LOCAL poet African Kid (real name Tendai Maduwa) is expected to leave the country on Saturday for Kenya where he is going to take part in the Kistrech Poetry Festival. WINSTONE ANTONIO OWN CORRESPONDENT
Maduwa, who is gracing the festival as a guest poet, will perform twice at the official opening and at the closing ceremony.
The Kistrech Poetry Festival, which will bring together poets from more than 30 countries who will recite their poems and share experiences in creative writing, will be held under the theme Poetry and Music from July 30 to August 5.
In an interview with NewsDay, Maduwa said it was a great opportunity for him to rub shoulders and share ideas with regional and well-established international poets.
“I am honoured to be performing as a guest poet representing my nation for the second time at the Kistreach Poetry Festival,” said Maduwa.
“It is every artistes’ wish to be performing and showcasing his or her talent beyond borders.”
The Mutoko-bred poet said as part of the tour, he will visit Kenya’s popular tribe Masai Mara, which he likened to the Tonga.
“The festival will allow me to learn cultural values and norms of other countries such as Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Philippines, India, Lithuania and El Salvador through their participating poets,” he said.
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“We are going to visit Nairobi and Kisii University for literature discussions and capacity building lectures with performing arts and literature students.”
Maduwa said he is going to launch his second poetry book titled Marry My Language at the festival.
The book is Maduwa’s personal anthology made up of 30 poems about humanity, peace, gender and race, African politics, love and life. Some of Maduwa’s poems have been published in The Enchanted World, an anthology that consists of many authors globally and he was the only Zimbabwean poet to have his poems in that book.
Maduwa said his experience from last year’s performance at the same festival inspired him to establish a poetic movement called Poetic Licence at Book Café which was a regular poetry platform for professional poets.
Besides being a poet, he has featured in many local dramas and movies like the Shona production Zvirimudzimba, movies The Visit, My Lady and Goodnight General, which was screened during the 2013 Zimbabwe Film Festival among other productions.
