Deadline: 6 August 2011
The first salvo in Sibikwa Art Centre’s Seriti sa Basadi (Dignity of Women) Festival 2011 will be fired off in a big poetry happening that’s being staged at one of Newtown’s most popular venues, The Bassline, early in August.
Young people who think that poetry is the stuff of dusty old books clearly haven’t attended contemporary poetry hang-outs! Celebrate the passion and beauty of the raw, spoken word, pulsing with linguistic rhythm!
A day-long slam!
The day-long event will showcase poets – both established and up-and-coming – who will be coming together from various provinces to celebrate womanhood. More experienced poets will be mentoring emerging poets, who will be able to strut their poetic stuff in the Open Mic sessions. It’s going to be wild, contagious forum for like-minded folk of varying ages to exchange ideas and energies.
The day’s events will be led by an MC, who will work with a DJ to provide a smooth and uninterrupted flow of music, beats and stimulating performance. By offering female poets this public platform to present their poetry in, it’s hoped that even more women will be inspired to enter this exciting realm.
Sibikwa fans will notice the choice of a Newtown venue; part of the art centre’s commitment to extend its performances to other venues around Gauteng.
Amongst your festival headliners are:
Ameera Patel
An actress, writer and performer, Ameera is also a workshop facilitator, and has done creative writing workshops for schools as well as older first-time writers. She is currently working on her Masters in Creative Writing at Wits, and performing in ‘Hamlet’ and ‘The Trilogy of Faith’.
Ntsiki “MaMiya” Mazwai aka StreetQueen
In addition to her spoken word work, this young Soweto-born woman has released a SAMA-nominated debut album ‘Mamiya’, published a book called ‘Wena’, runs a beadwork business, and hosts annual blanket drives in the winter season, and book drives to enrich Sowetan school libraries.
Linda Gabriel
Although she honed her craft in Zimbabwe and had settled in Soweto, Linda Gabriel, 25, has now returned to the land of her origin, Malawi. Her poems are written in English, Chewa or Shona. In January 2009, Linda added a musical dimension to her performance by forming a band named Open4mo. She’s also a member of the House of Hunger poetry slam and has performed in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi – and as far north as Denmark, whilst also pursuing a career in documentary photography.
Natalia Molebatsi
A prolific writer, performance poet, workshop facilitator and programme director, Ms Molebatsi has performed with acclaimed artists such as Simphiwe Dana, Sibongile Khumalo, Maya Angelou, Gcina Mhlophe, Lebo Mashile, Jimmy Dludlu, Sello Galane, Napo Masheane and Thandiswa Mazwai. The Tembisa-born-and-raised Natalia has performed in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Holland, Italy, Nigeria, Senegal and Arzerbaijan. She’s had two books published; ‘Sardo Dance’, which she wrote, and ‘We are...’, which she compiled and edited in 2008.
Phillippa Yaa de Villiers
Phillippa was brought up in Halfway House, near Johannesburg, studied in Grahamstown and Paris, and lived in Los Angeles before returning to settle in Johannesburg. She makes her living by working in theatre, teaching and writing for stage and television. Her insightful and moving poems remind us that our wellbeing depends on how honestly we give voice to our past, present, and possible futures.
VENUE: The Bassline, Newtown, Johannesburg.
TIME: 12 midday – 5pm
TICKETS: R25 [+ R5 to “buy the mic” during Open Mic sessions.]
For further information, call Linda on 011 422 2132 or e-mail linda@sibikwa.co.za
Contact Information:
For inquiries: linda@sibikwa.co.za
Website: http://www.sibikwa.co.za