POETS from South Africa and around the world will gather for a week showcasing thespoken word and storytelling at the 19th Poetry Africa Festival, which takes place in Durban from October 12 to 17.

Hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts, Poetry Africa provides a space for intercultural exchange and dialogue by hosting an extensive community outreach programme with poetry readings, performances and workshops in community centres and campuses and also participates in a programme of visits to schools across Durban to share ideas about poetry.

Evening poetry readings and discussions will take place at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre (Howard College) UKZN. The festival finale will take place on October 17 at the Rivertown Beer Hall in Durban, with a closing performance by soulful singer Nakhane Touré.

This year’s festival features 24 poets, including British-based Kat Francois who is a comedienne, playwright, actress, performer, host, schools and youth facilitator and a well-known performance poet both in her country and globally.

Also present will be Lebohang “Nova” Masango, a Swedish-born writer, poet, activist, feminist and speaker, and UK-based Ghanaian performance poet, writer and sociocultural commentator Nii Parkes.

South Africa is represented by prolific poet and actress Lebo Mashile, who was named one of the Top 100 Africans by New African magazine; Lesego Rampolokeng, the renowned South African writer, playwright and performance poet; Aryan Kaganof a filmmaker, novelist, poet and fine artist; Ntsiki Mazwai, the outspoken poet, writer and musician; and Thabiso “Afurakan” Mohare, one of the pioneers of the modern South African spoken-word scene.

KwaZulu-Natal-based poets include Africa Dlamini, a slam/spoken word poet who lives in Howick, and Durban’s Celiswa Majali whose novel Imbali yentombazanana is used by schools at Grade 10 level in the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces.

Also from Durban are Khanyi Shusha, Kwazi Ndlangisa (a South African award-winning performance poet), Matt Vend, Nokulunga Dladla, Nosipho Magcaba, Tshebeletso Mohale, Thando Fuze, who has twice been nominated for Best Female Performing Poet at the Original Material Awards, and Vus’umuzi Phakathi, who is an award-winning SA poet.

Tickets for the evening sessions, which take place at 7 pm at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, are R40 (students/pensioners pay R25 at the door).

Tickets can be purchased at Computicket or one hour before the performance begins at the box office. Tickets for the festival finale at Rivertown cost R70 (pre-sale or R80 at the door) and can be purchased from www.computicket.com

For details go to www.cca.ukzn.ac.za or like the Facebook page PoetryAfrica or follow on Twitter @PoetryAfrica.