Poets pay tribute to Dambudzo Marechera Book Cafe, Sat 1 February, 2-5pm On Saturday 1 February from 2-5pm the monthly House of Hunger Poetry Slam roars back to life, proudly hosted by The Book Cafe. As February is celebrated as Black History Month in other parts of the world, the House of Hunger Poetry Slam celebrates the African identity and pays tribute to the late great Zimbabwean writer Dambudzo Marechera after whose award-winning book the slam is named. This monthly showcase has grown into one of the most prominent spoken word and poetry events in Harare and features some of the best spoken-word artists and poets in Zimbabwe. It is a crucial movement of performance poets who have made an impact artistically and brought to the fore the voice of under-represented youth. Around 25 poets participate each month. This February slam also celebrates the books ‘The Black Insider’ and ‘Black Sunlight’ by Marechera, most of whose works dwell on the African race and identity. The Black Sunlight parodies African nationalist and racial identifications as part of an argument that notions of an ‘essential African identity’ were often invoked to authorize a number of totalitarian regimes across Africa. The Black Insider develops the preoccupations of Dambudzo Marechera by exploring, in his devastatingly honest way, the predicaments of exile and the black identity, and examining the realities of living under the threat of ‘The Bomb’. Poets who use the platform appreciate what the House of Hunger Poetry Slam has done for them in the start of the new year. Marshall (Orater) Sango an upcoming poet who has often been a slam favourite, said “Honestly the first House of Hunger Poetry Slam of 2014 was challenging, slamming with the likes of Biko (Godobori) Mustaurwa and Tendekai (Madzitatiguru) Tati to me was a mammoth task because these are some of the poets whom I have always looked up to when I was at school, I am more than grateful for coming up as the luckiest poet at the first slam of the year. It was quite a positive gear to kick start the year, it was a vibrant concrete foundation of my career in the year 2014 and this will help me gain extensive professional experience and develop distinctive artistic skills. Considering that my efforts to perform at HIFA last year were turned down, getting the opportunity to participate this year from Chirikure Chirikure at this prestigious event to me is quite an honour. I thank God for opening the doors through House of Hunger Poetry Slam which we also pays tribute to Dambudzo Marechera. I am confident that this high profile event will catapult me to regional and international prominence, and come HIFA 2014, I promise fire tongues!” he said. “The first House of Hunger Poetry Slam for 2014 was diverse, engaging, entertaining and quite challenging. All these characteristics made it turn into being a great start to a new year. When it was revealed that, for being a finalist I was to get an opportunity to be part of HIFA 2014 I was quite overwhelmed because when I woke up that morning, the only thing on my mind was going to the slam to enjoy Spoken Word poetry and share my own” said Tendekai (Madzitatiguru) Tati, a poet who has participated in several regional poetry events and been the slam favourite a number of times. “The House of Hunger Poetry Slam has been a great platform and I give honour to Dambudzo Marechera, for writing about the vitality of the Black African, the dilemma of exile and the Black identity in a number of his works” he added. Poetry is one of several arts development programmes by Pamberi Trust at Book Café, which receive funding support from Africalia, Hivos and the European Union. All poets are invited and encouraged to register with the Slam Master before the event starts at 2pm. The Slam this Saturday may expect to see Zimbabwe`s burning and hottest poetry collection. This is a not-to-be-missed Poetry Slam as it promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Come feel the energy! Sat 01 February, Book Cafe, 139 Samora Machel/ 6th St, 2-5pm END ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prepared by Dennis Madyira For Pamberi Trust Newbookcafe.harare@gmail Poets pay tribute to Dambudzo Marechera Book Cafe, Sat 1 February, 2-5pm On Saturday 1 February from 2-5pm the monthly House of Hunger Poetry Slam roars back to life, proudly hosted by The Book Cafe. As February is celebrated as Black History Month in other parts of the world, the House of Hunger Poetry Slam celebrates the African identity and pays tribute to the late great Zimbabwean writer Dambudzo Marechera after whose award-winning book the slam is named. This monthly showcase has grown into one of the most prominent spoken word and poetry events in Harare and features some of the best spoken-word artists and poets in Zimbabwe. It is a crucial movement of performance poets who have made an impact artistically and brought to the fore the voice of under-represented youth. Around 25 poets participate each month. This February slam also celebrates the books ‘The Black Insider’ and ‘Black Sunlight’ by Marechera, most of whose works dwell on the African race and identity. The Black Sunlight parodies African nationalist and racial identifications as part of an argument that notions of an ‘essential African identity’ were often invoked to authorize a number of totalitarian regimes across Africa. The Black Insider develops the preoccupations of Dambudzo Marechera by exploring, in his devastatingly honest way, the predicaments of exile and the black identity, and examining the realities of living under the threat of ‘The Bomb’. Poets who use the platform appreciate what the House of Hunger Poetry Slam has done for them in the start of the new year. Marshall (Orater) Sango an upcoming poet who has often been a slam favourite, said “Honestly the first House of Hunger Poetry Slam of 2014 was challenging, slamming with the likes of Biko (Godobori) Mustaurwa and Tendekai (Madzitatiguru) Tati to me was a mammoth task because these are some of the poets whom I have always looked up to when I was at school, I am more than grateful for coming up as the luckiest poet at the first slam of the year. It was quite a positive gear to kick start the year, it was a vibrant concrete foundation of my career in the year 2014 and this will help me gain extensive professional experience and develop distinctive artistic skills. Considering that my efforts to perform at HIFA last year were turned down, getting the opportunity to participate this year from Chirikure Chirikure at this prestigious event to me is quite an honour. I thank God for opening the doors through House of Hunger Poetry Slam which we also pays tribute to Dambudzo Marechera. I am confident that this high profile event will catapult me to regional and international prominence, and come HIFA 2014, I promise fire tongues!” he said. “The first House of Hunger Poetry Slam for 2014 was diverse, engaging, entertaining and quite challenging. All these characteristics made it turn into being a great start to a new year. When it was revealed that, for being a finalist I was to get an opportunity to be part of HIFA 2014 I was quite overwhelmed because when I woke up that morning, the only thing on my mind was going to the slam to enjoy Spoken Word poetry and share my own” said Tendekai (Madzitatiguru) Tati, a poet who has participated in several regional poetry events and been the slam favourite a number of times. “The House of Hunger Poetry Slam has been a great platform and I give honour to Dambudzo Marechera, for writing about the vitality of the Black African, the dilemma of exile and the Black identity in a number of his works” he added. Poetry is one of several arts development programmes by Pamberi Trust at Book Café, which receive funding support from Africalia, Hivos and the European Union. All poets are invited and encouraged to register with the Slam Master before the event starts at 2pm. The Slam this Saturday may expect to see Zimbabwe`s burning and hottest poetry collection. This is a not-to-be-missed Poetry Slam as it promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Come feel the energy! Sat 01 February, Book Cafe, 139 Samora Machel/ 6th St, 2-5pm END ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prepared by Dennis Madyira For Pamberi Trust Newbookcafe.harare@gmail
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 14:23:02 +0000