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Poetry Africa - International Festival of Poetry
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More than twenty poets, predominantly from South Africa and elsewhere on the African continent, participate in the 7-10 day Poetry Africa - international poetry festival that is based mostly in Durban, South Africa, during the final quarter of the year. The festivals' extensive programme includes theatre performances, readings, music and book-launches with a festival finale at BAT Centre. Day activities include seminars, workshops, open mic opportunities, and school visits.

Poetry Africa is organized by the Centre for Creative Arts which is a multi-disciplinary arts organisation within the Faculty of Human Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban. From the CCA Mission statement "The Centre fulfils a function as facilitator, promoter, networker, and capacity builder, and plays a vital role in bringing to fruition the artistic potential of the region. The CCA co-ordinates four annual festivals which are the foremost of their kind in the region; Time of the Writer, Poetry Africa, the Durban International Film Festival, and the Jomba! Contemporary Dance Festival. The CCA is also involved in other projects and programmes. These festivals reflect artistic integrity, are professionally produced, and receive excellent media coverage. All have strong international links that enhance intercultural artistic relationships with and within South Africa, the African continent, and the global community.  All activities have important development components that reach into communities that do not have access to top-level art practitioners such as those participating in our festivals. Schools and tertiary institutions are a particular focus; as are grass roots community arts organisations."

Over 230 Poets and Writers have attended the festival in its 11 editions and these include:

Past Participants Poetry Africa:

Abani, Chris (Nigeria) 2002              Chris_Abani Adewale, Toyen (Nigeria) 2000 Afrika, Tatamkhulu (South Africa) 1997 AJA (Adisa Andiwele)(Barbados) 2002 Alexander, Meena (India/USA) 2002 Alfonso, Domingo (Cuba) 2005 Anyidoho, Kofi (Ghana) 2001 Aridjis, Homero (Mexico) 1997 Bachri, Sutardji Calzoum (Indonesia) 2004 Bacilio, Gibi (Curaçao) 2006 Baderoon, Gabeba (South Africa) 2005      Gabeba_Baderoon Banoobhai, Shabbir (South Africa) 2002, 1998 Battson, Jill (Canada) 2002 Bebey, Francis (Cameroon) 2000 Ben Jelloun, Tahar (Morocco) 1998 Berold, Robert (South Africa) 2003 Bhatt, Sujata (India) 1997 Bila, Vonani (South Africa) 2005 Blandiana, Ana (Romania) 1998 Blonk, Jaap (Netherlands) 2003 Bowers, Henry (Sweden) 2006 Bowers, Henry (Sweden) 2006 Breytenbach, Breyten (South Africa) 1997, 1998 Brutus, Dennis (South Africa) 2003, 2006 Cai, Tianxin (China) 2003 Campert, Remco (Netherlands) 1997 Cele, Ntando (South Africa) 2005 Cheney-Coker, Syl (Sierra Leone) 1999 Chingono, Julius (Zimbabwe) 2006 Chirikure, Chirikure (Zimbabwe) 2001, 2007 Chiwoniso (Zimbabwe) 2005, 2007 Christiansë, Yvette (South Africa) 2001 Claus, Hugo (Belgium) 1997 Comanescu, Denisa (Romania) 2003 Combrinck, Lisa (South Africa) 2000 Comrade Fatso (Zimbabwe) 2007 Conning, Lueen (South Africa) 1998 Cresswell, Evelyn (South Africa) 2003 Cronin, Jeremy (South Africa) 1999 Crozier, Lorna (Canada) 1997, 1998 Cullinan, Patrick (South Africa) 1998 Dabydeen, David (Guyana) 2001 Dao, Bei (China) 1998 Darbellay, Claude (Switzerland) 2001 de Kok, Ingrid (South Africa) 1998, 2002 de Villiers, Phillippa Yaa (South Africa) 2007 Deelder, Jules (Netherlands) 1998 Def P (Netherlands) 2006 Dikeni, Sandile (South Africa) 2001 Dladla, Angifi (South Africa) 2007 Dove, Rita (USA) 2000 Dowling, Finuala (South Africa) 2006 Du Plessis, Clinton (South Africa) 1999 Egan, Desmond (Ireland) 2000 Espi-Sanchis, Pedro (Spain/South Africa) 2005 Ewok (South Africa) 2004, 2006 Eziefule-Emenekwum, Perpetual (Nigeria) 2006 Fall, Habib Demba(Senegal) 2007 Fenton-Keane, Jayne (Australia) 2002 Ferguson, Gus (South Africa) 2000 Ferrus, Diana (South Africa) 2003 Finck, Otis (South Africa) 2000 Fouad, Zien El-Abedin (Egypt) 1997 Fynn, Quincy (South Africa) 2004 Glenn, Celena (USA) 2005 Goodison, Lorna (Jamaica) 1998, 1999 Gray, Stephen (South Africa) 1998 Greig, Robert (South Africa) 2005 Gumbi, Bandile (South Africa) 2004 Gwala, Mafika (South Africa) 2006 Haarhoff, Dorian (South Africa) 2004 Hadebe, Eric (South Africa) 2000 Halter, Jürg (Switzerland) 2002 Hammial, Philip (Australia) 2000 Handal, Nathalie(France/Palestine) 2007 Harjo, Joy (USA) 2004 Hawad ( Central Sahara) 1998 Henri, Adrian (United Kingdom) 1997 Holman, Bob (USA) 2003 Horwitz, Alan Kolski (South Africa) 2004 Hove, Chenjerai (Zimbabwe) 1997 Ie, Tan Lioe (Indonesia) 2006 Ishle (USA) 2007 Jack, Drisana Deborah (Saint Martin) 2004 Janssen, Leo (South Africa) 2005 Jenkins, Myesha (South Africa) 2004 Johnson, Linton Kwesi (United Kingdom) 1998 Judice, Nuno (Portugal) 1999 Ka Ngwenya, Siphiwe (South Africa) 2004 Kaganof, Aryan (South Africa) 2005 Kamanda, Kama Sywor (Democratic Republic of Congo) 2006 Kantor, Peter (Hungary) 2000 Kenani, Stanley Onjezani (Malawi) 2007 Kester, Norman (Canada/South Africa) 2003 Kgositsile, Keorapetse (Willie) (South Africa) 2002, 2006 Khoury, Nidaa (Palestine) 2001 Kiguli, Susan (Uganda) 2000 Kitchen, Syd (South Africa) 2007 Komrij, Gerrit (Netherlands) 1999 Konte, Lamine (Senegal) 1999 Kozain, Rustum (South Africa) 2006 Krog, Antjie (South Africa) 1997, 2001 Kruger, Haidee (South Africa) 2007 Kunene, Keith (South Africa) 2003 Kunene, Mazisi (South Africa) 2001 Lamko, Koulsy (Chad) 2002 Lane, Patrick (Canada) 1998 Lasisi, Akeem (Nigeria) 2003 Leggott, Michele (New Zealand) 2002 Lexikon (South Africa) 2005, 2006 Were Were (Cameroon/Ivory Coast) 2004     Were_Were_Liking Liyong, Taban lo (Sudan) 2001 Lucey, Roger (South Africa) 2001 Lundberg, Liv (Norway) 2002 Madosini(South Africa) 2005 Magogodi, Kgafela (South Africa) 2003 Mahlaba, Botsotso (South Africa) 2006 Mahlasela, Vusi (South Africa) 2001 Mahola, Mzi (South Africa) 2006 Malange, Nise (South Africa) 2001 Mann, Chris (South Africa) 2002 Mapanje, Jack (Malawi) 1999 Marais, Danie (South Africa) 2007 Masheane, Napo (South Africa) 2004, 2007 Mashile, Lebogang (South Africa) 2003, 2004, 2006 Mateer, John (Australia) 2001 Matshikiza, John (South Africa) 2006 Mattera, Don (South Africa) 1997, 2003 Matthews, James (South Africa) 2002 Maunick, Edouard (Mauritius) 1997 Mazwa, Ntsiki (South Africa) 2004 Mbangeni, Jessica (South Africa) 2006 Mbuli, Mzwakhe (South Africa) 2004 McGough, Roger (United Kingdom) 2000 Metelerkamp, Joan (South Africa) 2005 Mhlophe, Gcina (South Africa) 1997, 2006 Mitchell, Adrian (United Kingdom) 1999 Mkiva, Zolani (South Africa) 2000, 2006 Mkuti, Lukas (Mozabique) 2005 Molapong, Keamogetsi Joseph (Namibia) 2007 Moolman, Kobus (South Africa) 2004 Morris, Tracie (USA) 2001 Motana, Masello (South Africa) 2005 Mtukudzi, Oliver (Zimbabwe) 2006 Muhoho, Njoki (Kenya) 2005 Muila, Ike Mboneni (South Africa) 2004 Murphy, Richard (Ireland) 2004 Murray, Sally-Ann (South Africa) 2006 Nabhany, Ahmed Sheik (Kenya) 1997 Narain, Jit (Surinam) 2004 Ndlovu, Malika (South Africa) 2005 Nel, Gert Vlok (South Africa) 1998 Noel, Bernard (France)1998 Noiret, Gérard (France)1999 Nolan, Patricia (Ireland) 2003 Nowadayz Poets (South Africa) 2004 Ntloana, Joe (South Africa) 2006 Ntuli, Pitika (South Africa) 2000, 2006 Nyamubaya, Freedom (Zimbabwe) 1999 Nyathi, Albert (Zimbabwe) 2004 Ojaide, Tanure (Nigeria) 2005 Okai, Atukwei (Ghana) 2002 Oni the Haitian Sensation (Canada/Haiti) 2007 Or, Amir (Israel) 2001 Osundare, Niyi (Nigeria) 1997 Otten, Christine (Netherlands) 2004 Patel, Shailja (Kenya) 2007 Peeters, Hagar (Netherlands) 2005 Pfeijffer, Ilja Leonard (Netherlands) 2001 Phandliwe, Mandisa (South Africa) 2006 Polonskaya, Anzhelina (Russia) 2003 Press, Karen ( South Africa) 1999, 2004 Raji, Remi (Nigeria) 2001 Ramos, Edessa (Philippines) 2002 Rampolokeng, Lesego (South Africa) 1999, 2003 Rendra (Indonesia) 1998 Robertson, Heather (South Africa) 1997 Roggeman, Willem M (Belgium) 1999 Sadoun, Abdul Hadi (Iraq) 2005 Sagar, Mamta (India) 2005 Said, Amina (Tunisia) 2001 Salafranca, Arja (South Africa) 2007 Sall, Amadou Lamine (Senegal) 2005 Sartorius, Joachim (Germany) 1997 Seboni, Barolong (Botswana) 2004 Sedakova, Olga (Russia) 2000 Sekou, Lasana M (St. Martin) 2001 Serote, Mongane Wally (South Africa) 1998 Shiraishi, Kasuko (Japan) 1997 Shrinivasi (Suriname) 2006 Shuntaro, Tanikawa (Japan) 2002 Sissay, Lemn (United Kingdom) 2005 Sitas, Ari (South Africa) 2001 Smartt, Dorothea (United Kingdom) 2001 Snijders, Ronald (Suriname / The Netherlands) 2006 Sobekwa, Zola (South Africa) 2005 Sole, Kelwyn (South Africa) 2000 Sôls, Loit (South Africa) 1999 Stenson, Susan (Canada) 2003 Stockenstroem, Wilma (South Africa) 1997 Susso, Alhaji Papa (Gambia) 2006 Swart, Valiant (South Africa) 2001 Sweeney, Matthew (Ireland) 1999 Tavares, Ana Paula (Angola) 2002 Thabs, Hymphatic (South Africa) 2004 The Guests - Victor Mavedzenge and Michael Kudakwashe (Zimbabwe) 2006 Thumboo, Edwin (Singapore) 2003 Tidholm, Thomas (Sweden) 2000 Tladi, Lefifi (south Africa) 2006 Tsundue, Tenzin (Tibet) 2005 Tumi - without the Volume (South Africa) 2004, 2006 Tuwhare, Hone (New Zealand) 2001 Uetz, Christian (Switzerland) 2004 van de Werk, Jan Kees (Netherlands) 2002 Vinkenoog, Simon (Netherlands) 2000 wa Bofelo, Mputlane (South Africa) 2005, 2007 wa Dibinga, Omekongo (Congo/USA) 2004 Wangusa, Timothy (Uganda) 2003 Waro, Danyel (Reunion) 2007 Watta, Chehem (Djibouti) 1998 White, Edwardo (Mozambique) 2006 Wilson, Sheri-D (Canada) 2001 Wondel, Louise (Suriname) 1999 Wylie, Dan (South Africa) 1999 Xaba, Makhosazana (South Africa) 2006 Yuson, Krip (Philippines) 2005 Zephaniah, Benjamin (United Kingdom) 2000, 2006 Zimunya, Musa (Zimbabwe) 2003 Zorro (South Africa) 2007 Zrika, Abdallah (Morocco) 2003