By Sbongiseni Dladla
The last day of the Poetry Africa Festival saw the launch of an anthology of praise poetry by local and internationally renowned poets in Durban. Home Is Where The Mic Is (Botsotso Publishers) is one of the books that the festival is aiming to reach a difference audience from what it has seen in the last couple of years. The anthology features writers from Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and various parts of the world.
The last four years of South Africa’s poetry scene has seen a rebirth of poetry with young writers redefining the art form to better suit their lived experiences.
“Home Is Where The Mic Is is the first collection of contemporary youth poetry that manages to fully capture the spirit of Spoken Word in a country as diverse and ever changing as this”, said Qhakaza Mthembu.
The book is co-edited by Allan Horwitz and Mandi Vundla. It features 24 poets in and outside of South Africa who have served the poetry community well beyond their words. These are critical thinkers, authors, event organizers and activists who utilize their poems as a voice for social commentary relative to the struggles of our time.
“The anthology is a calmer reflection on the energy currently holding the poetry landscape together”, noted Quaz Roodt, one of the featured poets.
Featured Poets:
Vangi Gantsho, Masai Dabula, Quaz Roodt, Thando Fuze, Modise Sekgothe
Mandi Vundla, Tereska Muishond, Mpho Khosi, Tumelo Khoza, Ian Ewok Robinson
Vuyelwa Maluleke, Yrsa Daley-Ward(UK), Clint Smith(US), Nthabiseng JahRose
Lex Lafoy, Afurakan T Mohare, Luka Lesson (AUS), Dikson (Zim), Kurt Ludwig Schroder, Chuck Noliife Cords, Andrew Manyika(ZIM), Tereska Muishond, Dejavu, Mthunzikazi Mbungwana.
Short bio on editors:
Allan Kolski Horwitz grew up in Cape Town. Between 1974 and 1985 he lived in the Middle East, Europe and North America, returning to live in Johannesburg in 1986. Since then he has worked in the trade union and social housing movements. He is a member of the Botsotso Jesters poetry performance group and of the Botsotso Publishing editorial board.
His books of poetry are entitled Saving Water, There are Two Birds at My Window and The Colours of Our Flag; in addition he has been published widely in various anthologies such as We Jive like This, Dirty Washing and Essential Things. His short fiction is contained in three collections: Un/common Ground, Out of the Wreckage and Meditations of a Non-White White. He has also written a children’s parable entitled Blue Wings and five plays, The Pump Room, Comrade Babble, Boykie and Girlie, Jerico and Book Marks.
Mandi Poefficient Vundla is a writer and spoken word ambassador, born in Soweto, Johannesburg. She made her debut in the world of competitive poetry in 2011. Since then, she has appeared at different events on various stages, including the State Theater’s Night of the Poets, and the Jozi Book Fair, where she was part of the protest poetry panel discussion hosted by Poetry Potion, a monthly online journal that profiles poetry communities. Vundla has shared the stage with Myesha Jenkins, Natalia Molebatsi, Lebo Mashile, Phillippa Yaa De Villiers, Napo Masheane, Afurakan, Tumelo Khoza, Keisha Monique Simons, UK’s Yrsa Daley-Ward, Chanelle Gabriels (U.S), Joshua Bennett (U.S), Busiswa qulu, Kabomo Vilakazi , Neo Muyanga, Muta Baruka, Tumi of the Volume and many more. She has also performed alongside the legendary Pops Mohammed and opened the stage for Ian Kamau (U.S) career highlights include her appearance on e-tv’s breakfast show, Khaya fm, Power fm, Sunrise, 702, Radio 2000, shiznizz, and opening for Tedx Johannesburg, she went on to co-hosted Tedx Soweto.
