THE Spoken Word and Writers Association is preparing to launch its inaugural exclusive poetry awards on March 21 when Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Poetry Day.
This year’s World Poetry Day will be running under the banner: Always be a poet, even in prose.
Through the awards, the organisation, founded in April last year by Lennox Gondo, aims to boost diverse voices and create a lasting legacy of literary excellence.
Speaking to NewsDay Life & Style, Gondo said: “We want to do something specifically for poetry. Although poets are recognised in other awards, it is only under a few categories.
The association has since mobilised resources and is engaging provincial art galleries to reach marginalised communities so that everyone participates and no one is left behind.
“These awards are strictly for Zimbabweans by Zimbabweans, we are very patriotic in our approach, so everyone should be included. We understand that we have so much unidentified talent in this country such that if identified it will help lift up the national flag and grow the art sector by discovering new talent and content,” Gondo said.
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Gondo said the awards seek to recognise and honour talent, creativity and nurture artistic growth while inspiring other potential artistes.
“The organisation values inclusivity by providing a space where all voices are welcomed and valued regardless of background and experience. We, therefore, have a category for best poet per language spoken in Zimbabwe,” he added.
Gondo also noted that the organisation promotes genuine and honest artistic expressions as a means of connecting with audiences and creating positive change. It also offers continuous learning opportunities for artistes to develop their skills through workshops, readings, performances and other educational events.
Gondo also appealed to corporates and various partners to come on board to reward the country’s outstanding talent in the following award categories:
Best Group Anthology, Best Solo Poetry Anthology, Poem of the Year, Female Poet of the Year, Male Poet of the Year, Best Graphic Designer of the Year, Best Poetry Show, Best, Spoken Word Poetry Duet, Best Spoken Word Visual, Best Videographer in Poetry, Best Photographer in Poetry, Best event planner in Poetry, Best Music and Poetry Album, Best Spoken Word Poetry Album, Best Radio and Television Poetry Program, Best Poetry Rap Artist, Venue of the Year, Best Comic Poem, Best male page and Spoken word artist in the diaspora, Best female page and Spoken word artist in the diaspora, VIP of the Year, Best Poet per language (eg venda) and People’s Choice Award.