*All-African Women Poetry Festival debuts to celebrate ‘heritage of African women’
THURSDAY May 25, the African Union Day, will witness the birth of a unique cultural experience: the All-African Women Poetry Festival, which aims to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of African women through one of “humanity’s most treasured forms of cultural and linguistic expressions and identity – Poetry”.
Fifteen poets from six countries are expected to share ‘woman’s perspective’ to the African story in the course of the festival, which runs through May to 28 at the Art Africa Gallery, British Council, and the Dikan Center in Accra, Ghana. It is organised by Tuniq Africa.
The festival, designed to celebrate African literature, culture, and diversity, according to the organisers, will feature “an exciting lineup of events such as poetry readings, book launches, panel discussions, interschools spoken word competition, workshops, and performances by both renowned and budding African poets.” according to the organisers.
Founder of Tuniq Africa, Emma Ofosua, who is initiator of the project, explains that the All-African Women Poetry Festival was birthed to “open up opportunity for dialogue, while we work towards rewriting the African narrative we aspire to, defining for ourselves who we are and [whom we] desire to be as a people, with women leading the charge. The intention is to also inspire a new generation of Poets who vow to take up Art for a cause that interrogates social, mental and women’s health issues as well as promote an appetite for African literature.”
Ofosua, herself a renowned poet and story teller in the African poetry circuit, says the participating 15 poets from six African countries and the diaspora will “give a fresh interpretation to African wellness considering what it means to heal from traumatic experiences, both from a sociopolitical and personal angle.”
Six of the poets are Ghanaians while the remaining are other nationals. The Ghanaians are Emma Ofosua, Poetra Asantewa, Apiorkor, Nakeeyat, Stephanie Ampofo, and Kate Awuku Darko. The non-Ghanaians are Emmah Maybe (SA), Amee Slam (Ivory Coast) Deborah Johnson (Nigeria), Nyassh (Kenya), Chioniso Tsikisayi (Zimbabwe), Oluwatoyin Odusanya (Nigeria), Cynthia Amoah (USA), Dr. Ansong (USA), Miss Yankey (UK), and Dr. Kaltum (UK).
Ofosua continued that the multi-lingual anthology which will be workshopped during the festival, considers this theme thoroughly.
The festival, continues Ofosua, is “designed to amplify the voices of women poets, showcasing their literary skills and celebrating their rich cultural heritage, while projecting African literature. The festival invites all poetry enthusiasts and literary art lovers to attend for an unforgettable experience.”
In her explanatory note to the event, Ofosua, the lead visioner of the idea, states further:
“Why Healing: “Society has conditioned us to put romantic love on a pedestal, this kind of socializing is problematic in a sense that robs humans of long-standing virtues and values that simply make us good humans. Our cultures in different parts of the African continent have suffered a setback because societies are increasingly growing individualistic and selfish people who are gradually looking out for their singular needs and not the good of the whole. This is reflected in how we choose leaders in our part of the world, run our homes, relate on business and social settings. There is the need to renew our mindset and this requires deliberate actions towards healing.
“We hear of femicides, lingering effects of the slave trade on the African in the diaspora, the increasing cases of cyber bullying. The sight of a woman being vulnerable even incites anger. The rage, the bitterness and pain we see online and in our personal interactions show how much healing the world needs.
Why do we need to heal on a Personal level: It almost goes without saying that every African or African American child has endured some traumatic experience. Limiting beliefs about love and partnerships; healing friendship hurts, disappointment in leadership, trusting that we can grow while navigating and creating through life. Overcoming our fears and taking charge first of ourselves and subsequently work towards making Africa great again. This revolution begins with a healed people.
The festival: In partnership with the KGL Foundation and the Poetry Association of Ghana, the festival will bring together a number of poets from across the African continent and the diaspora – Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe, USA and UK to showcase their works and engage with audiences from all over the world.
The festival is sponsored by KGL Foundation and Outre, and supported by UNESCO, British Council, Art Africa Gallery, Dikan Centre, Kaya Tours, National Theatre, Creative Spills, Citi FM, Citi TV, Hyperlink, Commslab, Joyfm, Dansworld, Iglow, ATL, Danone, Think Aloud Ltd, Comme lab, AfroEle, WearGhana, Olaf, She Panthers, Jo’s Keepsakes, Writers Project, Kasapreko, movies in the park, Selibrations and Gerard Nartey Photography.
Further information on the project can be gleaned at https://allafricanwomenpoetryfestival.com/about-us/, or @aawpfestival across social media platforms. Further inquiries, can be sourced via [email protected].
