In 2002, this 7 day international poetry festival features over 21 participants representing 16 different countries. Other activities include poetry seminars and workshops, poetry writing and poetry slam competitions, performance opportunities for amateur poets, poetry in prison, poetry exchange with street children, music and poetry, and wide-reaching school visits.
Ticket prices for evening presentations: R15 for adults and R7 for students/pensioners. No charge for workshops and seminars. Book at Computicket (Tel: 031 304 2753) or at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 18h30.

PARTICIPANTS:

Chris Abani (Nigeria),
Meena Alexander (India)
AJA (Adisa Andiwele) (Barbados),
Jill Battson (Canada),
Shabbir Banoobhai (S.A.)
Jayne Fenton-Keane (Australia),
Ingrid de Kok (S.A.),
Jürg Halter (Switzerland),
Keorapetse (Willie) Kgositsile (S.A.),
Koulsy Lamko (Chad),
Michele Leggott (New Zealand),)
Liv Lundberg (Norway)
Chris Mann (S.A.),
James Matthews (S.A.),
Seitlhamo Motsapi (S.A.)
Togara Muzanenhamo (Zimbabwe)
Atukwei Okai (Ghana),
Edessa Ramos (Philippines)
Shuntaro Tanikawa (Japan),
Ana Paula Tavares (Angola)
Jan Kees van de Werk (Netherlands),
TRO (SA)


Evening programme:
Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre - Subject to change
NB:The individual poetry presentations are approximately 20 minutes in duration.

Monday April 29, 19h30
Welcome by Peter Rorvik
Brief introductions by all the festival poets
Short interval
Evening presenter Gus Ferguson
Edessa Ramos (Philippines)
Atukwei Okai (Ghana)
Willie Kgositsile (South Africa)

Tuesday April 30, 19h30
Music interlude: Chris Abani (sax) with Brendan Jury (Viola)
Evening presenter: Gus Ferguson
Ingrid de Kok (South Africa)
Jan Kees van de Werk (Netherlands)
Short interval
Liv Lundberg (Norway)
Shabbir Banoobhai (South Africa)
Shuntaro Tanikawa (Japan)

Wednesday May 1, 19h30
Evening presenter: Heather Robertson
Hip-hop, rap, and isibongi poetry showcase
Short interval
Jürg Halter (Switzerland) joined by Khanyiso Ngcobo on turntables
AJA (Barbados)
TRO (South Africa)


Thursday May 2, 19h30
Music interlude : Elias Ngidi (pennywhistle)
Evening presenter: Remi Raji
Ana Paula Tavares (Angola)
Chris Abani (Nigeria)
Short interval
Koulsy Lamko (Chad)
Michele Leggott (New Zealand)
James Matthews (South Africa)

Friday May 3, 19h30
Music interlude: Peace ma Gents
Evening presenters: Sally-Ann Murray / Remi Raji
Schools poetry competition awards
Schools poetry slam
Short interval
Togara Muzanenhamo (Zimbabwe)
Jayne Fenton Keane (Australia)
Chris Mann (South Africa)

Saturday May 4, 19h30
Music interlude: Shiyani Ngcobo (guitar)
Evening presenter : Remi Raji
Jill Battson (Canada)
Seitlhamo Motsapi (South Africa)
Meena Alexander (India/USA)
Short interval
Parade of all the festival poets

SPONSORS
The Centre for Creative Arts acknowledges sponsors and partners with great appreciation:
National Arts Council of South Africa, City of Rotterdam, City of Durban, Durban Africa, FNB Fund, Interfund, Royal Netherlands Embassy, Pro-Helvetia Arts Council of Switzerland, French Institute of South Africa, Creative New Zealand, Prince Claus Fund for Culture & Development, Australian High Commission, Barbados Tourism Authority, Canada Council for the Arts, Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade of Canada, Queensland Arts Council, KZN Education & Culture Department, KZN Tourism, Adams Campus Bookshop, Exclusive Books, BAT Centre, iMediate Development Communications, Alliance Francaise, Eagle Taxis, KwaMuhle Museum, Ethekweni Parks Recreation and Culture Unit, Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre and the University of Natal.


SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS & ACTIVITIES - Subject to change

Saturday April 27
Splashy Fen poetry showcase - Keane & Battson - Splashy Fen, Underberg

Monday April 29, AM:
Poets visit schools
09h00-10h30 : Phatwhamslam and School Slam with Madcaps, Hadebe, Halter, Keane, Battson
09h00-10h30 : Lamko - Honours seminar/workshop - UND Drama & Performance Studies
09h00-11h00 : Okai, Lundberg seminar - Lang. & Comm., M.L. Sultan Technikon
14h10-15h40 : Lamko - student seminar - UND Drama & Performance Studies
16h00-17h30 : Leggott - Postgraduate students seminar - English Studies, U.N.D.

Tuesday April 30, AM:
Poets visit schools
Poetry in Prison programme - Spruth
09h00-10h30 : Phatwhamslam and School Slam with Madcaps, Hadebe, Keane
09h00-10h00 : Lamko seminar - French Studies, U.N.D.
12h00-13h30 : Phatwhamslam and School Slam with Madcaps, Hadebe, Keane
14h00-16h30 : Educators Forum (educators only) Mann, Okai, Kgositsile, Leggott, Tavares, Ramos, Alexander - Documentation Centre. Hosted by KZN Dept. of Education (North & South Durban)
13h15-14h55 : Halter, Battson - Creative Writing Students Forum - English Studies, UND
18h15-19h00 : Kwela / Snailpress book launch - Terrestrial Thing by Ingrid de Kok - E.S.T. Deck

Wednesday May 1, AM
Poetry in Prison programme - Spruth
13h30-15h00 : Matthews & Abani in poetry exchange with street children - Thutukhani Harm Reduction Centre, Alice Street.
13h00-16h00 : Alfred Qabula Benefit Concert at BAT Centre - Motsapi, Aja, Alexander, Kgositsile, Mann, de Kok
16h30-18h00 : Electronic poetry seminar with Keane, Leggott, Ferguson, Hatcher- E.S.T.

Thursday May 2, AM:
Poets visit schools
Poetry in Prison programme - Spruth
09h00-10h30 : Phatwhamslam and School Slam with Madcaps, Hadebe, Battson
10h00-12h00 : Poets workshop - Tanikawa, Alexander, Muzanenhamo, Tavares - KwaMuhle Museum, 100 Ordnance Road.
11h00-12h45 : Okai, Lundberg, de Werk seminar - Journalism School, Technikon Natal
12h00-13h30 : Phatwhamslam and School Slam with Madcaps, Hadebe, Battson
14h00-16h00 : Poetry with a Purpose - Motsapi, Matthews, Abani, AJA, Battson - Gugu Dlamini Park, Central Durban.
15h30-17h00 : Mann, Banoobhai seminar - English Studies, UN Pietermaritzburg
16h30-18h00 : Poets workshop with Izimbongi Zesimanje Nowadayz poets- AJA, Halter, Keane, Motsapi, Kgositsile - BAT Centre
18h00-20h00 : UN Press book launch - Heartlands, by Chris Mann and Inward Moon Outward Sun by Shabbir Banoobhai, with readings - Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg
18h15-19h00 : Adams Books book launch - Illiterate Heart by Meena Alexander - EST Deck

Friday May 3, AM:
Poets visit schools
09h00-10h30 : Phatwhamslam and School Slam with Madcaps, Halter & Battson
10h30-15h00 : LITBLITZ, Human Sciences Happening at Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre and other venues
11h30-13h00 : Phatwhamslam and School Slam with Madcaps, Halter & Battson
09h00-11h30 : Abani, Matthews, Spruth: poetry exchange with prisoners - Westville Prison
18h15-19h00 : UN Press Book launch - Heartlands by Chris Mann and Inward moon outward sun by Shabbir Banoobhai - Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre Deck
23h00 AJA at Cool Runnings, Milne Street.

Saturday May 4, AM
Poetry in Prison programme - Spruth
09h00-1030 : Ramos, Muzanenhamo, readings - UNISA library
12h00-16h30 : Open poetry session: read your work on stage - chaired by Nise Malange - Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre
17h45-18h30 : A Littoral Zone, the poetry of legendary Durban poet Douglas Livingstone, presented by The Kwasuka Theatre Company

Sunday May 5
Poetry Celebration at Imbongi ye Sizwe Kraal hosted by Zolani Mkiva - Great Kei River, Eastern Cape