Badilisha Poetry X-Change
Encyclopedia
Badilisha Poetry X-Change is a platform dedicated to showcasing poetry from Africa and the Diaspora. The project came out of recognizing the lack of documentation of African poets, on the African continent and in the rest of the world. Its aims are to fill this void as well as create a comprehensive global archive of Pan-African poets that can accessed internationally. First launched in 2008 as a poetry festival, the Spier Poetry Exchange. by nonprofit organization
Africa Centre
, the festival centered on various aspects of developing, celebrating, archiving and documenting poetry
and voices. In 2009, the Spier Poetry Exchange changed to the Badilisha Poetry X-Change, (taking its name from the kiSwahili expression Badilisha which means to change, exchange and transform). Although different in name, Badilisha Poetry X-Change continues the 'exchange' between poets, creating spaces and platforms for programmed poetry
interventions, workshops and presentations. Its existence continues to provide new and established Pan-African voices a space of celebration, documentation, proliferation, and self-reflection.
, Badilisha Poetry X-Change Live is the physical manifestation of Badilisha. Events in the past have included week long poetry interventions that showcase poets from the African Continent and its Diaspora
. Each live intervention has focused on expanding performance poetry
beyond entertainment into a medium for social activism, through workshops, seminars and masterclasses. Badilisha Live has had three poetry festivals, each featuring a lineup of poets from Africa and its Diaspora. Past festivals have featured D'bi Young
, Kwame Dawes
, Anis Mojgani
, Ngoma Hill, Aryan Kaganof
, Warsan Shire, Lemn Sissay, Emile Jansen, Phillipa Yaa De Villiers and Dorothea Smartt.
In 2010, Badilisha Poetry X-Change expanded beyond its geographical boundaries into the online radio platform Badilisha Poetry Radio. Badilisha Poetry Radio is a poetry podcast platform that is dedicated to poets of Africa
and the Diaspora
. It showcases a range of voices from across the continent. Many artists are activist that use poetry as their art form.
, which launched on the 30th of April 2010, presents new voices and poetic genres. Currently there are more than 100 poets featured. This is dedicated to podcasting poets from Africa and the Diaspora
. Each week the curator uploads poets of diverse styles, genre and topics from different corners of the globe. Poets can submit their work electronically via the website. The podcasts are available on Badilisha Poetry Radio and iTunes and can be downloaded. Podcast example: Mbali Kgosidintsi
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
Africa Centre
Africa Centre
The Africa Centre is structured as a not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to provide a platform for Pan-African arts and cultural practice to function as a catalyst for social change. All the projects it conducts, facilitates or supports have some social intention...
, the festival centered on various aspects of developing, celebrating, archiving and documenting poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
and voices. In 2009, the Spier Poetry Exchange changed to the Badilisha Poetry X-Change, (taking its name from the kiSwahili expression Badilisha which means to change, exchange and transform). Although different in name, Badilisha Poetry X-Change continues the 'exchange' between poets, creating spaces and platforms for programmed poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
interventions, workshops and presentations. Its existence continues to provide new and established Pan-African voices a space of celebration, documentation, proliferation, and self-reflection.
Badilisha Poetry X-Change Live
Based in Cape Town, South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Badilisha Poetry X-Change Live is the physical manifestation of Badilisha. Events in the past have included week long poetry interventions that showcase poets from the African Continent and its Diaspora
Diaspora
A diaspora is "the movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland" or "people dispersed by whatever cause to more than one location", or "people settled far from their ancestral homelands".The word has come to refer to historical mass-dispersions of...
. Each live intervention has focused on expanding performance poetry
Performance poetry
Performance poetry is poetry that is specifically composed for or during a performance before an audience. During the 1980s, the term came into popular usage to describe poetry written or composed for performance rather than print distribution.-History:...
beyond entertainment into a medium for social activism, through workshops, seminars and masterclasses. Badilisha Live has had three poetry festivals, each featuring a lineup of poets from Africa and its Diaspora. Past festivals have featured D'bi Young
D'bi Young
D'bi Young is a Jamaican-Canadian dub poet, monodramatist, and educator, as well as a Dora-winning actor and playwright. Raised Debbie Young in Jamaica, she moved to Canada in 1993...
, Kwame Dawes
Kwame Dawes
Kwame Senu Neville Dawes is a poet, actor, editor, critic, musician, and Louis Frye Scudder Professor of Liberal Arts at the University of South Carolina. He currently works as editor-in-chief at the Prairie Schooner. -Life:...
, Anis Mojgani
Anis Mojgani
Anis Mojgani is a spoken word poet, visual artist and musician based in Portland, Oregon.Mojgani has been characterized as a "geek genius" with "fiercely hopeful word arias"...
, Ngoma Hill, Aryan Kaganof
Aryan Kaganof
Aryan Kaganof is a South African film maker, novelist, poet and fine artist. In 1999 he changed his name to Aryan Kaganof.-Filmography:...
, Warsan Shire, Lemn Sissay, Emile Jansen, Phillipa Yaa De Villiers and Dorothea Smartt.
In 2010, Badilisha Poetry X-Change expanded beyond its geographical boundaries into the online radio platform Badilisha Poetry Radio. Badilisha Poetry Radio is a poetry podcast platform that is dedicated to poets of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and the Diaspora
Diaspora
A diaspora is "the movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland" or "people dispersed by whatever cause to more than one location", or "people settled far from their ancestral homelands".The word has come to refer to historical mass-dispersions of...
. It showcases a range of voices from across the continent. Many artists are activist that use poetry as their art form.
Badilisha Poetry Radio
Badilisha Poetry RadioBadilisha Poetry Radio
A project of the Badilisha Poetry X-Change Badilisha Poetry Radio is an online platform created to appreciate, celebrate and discover contemporary Pan-African poetry. Badilisha Poetry Radio focuses on weekly podcasts featuring poets from the African Continent and its Diaspora...
, which launched on the 30th of April 2010, presents new voices and poetic genres. Currently there are more than 100 poets featured. This is dedicated to podcasting poets from Africa and the Diaspora
Diaspora
A diaspora is "the movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland" or "people dispersed by whatever cause to more than one location", or "people settled far from their ancestral homelands".The word has come to refer to historical mass-dispersions of...
. Each week the curator uploads poets of diverse styles, genre and topics from different corners of the globe. Poets can submit their work electronically via the website. The podcasts are available on Badilisha Poetry Radio and iTunes and can be downloaded. Podcast example: Mbali Kgosidintsi
Artists
List of poets on Badilisha Poetry:- African Noise Foundation
- Andrea Nomasebe Dondolo
- Anis MojganiAnis MojganiAnis Mojgani is a spoken word poet, visual artist and musician based in Portland, Oregon.Mojgani has been characterized as a "geek genius" with "fiercely hopeful word arias"...
- Annelie De Wet
- Annie Moyo
- Anthony Joseph
- Antjie KrogAntjie KrogAntjie Krog, born October 23, 1952 in Kroonstad, Orange Free State, South Africa, is a prominent South African poet, academic and writer. In 2004 she joined the Arts faculty of the University of the Western Cape.- Early life :...
- Antoine de Kom
- Ari SitasAri SitasAri Sitas is a South African sociologist, writer, dramatist and civic activist.- Background :Sitas studied sociology and political philosophy at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and was one of the founder members of the celebrated Junction Avenue Theatre Company...
- Aryan KaganofAryan KaganofAryan Kaganof is a South African film maker, novelist, poet and fine artist. In 1999 he changed his name to Aryan Kaganof.-Filmography:...
- Avaez Mohammad
- Bassey Ikpi
- Ben Caesar
- Bethel C. Simeon
- Blaq Pearl
- Boonaa MohammedBoonaa MohammedBoonaa Mohammed is a Canadian Muslim poet. Mohammed was the winner of the 2007 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Poetry Face-Off “Best New Artist” award. He has a playwright residency at Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto...
- Breyten BreytenbachBreyten BreytenbachBreyten Breytenbach is a South African writer and painter with French citizenship.-Biography:Breyten Breytenbach was born in Bonnievale, Western Cape, approximately 180 km from Cape Town and 100 km from the southernmost tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas...
- Bulelwa Basse
- Camille T. Dungy
- Changa Hickinson
- Chantel-Fleur Sandjon
- Chenjerai HoveChenjerai HoveChenjerai Hove , is a Zimbabwean poet, novelist and essayist. He was educated at the University of South Africa and the University of Zimbabwe, and has worked as an educator and journalist...
- Chiedu Ifeozo
- Cosmas Mairosi
- croc E moses
- D'bi YoungD'bi YoungD'bi Young is a Jamaican-Canadian dub poet, monodramatist, and educator, as well as a Dora-winning actor and playwright. Raised Debbie Young in Jamaica, she moved to Canada in 1993...
- DéLana Dameron
- Diana Ferrus
- Dorothea Smartt
- Emile JansenEmile JansenEmile Jansen is a Dutch television and film actor. He plays in theatre as well.After studies at the Apeldoorn Grammar School he visited the Arnhem School for Dramatic Arts after which he appeared in several Dutch and German TV series like Zeg 'ns Aaa, Grijpstra en de Gier, Juliana, ONM, Flikken...
- Epiphanie Mukasano
- Eric Miyeni
- Ernestine Deane
- Ewok
- Gabeba BaderoonGabeba BaderoonGabeba Baderoon is the 2005 recipient of the DaimlerChrysler Award for South African Poetry.She was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa on February 21, 1969. She currently lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa and Pennsylvania, USA....
- Gcina Mhlophe
- Genna Gardini
- Gert Vlok NelGert Vlok NelGert Vlok Nel is a South African poet. He studied English, Afrikaans and history at Stellenbosch University and worked as a guide, a bartender and a watchman. He has published one collection of poems, Om te lewe is onnatuurlik , for which he received the Ingrid Jonker Prize...
- Gus FergusonGus FergusonGus Ferguson is a South African cartoonist, poet and pharmacist. He was born in Scotland, but moved with his parents to South Africa in 1949....
- Hale Tsehlana
- Helen Moffett
- Imani Woomera
- Inua Ellams
- Jacob Oketch
- Jacqueline ‘pretty poet’ Kibacha
- Jacques Coetzee
- Jamala Safari
- James MatthewsJames Matthews (writer)James Matthews is a South African poet, writer and publisher.He was detained by the apartheid government in 1976, and was denied a passport for 23 years....
- Jessica Mbangeni
- Jethro Louw
- Jimmy Rage
- Jitsvinger
- Julian Curry
- Kai Lossgott
- Karin Schimke
- Kayo Chingonyi
- Kelwyn Sole
- Khadija Heeger
- Khadijah Ibrahim
- Kokumo Noxid
- Kolade Arogundade
- Kwame DawesKwame DawesKwame Senu Neville Dawes is a poet, actor, editor, critic, musician, and Louis Frye Scudder Professor of Liberal Arts at the University of South Carolina. He currently works as editor-in-chief at the Prairie Schooner. -Life:...
- Lemn SissayLemn SissayLemn Sissay MBE is an award-winning British author and broadcaster of Ethiopian and Eritrean parents.He is known for performances of his poetry and also with jazz fusion groups. He is a playwright, and has worked on radio and television...
- Liesl JobsonLiesl JobsonLiesl Jobson is a South African poet and musician.She received first prize in the Inglis House Poetry Contest 2003 and her poetry was performed at the "Art of Survival" exhibition of the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Women's Art Group. She was the Focus Poet for Timbila 2005 and her poetry...
- Lloyd Akin Palmer
- Loftus Marais
- Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie
- Mark Espin
- Mbali Kgosidintsi
- Mbali Vilakazi
- Megan HallMegan Hall (poet)Megan Hall is a South African poet. She was born and lives in Cape Town.Her first volume of poems Fourth Child won the Ingrid Jonker Prize for 2008.-References:...
- Michael Mabwe
- Mojisola Adebayo
- Moses Serubiri
- Mpho Ya Badimo
- Muhammad Muwakil
- Musa Okwonga
- MwalimMwalimMwalim is a subcultural icon and highly influential performing artist, writer, filmmaker, and educator....
Morgan Peters - Mwila Mambwe
- Naima Mclean
- Napo Masheane
- Natalia Molebatsi
- Natasha Tafari
- Ngoma Hill
- Ngwatilo Mawiyoo
- Odidi Mfenyana
- Olumide Popoola
- Omékongo DibingaOmékongo DibingaOmékongo Dibinga is a trilingual poet, musician, motivational speaker, diversity consultant, CNN contributor and positive rapper. He is known to deliver powerful messages, usually targeted toward a younger audience, that touch on positive as well as painful subjects from being an upstander and not...
- Rantoloko Molokoane
- Roger Bonair- Agard
- Ruben van Gogh
- Patricia Smith
- Phillippa Yaa de Villiers
- Poetic PilgrimagePoetic PilgrimagePoetic Pilgrimage is a British Muslim hip-hop duo founded in 2002. It is one of only a very few female Muslim musical groups.Poetic Pilgrimage is a female Hip Hop and Spoken Word duo who wish to take the world by storm with their sounds, lyrics and individual, personal characters...
- Sam Umokoro
- Samantha Thornhill
- Sandile Dikeni
- Segun Lee French
- Seni Seneviratne
- Shabbir BanoobhaiShabbir BanoobhaiShabbir Banoobhai is a South African poet.He was born in Durban and, after school wanted to study at University. The costs were prohibitive, and instead he studied to become a teacher at Springfield College...
- Shailja PatelShailja PatelShailja Patel is an internationally acclaimed Kenyan poet, playwright, theatre artist, and political activist. She is most known for her spoken-word theatre show Migritude. CNN characterizes Patel as an artist "who exemplifies globalization as a people-centered phenomenon of migration and...
- Simric Yarrow
- Stephen Derwent Partington
- Tania van Schalkwyk
- Tantra-Zawadi
- Tinashe Mushakavanhu
- Togara MuzanenhamoTogara MuzanenhamoTogara Muzanenhamo is a Zimbabwean poet born in Lusaka, Zambia, to Zimbabwean parents. He was brought up in Zimbabwe on his family’s farm – thirty miles west of the capital Harare. He studied in France and The Netherlands. After his studies he returned to Zimbabwe and worked as a journalist, then...
- Tracy K Smith
- Uche NdukaUche NdukaUche Nduka is a Nigerian poet, writer, lecturer and songwriter who was awarded the Association of Nigerian Authors Prize for Poetry in 1997. He currently lives in New York.-Life:...
- Violetta Simatupang
- Warsan Shire
- Winslow Schalkwyk
- Zena Edwards
- Cornelius EadyCornelius EadyCornelius Eady is an American poet focusing largely on matters of race and society, particularly the trials of the African-American race in the United States. His poetry often centers around jazz and blues, family life, violence, and societal problems stemming from questions of race and class...
- Phyllis Muthoni
- Mukoma Wa NgugiMũkoma wa NgũgĩMũkoma wa Ngũgĩ is a Kenyan poet and author. His father is the author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o.Mũkoma holds a BA in Political Science and an MA in Creative Writing . He is the author of Conversing with Africa: Politics of Change and Hurling Words at Consciousness...
- The Mighty Third Rail
- Ameera Patel
External links
- Badilisha Poetry Exchange http://www.badilishapoetry.com/
- Short film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5syTnWDcl-8&feature=player_embedded
- Africa Centre http://wwww.africacentre.net