Jozi Spoken Word Festival 2009 Programme

BRAINMATTERMEDIA

For Immediate Release:

10th July 2009

Jozi Spoken Word Fest 2009, 3rd Edition, 28 July to 9 August, Wits Amphitheatre Background Botsotso Publishing, Goethe Institut, Exclusive Books, Sounds of Edutainment, Wits Writing Centre and the US Consulate in SA will jointly present the much anticipated Jozi Spoken WordFest 2009, 28th July to 8th August 2009, at Wits Amphitheatre, Wits Writing Centre on the main campus of Wits University in Braamfontein, and in the MultiPurpose Room at the US Consulate in Sandton. The festival consists of live performances, including a mentorship and protégé reading, evenings of veterans’ poetry, poetry to celebrate women, slam poetry, as well as interactive public participation through workshops and symposia.

This festival, initiated in 2007, is an annual arts event, showcasing contemporary South African and international artists involved in the performance of poetry, fiction and dramatic monologue, including storytelling. A wide variety of writers, emerging and established, will participate in the second edition of the Jozi Spoken Word Festival whose primary target audience is the students. Programme July 23 (Wits Writing Centre, 17h00-18h00) Press Conference. Wits Writing Centre is located in the Wartenweiler library, University of the Witwatersrand, East Campus. 011 7174125; 4136. July 28 (American Consulate, Sandton, multi-purpose room, 14h00 – 16h00) Hedwig Gorski, inventor of the term performance poetry, will lead a live in a Digital Video workshop on Poetry Performance. Spoken word performances will be provide by Siza Nkosi & Mmakgari Dabutha July 30 (Wits Writing Centre, 12h00 -14h00) Symposium on Storytelling and African Languages. The panelists include Nomusa Mdlalose, Brenda Mhlambi, Mbongisi Dyantyi, Dumisani Sibiya, Rananga Ntshengedzeni Collins and Nonceba Ntuta. August 2 (Museum Africa, 9h00 – 17h00) Words in Action (In partnership with Khanya College during its Winter School), a performance of activist poetry including: Prince Shapiro, Robert Berold, Comrade Fatso, Tiro, Majesty, Zee, Skin 2 Skin Band, Dolla I, Allan Kolski Horwitz, Chabvondoka, Dialektrik Blu, Men of the Past, Kaltego, Linda Gabriel, Thobile and 4M. August 4 (US Consulate, Sandton, multi-purpose room, 14h00 – 16h00) Marc Smith, father of slam poetry, will lead a live Digital Video workshop on Slam Poetry. The program director is Romeo and performer Zero?. August 5 (National School of the Arts, Braamfontein, 12:00 noon – 2pm) Robert Berold will run a workshop on Creative Writing. Toto Mubenga will read poetry. August 6 (Wits Amphitheatre, 17h00 – 17h30) Bernice Davids will launch her poetry collection, Behind the words. August 6 (Wits Amphitheatre, 18h00 – 20h00) Mentorship/Protégé Programme, a performance of established writers and upcoming writers in a cross-generational dialogue. Presented by Pamela Nichols, the pairs include: Allan Kolski Horwitz with Abstract Delusions, Mbongisi Dyantyi with Vuyo Seripe, Uhuru with Tapuwa, Niq Mhlongo with Sonqoba, and Zukiswa Wanner with Amanda Kenqu.

August 6(Khanya College, 9h00 – 17h00) Publisher’s Network, open forum for independent publishers of creative/polemical writings. Challenges of funding, distribution and building readership are to be discussed. August 7(Khanya College, 9h00 – 17h00) Publisher’s Network, open meeting for independent publishers continued August 7 (Wits Amphitheatre, 17h00-17h30) Paul Miles will launch his Afrikaans novel Skoot. August 7 (Wits Amphitheatre, 18h00 – 20h00) Veterans’ evening: a performance of veteran writers: Keorapetsi Kgositsile, Fred Khumalo, Myesha Jenkins, Liz Trew, Peter Horn, Mary Bytell and Eliot Mabena(Zimbabwe). The MC is Raks Seakhoa August 8 (Museum Africa, Newtown, 13h00 – 14h00) Jozi Book Fair. The poetry/prose reading provided by Botsotso Jesters and writers published by Botsotso Publishers. August 8 (Wits Amphitheatre, 18h00 – 21h00) Womens Day Event: the final event of performances is dedicated to the Women’s Month and comprises of mainly female writers, praise poets, singers and theatre practitioners like: FLO, Donna Smith, Ntsiki Mazwai, Lesego Rampolokeng, Jessica Mbangeni, Lesego Motsepe, Bianca Williams, Natalia Molebatsi, Khethiwe Mtimkulu, Masoja Msiza, Khanyi Magubane, Mzwakhe and Skado. It will be hosted by Abigail Mogale. August 9 (Museum Africa, Newtown, 13h00 – 14h00) Jozi Book Fair. Spoken Word performances by writers published by Botsotso Conclusion Johannesburg, as a world class city, serves as a home for thousands of young people who come from all over the country and beyond. These young people form an integral part of the cultural development of the city and the festival is an opportunity for them to reflect on and embrace the environment within which they live and study. The festival presents a unique platform for event managers, concert promoters, book publishers and record producers to witness spoken word artists live and direct. Tickets for performances at the Amphitheatre on Thursday 6, Friday 7 and Saturday 8 are very reasonably priced at R30.00 and a discount price of R20.00 is available for students, pensioners and block bookings of ten and more. Light meals and a full cash bar can be enjoyed in Café Dulce in the Wits Theatre Foyer. Free, covered parking in the adjacent Senate House (the entrance is on Jorissen Street) or anywhere free on campus ensures peace of mind. Complimentary tickets are available to the media on request For more information: 1. Zwelethemba Twalo @ 073 1662930 & [email protected]

2. Tshidiso Setshogwe @ 0739350362 & [email protected] 3. Pamela Nichols @ 0832335270 & [email protected] 4. Allan Kolski Horwitz @ 0825128188 & [email protected]