That’s us trying to be all poetry slammical, but if you want to hear the real thing then you want to book a seat at the Shoko Festival’s Regional Poetry Slam next week.
The slam will feature poets from five Southern African countries; Kenya, Malawi, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe – with a poetry slam at Book Café on Thursday 20 September as part of Shoko Festival 2012.
The regional slam is a continuation of the exciting regional poetry initiative first launched in 2011, and this year destined for stages in both Harare and Bulawayo, presented in a partnership between Pamberi Trust (Zimbabwe), African Synergy Trust (SA), Magamba Network (Zimbabwe), with support from Africalia (Belgium) and Pro Helvetia (SA).
The art of live slam poetry and spoken word has taken off around the world and Africa’s new voices are among the loudest in the continuous lyrical din of conscious, humorous and creatively ground-breaking lines spreading across the globe.
Expect spontaneous live poetry and amazing energy from African poets Tim Mwaura (Kenya slam champion), Chigo Gondwe (Malawi), Afurakan and Emmah Mabye (South Africa), Botswana’s Mandisa Mabuthoe, and Wanjika (Kenya), and Nomsa Mazwai (South Africa), along with Zimbabwean poets from Mlomo Wako (Bulawayo) Mashoko Spoken Word Event and House of Hunger Poetry Slam in Harare.
The Shoko Festival will run over 6 days from September 18-22, 2012, under the theme Take Over The Town. It will feature live concerts, DJ parties, a photo exhibition, workshops, debates a comedy night and lots more.
‘Shoko’ is Shona for ‘word’.
