive prizes. The Masizi Kunene Foundation, which preserves and celebrates the legacy of the late poet laureate, will additionally award prizes for the best poems written in Zulu. All winning entries will be displayed in the foyer of the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre for patrons to view.

If you are a learner and would like to be involved in this competition - submit your poems, together with your school's name, teacher's name, and your school telephone number to the Centre for Creative Arts by no later than 8 September 2008. Entries may be hand delivered to the Centre or faxed to 031 260 3074 or posted to

CENTRE FOR CREATIVE ARTS
UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA
4041

For more information on the festival or the competition, please contact the Centre for Creative Arts on 031 260 2506 or visit our website: www.cca.ukzn.ac.za

Ends
For media queries contact:

Sharlene Versfeld
Tel: 031 201 1650
Fax: 031 201 1654

Email: sharlene@versfeld.co.za