Poetry Africa 2025: a celebration of social justice through verse

The 29th edition of Poetry Africa 2025 commenced on Monday, and the opening evening set a resounding tone: poetry matters in times like these. Professor Ari Sitas delivered the keynote address, reflecting on this year’s theme, POETRY: ARCHITECTURE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, reminding the audience of the critical role words play in helping us navigate the complexities of our current era.

Taking to the stage alongside him were several poets who passionately voiced a shared commitment to justice, creativity, and community. Among them was Malika Ndlovu, whose return to the Poetry Africa stage has marked a significant personal milestone. First gracing the festival in 1998, Ndlovu, a native of KwaZulu Natal, introduced poignant work from her latest publication, Griefseed, which delves deep into the universal experiences of loss and the pathways to shared healing, emphasizing that such journeys can lead to healthier, happier communities.

Adding another layer to the evening’s gravitas was Sarah Uheida, a Libyan-born poet and essayist now residing in Stellenbosch. She shared verses from her anthology Not This Tender, reading from a particularly evocative piece, A Wound Cauterized in Light. Her exploration of memories "porous with pain" resonated profoundly with the audience, underscoring the universality of struggle as over 123.2 million individuals will have faced forced displacement globally by the end of 2024. Hope Netshivhambe's evocative performance and Dr. Kole Odutola’s thought-provoking poem, inspired by the festival theme, left poetry lovers inspired and satiated.

The festival runs until the 11th of October, offering numerous opportunities to immerse oneself in the enchantment of poetry, either in person or online. Anticipation builds for Wednesday’s conversation featuring Dr. Nick Makoha, the Ugandan poet and playwright based in London, alongside Ghanaian poet and academic, Prof. Kwame Dawes. Dawes' poem, A Cup of Trembling, speaks to the depth of sorrow as a precursor to understanding: “The beginning of sorrow is the beginning of knowing.” In a world often overshadowed by grief, his insights promise to be invaluable.

The festival also showcases a variety of events, including poetry films and a special celebration marking 61 years of New Coin, a literary journal dedicated to poetry and its critiques. Furthermore, the semifinals and finals of the slam poetry competition will present additional opportunities to appreciate the art form and engage with poets about their craft.

Next year, Poetry Africa is set to celebrate a monumental 30th anniversary, coinciding with the hosting of the 5th World Slam Poetry Competition. Speaking on the festival’s significance, Ismail Mahomed, Director of the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said “Last night’s opening of the Poetry Africa Festival once again highlighted why spoken word poetry is so anchored to activism for building a society based on social justice, human rights, and dignity for all.”

As global events unfold, the voices of these spoken word artists resonate with urgency, calling on us to acknowledge our shared humanity.

Whether you are a part-time prose purist or a verse virtuoso, Poetry Africa presents a rich and varied programme that promises to captivate.