Dear Fans/Supporters

To our dear fans, supporters and members. We need to let you know that the postponement of the Maun International Poetry Festival 2012 (MIPF) is indeed for better. The festival, which will be now in May 26^th, will be of high quality and standard. We had also realised that a lot of our supporters were going to miss the March show due to financial constraints and other life challenges. Thus, having moved the show to a later date will give them the chance as well. Poetavango cares about you, that is why we had sworn that all our shows will be of excellent quality, no matter what. We understand the disappointment you might have over this sudden change. We sincerely regret the inconvenience that it might have cost you, our esteemed supporter.  

Let us assure you that all our performers and stakeholders are still onboard and the only thing that has changed is the dates. In fact, we’ll be having more surprise packages for you. The MIPF will feature poets and storytellers from South Africa, Zimbabwe, DR Congo, USA, Jamaica, Burundi, Swaziland, Botswana and more African countries. So, when we say the Africa’s crème de la crème of poetry will be here, we mean business! Serious business. There will be fire. Lyrical fire. A fire of words spat on microphones. Please note that tickets continue to sell, at BWP200. So, buy yours as early as possible lest they run out. You don’t want to be left out. You need to be part of a history in the making.  One Word, One Aim, One Destiny.

Maun International Poetry Festival Postponed!

URGENT!!! Maun International Poetry Festival Postponed! New Dates: Saturday 26th May 2012. Performers from Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, DR Congo, USA, Zimbabwe, Burundi and Jamaica. Ticket continue to sell at: BWP200, including dinner. Maun Lodge, Maun. 1830hrs. More details to follow soon. Right here.

Festival Updates?

Yes! 

March 31^st 2012 is the day we are all awaiting. Big names lined up for the Maun International Poetry Festival 2012. For only P200, you will get the crème de la crème of poetry. The local list includes; Mandisa Mabuthoe, Tshipa, Barong Seboni, Psycho Cydd, Moroka Moreri, Juby Peacock, Vygos, Ngwao Putswa (Tsikitsiki), Berry Heart, Dredd X, Mista Poke, Prikath, Slash the Don, Ntirelang Berman, Keabonye, Tautona, King Philosopher, Mr T, Prophet Caribbean Weed, Messenger. There also will be the musical side of it and we bring you some of Botswana’s finest musicians. The legendary folk guitarists Stika Sola and the jazz icon Kabo Leburu..

On the international we have; Upmost (Zimbabwe) Black Star (South Africa), Corazon (USA), Blackpearl (Zimbabwe), Miss Quote (Jamaica), Prince Shapiro (South Africa). The list doesn’t end here. Keep watching this space – and buy your ticket soon, lest they run out quickly. 

Ticket sale points to be announced soon. In the meantime, you can book your tickets at (+267) 73597356 or (+267) 74404968. 

The festival is split in two sections – the preliminary show and the main show. The Pre-Show will start at 10am until 1pm. This part of the festival will be a showcase of the upcoming talent. It will be a grand finale to the Poetavango Interschool Poetry Slam. Students from different secondary schools (governments, private and special needs) will recite powerful poetry in front of a panel of adjudicators. Other performers for the main show will also grace this stage. Ticket price for the show is only P30. However, those who buy the P200 ticket for the main show will have FREE access to the pre show! What a bonus!

DO NOT MISS THIS EVENT!

Names of our sponsors and donors to be posted here soon.  

read article in The Voice Newspaper 

read article in Weekened Post Newspaper 

Why Maun?

Maun Lodge - The Venue for the 2012 Festival

·         We believe that it will be appropriate to hold an event of this magnitude in Maun, the hub of tourism which boasts of the mighty Okavango Delta. Slam poetry lovers from across the country and abroad will gather for a feast of spoken word poetry making Maun. Throughout the years, Poetavango Spoken Word Poetry has induced the art of poetry into the Maun community. It has, thus, turned Maun into the ‘home of poety.’ The Maun community, therefore, always respond positively to poetry callings  - an artform they can now identify with. This will place our village on the world map and thus show that tranquility and artistic excellence beckons everyone to the country of Botswana, our pride.

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Festival Workshop/Symposium

·         The workshop/symposium will be facilitated by Botswana’s prominent writers Lauri Kubuitsile and Barolong Seboni. Poets will interact and share ideas, knowledge and skills. This is a good way of empowering our local performers. It also helps in sharing our culture with international audiences. Since both traditional and contemporary poets will be taking part in this festival, the interaction between the two will close the gap and help even the audience to appreciate these two approaches to poetry. 

Who'll Be There This Year?

·         Poetavango is hosting the second installment of the International Poetry Festival aimed at promoting the art of slam poetry and storytelling: both powerful and exciting tools of communication, education and entertainment.

·         Performers from Botswana include Ntirelang Berman, Berry Heart, Moletlanyi Tshipa, Moroka Moreri, Barolong Seboni, Juby Peacock, Dredd X, Kabelo ‘Psycho Cydd’ Mereyotlhe, Ngwao Putswa, Vygos, King Philosopher, Messenger, Priskath, Mista Poke, Prophet Caribbean Weed, Stika Sola and many others. We shall also have Upmost and Blakk Pearl from Zimbabwe, Prince Shapiro and Lesego Blackstar Moeti from South Africa and Miss Quote, a Jamaican writer and performer based in USA. Also to grace stage is the American poetess Corazon. Poetavango is currently working on bringing in a prominent American poet for the country.

      The list is likely to grow. Keep checking this blog for regular updates.