Ingrid Andersen
Encyclopedia
Ingrid Andersen is a South Africa
n poet
.
Andersen lived in Johannesburg
most of her life, worked in Grahamstown
in the Eastern Cape
for five years and relocated to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
in 2007.
She worked as a theatre publicist in the 1980s, the days of political protest theatre, at the Market Theatre
and PACT, amongst others. As South Africa began to rebuild after the first democratic elections, she became active in community development
, as CEO of the Rosebank Homeless Association and then as Community Engagement Manager at Rhodes University
. She works at the University of KwaZulu Natal in human rights advocacy, healing and reconciliation, with a particular focus on the Alternatives to Violence Project
.
Her debut poetry collection, Excision, was launched at the National Arts Festival
in 2005. It was reviewed in Wordstock, the Arts Festival WordFest newspaper, as "well-crafted, controlled and concise...a strong debut collection containing sensitive and poignant sketches...Andersen wields her pen with surgical precision" (Warren 2005).
Over the past fifteen years, her poems have appeared in South African literary journals, including Imprint, Green Dragon, Aerial, Slugnews, Carapace and New Coin. She presented her work at WordFest in 2004 and 2005, as well as at the Hilton Arts Festival in 2009. She remembers with affection the mentoring of Lionel Abrahams
at his workshops in the early 1990s. Piecework, her second collection of poetry, to be published by Modjaji Books, is due out in 2010.
Andersen is the editor of Incwadi, a South African online journal of poetry and photography.
South 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...
n poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Andersen lived in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
most of her life, worked in Grahamstown
Grahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...
in the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
for five years and relocated to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands is an inland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that lies outside of Pietermaritzburg but before the Drakensberg mountain range....
in 2007.
She worked as a theatre publicist in the 1980s, the days of political protest theatre, at the Market Theatre
Market Theatre
The Market Theatre, based in the vibrant inner-city suburb of Newtown in Johannesburg, South Africa, was opened in 1976, operating as an independent, non-racial theatre during the country’s apartheid regime...
and PACT, amongst others. As South Africa began to rebuild after the first democratic elections, she became active in community development
Community development
Community development is a broad term applied to the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities....
, as CEO of the Rosebank Homeless Association and then as Community Engagement Manager at Rhodes University
Rhodes University
Rhodes University is a public research university located in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, established in 1904. It is the province’s oldest university, and is one of the four universities in the province...
. She works at the University of KwaZulu Natal in human rights advocacy, healing and reconciliation, with a particular focus on the Alternatives to Violence Project
Alternatives to Violence Project
The Alternatives to Violence Project is a volunteer-run conflict transformation program. Teams of trained AVP facilitators conduct experiential workshops to develop participants' abilities to resolve conflicts without resorting to manipulation, coercian, or violence. Typically, each workshop...
.
Her debut poetry collection, Excision, was launched at the National Arts Festival
National Arts Festival
The National Arts Festival is one of the most important events on the South African cultural calendar, and the biggest annual celebration of the arts on the African continent....
in 2005. It was reviewed in Wordstock, the Arts Festival WordFest newspaper, as "well-crafted, controlled and concise...a strong debut collection containing sensitive and poignant sketches...Andersen wields her pen with surgical precision" (Warren 2005).
Over the past fifteen years, her poems have appeared in South African literary journals, including Imprint, Green Dragon, Aerial, Slugnews, Carapace and New Coin. She presented her work at WordFest in 2004 and 2005, as well as at the Hilton Arts Festival in 2009. She remembers with affection the mentoring of Lionel Abrahams
Lionel Abrahams
Lionel Abrahams was a South African novelist, poet, editor, critic, essayist and publisher. He was born in Johannesburg, where he lived his entire life...
at his workshops in the early 1990s. Piecework, her second collection of poetry, to be published by Modjaji Books, is due out in 2010.
Andersen is the editor of Incwadi, a South African online journal of poetry and photography.