Poetry slams at Melville festival

9th Street, Mellville. Picture: Mujahid Safodien

9th Street, Mellville. Picture: Mujahid Safodien

Published Oct 13, 2011

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Melville lends itself easily and is used to hosting large events as was seen with the success of the annual rock festival, Joburg Burning.

No wonder it’s the ideal venue for the launch of the Melville Poetry Festival, happening from tomorrow until Sunday and featuring a variety of poets from across the nation. It takes place in venues in 4th Ave, 7th and 9th streets.

Poetry as a literary genre remains niche, but it has grown from just being on paper to staged works that sometimes incorporate dance and music, making it more accessible.

The theme of the festival is So What’s New?, so expect updates on poetic languages, writing styles, vocalisation, publishing and a showcase of new voices. The diversity is immense. From book launches, panel discussions to poetry slams, theatrical pieces and music concerts, there’ll be voices such as Gary Cumminsky, Gail Dendy, Rosamund Standford, Mxolisi Nyezwa, Andries Bezuidenhout, Wally Serote, Botsostso Jesters, Mak Manaka, Flo and many more.

There’s a free Jozi Spoken Word workshop on writing and performing poetry tomorrow at the Koffie Huis (corner 4th Ave and 7th St) from 9.30am, with facilitators Keorapetse Kgositsile, Allan Kolski Horwitz, Pamela Nichols and Renos Nicos Spanoudes.

l For more info contact the Melville Visitor’s Centre at corner of 7th St and 1st Ave or the organisers: Eleanor at 082 386 4688 or Marie-Lais at 072 305 0281.

l There is a Shakespeare Society of Southern Africa meeting on Sunday at 4.30pm at the Nupen Resource Centre, The Ridge School, Woolston Rd, Westcliff. Musicologist George King and the King’s Voices present Music from the Renaissance. All welcome. R20. Tea, coffee and wine available. Call Josephine at 011 648 8807 to book.

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