Budding poets called to audition
EAST LONDON poet, author, graphic designer and event planner Bandile Magibili wants African voices to be heard. and has put out a call for poets to participate in a poetry audition afternoon at the Hotel Osner in East London on Saturday.
Magibili, 35, who penned a book about anti-apartheid artist Hastings Mqhayi, called 2 B Black in 2014, said his biggest goal was to give African creativity a platform and put it on the map.
“When we look at the history of art, we see Da Vincis and Picassos, but we don’t see black artists in the curriculum. I published a book about a black artist to show we are also creative,” said Magibili, who studied information technology at Walter Sisulu University. “I even went to the University of East London in the UK and a festival in the Netherlands to lecture students about my book.”
Magibili is passionate about organising audiences for grassroots poets and artists, and to this end put out a national call across a range of media outlets for poets to participate in his East London poetry audition.
In the end, nine poets from Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, the North West and Swaziland committed to the event, where they will have to read one poem on the topic ‘African Youth: You’re On Your Own’ and another self-penned poem of their choice.
Magibili said audience members would use scorecards to rate the poets after which four would could go through to the finals. “We will open SMS lines and people can vote for their favourite at R1.50 per vote.”
Last year’s poetry winner, Mofetsi Ramathide of the North-West won a trip to the Netherlands, and Magibili said they would embark on their journey in January.
The winner of this year’s poetry jam will win a five-day trip to England with Magibili. “I will source platforms at festivals for them to perform there.”
● Budding poets who want to enter should access Magibili’s 2 B Black Facebook page and enter before tomorrow at 3pm. Entries cost R450. —