Alert! The line-up for the second annual Dancing in Other Words International Poetry Festival, a combination of acclaimed international and local poets, has been announced.
On 9 and 10 May 2014, Mexican poet and Homero Aridjis, Morrocan poet and playwright Abdellatif Laâbi, Chinese writer Duo Duo, Ukrainian-American poet and translator Ilya Kaminsky, Dutch poet Hans van de Waarsenburg and Chadian-French poet and novelist Nimrod will take part in the festival to be held at Spier wine estate. The international writers will be joined by local poets Henning Pieterse, Mxolisi Nyezwa and Ingrid de Kok, as well as the festival’s musical director, Neo Muyanga, and Dancing in Other Words’ curator, celebrated poet Breyten Breytenbach.
The full programme has not yet been released but it will consist of afternoon discussions on the nature of poetry and translation and evening poetry readings interspersed with music inspired by the poets’ work. All events will be ticketed, but guests will be able to attend the afternoon discussions free of charge. The readings, including canapés and a complimentary glass of Spier wine, will cost R190 per person.
Press release
INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED POETS GATHER AT SPIER
The renowned South African writer and artist Breyten Breytenbach brings together poets from around the world for the second season of the dancing in other words Spier Poetry Festival (spierpoetryfestival.co.za). The festival combines literary debate with poetry readings at Spier near Stellenbosch on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th May.
“This is the second year of the festival, and we are delighted to continue in our commitment to honour masters of the written word, providing a platform through which artistic communities can be nourished and stimulated,” says Spier CEO Andrew Milne.
As curator of the poetry festival, Breytenbach has selected a mix of eminent global voices whose lives and work embody fiery critique and fearless witness of societies as varied as Morocco, Chad and China. The line-up includes Homero Aridjis – the Mexican poet, novelist, environmental activist and diplomat, Chinese writer Duo Duo, one of the celebrated Misty poets – and the young Russian American star Ilya Kaminsky. Local luminaries participating include Ingrid de Kok, Henning Pieterse and Mxolisi Nyezwa.
PROGRAMME
The poets will spend the beginning of the week together, travelling, conversing and translating. Their journey culminates in the public festival at Spier on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th May. During the Festival, the poets will take part in themed conversations each afternoon, exploring issues such as the betrayals inherent in translation. In the evenings, there will be readings interspersed with music inspired by the poets’ work, developed by musical director, South African composer and musician Neo Muyanga.
All events will be ticketed. The afternoon conversations will be free of charge, and the evening performances will cost R190 per night (includes canapés and a complimentary glass of Spier wine). Tickets will become available when the programme is announced closer to the time.
Visit spierpoetryfestival.co.za for bookings and more information.
A SPIER AND PIROGUE PARTNERSHIP
The dancing in other words Spier Poetry Festival is a collaboration between Spier and the Pirogue Collective (of which Breytenbach is a founding member), and forms part of Spier’s approach to host leading artists and thought leaders in debate, dialogue and expression.
CONFIRMED PARTICPANTS
International poets:
Homero Aridjis: One of Latin America’s foremost literary figures, this Mexican poet and novelist served as the president of PEN International for six years and is now its president emeritus. A passionate environmentalist, he is also a former Mexican Ambassador to Switzerland and The Netherlands.
Ilya Kaminsky: A Ukrainian-American poet, critic and translator who lost most of his hearing at the age of four, Kaminsky teaches English and Comparative Literature at San Diego State University.
Abdellatif Laâbi: One of the most prolific and critically acclaimed contemporary North African writers, this Moroccan poet, playwright and essayist received the Prix Goncourt for Poetry for his collected work in 2009.
Duo Duo: This contemporary Chinese poet is perhaps the best known of the celebrated Misty poets who practised “obscure poetry” in reaction to the Cultural Revolution of the 1970s. Having lived abroad since 1989, he returned to China in 2004 where he is now a professor at the Hainan University.
Hans van den Waarsenburg: A political poet, van de Waarsenburg is founder of The Maastricht International Poetry Nights and an author at Azul Press.
Nimrod: Born in 1959 in Chad, Nimrod is a poet, novelist and essayist living in France where he teaches philosophy at the University of Picardie Jules Verne.
South African poets:
Ingrid de Kok: With her poetry currently taught at more than 30 universities in South Africa and abroad, de Kok has produced five volumes of poetry. She was appointed a Fellow of the University of Cape Town in 2007.
Mxolisi Nyezwa: The founder and editor of Kotaz, the English/Xhosa cultural magazine, Nyezwa teaches at Rhodes University.
Henning Pieterse: Pieterse’s debut volume of poetry received two of the most prestigious South African literary prizes – the Eugène Marais and the Ingrid Jonker Prize. Pieterse is also a Professor and Director of the Unit for Creative Writing in the Department of Afrikaans at the University of Pretoria.
Breyten Breytenbach: Festival Curator Breyten Breytenbach is an outspoken human rights activist, poet, novelist and visual artist, and one of South Africa’s most renowned international literary figures.
Ends
Book details
- Other Signs by Ingrid de Kok
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EAN: 9780795703973
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- Katalekte: artefakte vir die stadige gebruike van doodgaan by Breyten Breytenbach
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EAN: 9780798157926
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- Malikhanye by Mxolisi Nyezwa
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EAN: 9780958491594
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- Die brug van hertog Bloubaard by Henning Pieterse
EAN: 9780624039051
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- Babel, Babylone by Nimrod
EAN: 9782916447292
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Image courtesy Dancing in Other Words