#POETRY Poets will tomorrow Saturday February 1, 2014 honour the late great Zimbabwean writer Dambudzo Marechera during the monthly poetry contest ’Poetry Slam’ at the Book Café.
Poetry slam will reflect on two of Marechera’s books namely ‘The Black Insider’ and ‘Black Sunlight’, books which dwell on the African race and identity.
The Black Sunlight parodies African nationalist and racial identifications as part of an argument that notions of an ‘essential African identity’ were often invoked to authorize a number of totalitarian regimes across Africa.
The Black Insider develops the preoccupations of Dambudzo Marechera by exploring, in his devastatingly honest way, the predicaments of exile and the black identity, and examining the realities of living under the threat of ‘The Bomb’.
“As February is celebrated as Black History Month in other parts of the world, the House of Hunger Poetry Slam celebrates the African identity and pays tribute to the late great Zimbabwean writer Dambudzo Marechera after whose award-winning book the slam is named,” said Dennis Madyira of Pamberi Trustm.
Poets who use the platform appreciate what the House of Hunger Poetry Slam has done for them in the start of the New Year.
Marshall (Orater) Sango an upcoming poet who has often been a slam favourite, had this to say, “Honestly the first House of Hunger Poetry Slam of 2014 was challenging, slamming with the likes of Biko (Godobori) Mustaurwa and Tendekai (Madzitatiguru) Tati to me was a mammoth task because these are some of the poets whom I have always looked up to when I was at school, I am more than grateful for coming up as the luckiest poet at the first slam of the year.
“It was quite a positive gear to kick start the year, it was a vibrant concrete foundation of my career in the year 2014 and this will help me gain extensive professional experience and develop distinctive artistic skills.
“Considering that my efforts to perform at HIFA last year were turned down, getting the opportunity to participate this year from Chirikure Chirikure at this prestigious event to me is quite an honour.
“I thank God for opening the doors through House of Hunger Poetry Slam which we also pays tribute to Dambudzo Marechera. I am confident that this high profile event will catapult me to regional and international prominence, and come HIFA 2014, I promise fire tongues!” he said.
Poetry is one of several arts development programmes by Pamberi Trust at Book Café, which receive funding support from Africalia, Hivos and the European Union.