Africa: Zamdela Spoken Word festival
The Zamdela Arts and Culture Center in conjunction with Ditiro Productions and Icebound Projects host the Zamdela Spoken Word Fest from 29 February to 2 March 2008. The festival is aimed at promoting the culture of reading and writing by improving the writing and performance expertise of budding writers and exposing their works to the broader community, and by building relations between emerging and established writers. Organizers hope that the event would boost the morale of writers and artists and open doors for publishing and recording opportunities for them
ZAMDELA SPOKEN WORD FESTIVAL
The Zamdela Arts and Culture Center in conjunction with Ditiro Productions and Icebound Projects host the Zamdela Spoken Word Fest from 29 February to 2 March 2008. The festival is aimed at promoting the culture of reading and writing by improving the writing and performance expertise of budding writers and exposing their works to the broader community, and by building relations between emerging and established writers. Organizers hope that the event would boost the morale of writers and artists and open doors for publishing and recording opportunities for them
The festival will kick-start with a Creative Writing and Spoken Word Workshop for about forty budding and aspirant writers on March 29 at 2pm at the Zamdela Arts and Culture Center. On 1 March at 2pm there will be a launch of the poetry book; “The Heart’s Interpreter” by Mphutlane wa Bofelo. The keynote speaker at the launch will be Allan Kolski Horwitz of Botsotso Publishing and performances will be by Kush Khoza, Botsotso Jesters, Icebound and Slam Master-Mphutlane wa Bofelo.
Kush Khoza is the alter ego of Qalo Gabela, a senior software developer and analyst who designs, develops & maintains the Pan African Culture Websitewww.kush.co.za. The Botsotso Jesters are Allan Kolski Horwitz, Ike Mboneni Muila and Siphiwe ka Ngwenya, a poetry performance collective that also publish the literary magazine, Botsotso. As Botsotso Publishing they publish books of poetry and fiction. The group has performed at many different festivals, schools and universities and are acknowledged as pioneers and innovators in the field of poetry performance. As a collective and as individuals, The Botsotso Jesters have been published in numerous anthologies, magazines and websites, both locally and internationally. As Botstso Jesters they have published We Jive Like This, (Botsotso Publishing, 1996) and Dirty Washing (Botsotso Publishing, 2000) and released the CD,Purple Light Mirror in the Mud (Botsotso Publishing, 2001. Serame wa Makhele popularly known as Icebound is one of the most celebrated Slam Poets and Spoken Word Artists in the Free State at the moment. He was a founder of Soul Poetic, a group in which he was a lead poet and backed up by a guitarist and bongo drummer who were also back up singers and composers. Icebound is also the director of the Events Management Company, Icebound Projects and a freelance journalist. The festival ends with a bang on the 2 March with the Zamdela Slamjam where 12th Slam poets will battle with words, with the audience being the ultimate judge. The Zamdela Slamjam will feature an open mic session to offer a platform to poets, comedians and singers.
Contact:
Mphutlane: 0738698726
Mamiki: 0783284123
ZAMDELA SPOKEN WORD FESTIVAL
29 February
Creative Writing and Slam Poetry Workshop
2pm at Zamdela Arts and Culture Center (Participation is by confirmation and is limited to 40 participants)
1 March
Launch of “The Heart’s Interpreter” by Mphutlane wa Bofelo and performances by Kush Khoza, Botsotso Jesters, Icebound and Farouk Asvat.
Keynote speech by Allan Kolski Horwitz
(Attendance is limited to workshop participants and invited guests)
2 March
Zamdela Slamjam and open mic
2pm at Zamdela Arts and Culture Center9Attendance is free)
Contact: Mamiki (Zamdela Arts and Culture Center) 0783284123
Mphutlane (Ditiro Productions) 0738698726
Icebound (Icebound Projects) 0820429905