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Poetry

Quilled or typed, it’s writ
Article
/ 16 August 2019

Quilled or typed, it’s writ

If we are not thinking of a quill, when we say someone has “penned” a book, are we thinking of a standard ballpoint pen?

By Shaun De Waal
Moses, we shall sing your Redemption Song
Article
/ 21 July 2019

Moses, we shall sing your Redemption Song

The poet and urban planner was killed earlier this month. His friend and mentor Vonani Bila reflects on and honours the life of Moses Metileni

By Vonani Bila
Good, evil and poetry in between the stories
Article
/ 5 July 2019

Good, evil and poetry in between the stories

The Cosmic Destiny is about good versus evil, love versus hate, freedom versus bondage, peace versus war and silence versus noise.​

By Oupa Nkosi
Activist poets on the frontline
Africa
/ 18 January 2019

Activist poets on the frontline

Meet the Kenyan wordsmiths who use their voices to advocate for change

By Njeri Kimani
PODCAST: Bowie the poet
Article
/ 27 June 2018

PODCAST: Bowie the poet

I​n this episode we meet Anthero Bowie, a former gang member who is out of prison and trying to reinvent himself as a poet

By Rasmus Bitsch and Sound Africa
For Winnie
Article
/ 6 April 2018

For Winnie

Milisuthando Bongela attempts to put into words who it was that has died

By Milisuthando Bongela
Younger poets mourn a master
Article
/ 12 January 2018

Younger poets mourn a master

Keorapetse Kgositsile played a significant role in the emergence of post-1994 poetry

By Staff Reporter
Snapshots of a living poem
Article
/ 12 January 2018

Snapshots of a living poem

Remembering the man writers and non-writers alike called Bra Willie was now a literary ancestor.

By Zukiswa Wanner
A poet laureate, a servant of the people
Article
/ 12 January 2018

A poet laureate, a servant of the people

The post has become firmly entrenched but times have changed, suggesting new directions and ideas

By Kwanele Sosibo
Beauty in struggle
Article
/ 12 January 2018

Beauty in struggle

Jazz and the fight for freedom were central to his life and poetry

By Gwen Ansell
Unchained spirit of Bra Willie
Article
/ 5 January 2018

Unchained spirit of Bra Willie

His sharp and progressive pen‚ he contributed in cutting open the oppressive blanket of the apartheid system to keep the liberation spirit burning.

By Percy Mabandu
Poets reclaim Cape Town’s historical narrative
Article
/ 29 September 2017

Poets reclaim Cape Town’s historical narrative

A jamboree of poets traverses the city, feels it’s pain and emerges to restore what was taken

By Faye Kabali-Kagwa
Poets’ society revolution
Article
/ 1 September 2017

Poets’ society revolution

The recognition garnered by young poets’ collections should make the publishing industry reflect on the state of South Africans’ poetic landscape

By Faye Kabali-Kagwa
The poet by whom the English language lives
Article
/ 23 May 2017

The poet by whom the English language lives

Derek Walcott’s muse inspired his evocative poetry, which also explored Caribbean identity

By Idowu Omoyele
‘Humbled’ LKJ true to his voice
Article
/ 28 April 2017

‘Humbled’ LKJ true to his voice

The poet is honoured to join the ranks of Hugh Masekela, Abdullah Ibrahim and Miriam Makeba.

By Carl Collison
​Koleka Putuma’s poems of celebration, grief and rage
Article
/ 4 April 2017

​Koleka Putuma’s poems of celebration, grief and rage

A new anthology explores memory in three parts – inherited, buried and the present – and is ironically titled ‘Collective Amnesia’.

By Staff Reporter
Seer with the devil’s voice now hangs out with angels
Article
/ 17 November 2016

Seer with the devil’s voice now hangs out with angels

Leonard Cohen’s songs evoked the mystical incantations of Bongani Madondo’s youth, but also voodooed music and poetry into a profound creative ritual.

By Bongani Madondo
Athol Williams announced as winner of the Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award
Article
/ 14 October 2016

Athol Williams announced as winner of the Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award

A poet and social philosopher from Cape Town, Williams is the chairman of Read to Rise.

By Staff Reporter
‘Healing’ poets up for Sol Plaatje Poetry Award
Article
/ 23 September 2016

‘Healing’ poets up for Sol Plaatje Poetry Award

​Three poems have been shortlisted for the 2016 Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award.

By Staff Reporter
M&G’s Litfest takes flight, honouring Sol Plaatje on his 140th anniversary
Article
/ 9 September 2016

M&G’s Litfest takes flight, honouring Sol Plaatje on his 140th anniversary

Alongside panels discussing hot topics, shortlisted poets from the Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award and Anthology will receive their awards.

By Darryl Accone
Africa, My Africa – what happened to ubuntu
Article
/ 18 July 2016

Africa, My Africa – what happened to ubuntu

A new poem from Koleka Putuma, which she calls Water’s Grandmother (who should be taken with a pinch of salt).

By Staff Reporter
14 stops to transformation
Article
/ 2 June 2016

14 stops to transformation

This collection of stories centres on the ‘slow road to purgatory’, from broken relationships to Huletts sugar-sachet wisdom.

By Jane Rosenthal
No image available
Article
/ 18 March 2016

Mountain

A poem by Koleka Putuma

By Koleka
The lived experience of the spoken word poet
Article
/ 17 September 2015

The lived experience of the spoken word poet

For many participating in the Speak The Mind Poetry festival, poetry is an obsession … but this doesn’t mean it can pay the bills.

By Kwanele Sosibo
The universe and poet Koleka Putuma are in negotiations
Article
/ 2 March 2015

The universe and poet Koleka Putuma are in negotiations

All eyes on the annual Fleur du Cap Awards celebrating the cream of Cape Town theatre, for the fiftieth year, on March 15.

By Katlego Mkhwanazi
Obituary: Mafika Pascal Gwala’s poetry ‘a powerful force’
Article
/ 9 September 2014

Obituary: Mafika Pascal Gwala’s poetry ‘a powerful force’

With the passing of one of South Africa’s finest poets, we pay tribute to his life and works.

By Katlego Mkhwanazi
Eminent global voices top Spier Poetry Festival line-up
Article
/ 7 May 2014

Eminent global voices top Spier Poetry Festival line-up

The 12 international poets appearing at the Spier Poetry Festival are no strangers to exile and dislocation.

By Brent Meersman
My words want to be a part of it
Article
/ 20 February 2014

My words want to be a part of it

Poetry: Break-out spoken-word artist Mutle Mothibe is stepping up his game —and taking it straight to the Apollo in New York.

By Nobhongo Gxolo
Poet pad is all the rage
Article
/ 23 January 2014

Poet pad is all the rage

On the centenary of Dylan Thomas’s birth, his home town is exploring his ungentle, bohemian legacy.

By Staff Reporter
Amiri Baraka: The poet who chose separation
Article
/ 13 January 2014

Amiri Baraka: The poet who chose separation

Writer and activist Amiri Baraka – also known as LeRoi Jones – was born on October 7 1934 and died on January 9 2014.

By Staff Reporter
Sharp turns on an angry road
Article
/ 14 November 2013

Sharp turns on an angry road

The poet Makhafula Vilakazi lays bare and rejects ­ the sorry conditions that govern life on the margins.

By Percy Zvomuya
The stage set for magic with words
Article
/ 5 September 2013

The stage set for magic with words

The man who provides a major outlet for poets explains why he is excited about Arts Alive.

By Matthew Krouse
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