National Performance Poetry Challenge

National Performance Poetry Challenge

That rush, that moment when you choose…. Condom, no condom.

That split second that you make in-love, in-toxication, high on something, hopeful, wanting, needing to justify. Play it out, put it in, be wanted, be needed, be a man, be a woman.

And that’s just the sex. Just a few minutes, perhaps a bit of foreplay, maybe even an hour.
What about the build-up, move making, flirtation, infatuation, pull in and play this.

Pure potential

Her, him, them… at the same time?

And then look for love.

Cause that’s what we all want, right.

Right?

Enter the DFL Lover + Another Poetry Challenge
and talk about Sex, Relationships & HIV and AIDS…

No judgement

No restrictions

No pretence

Just you, the mic and the stage…

THEME: Lover + Another “multiple sexual relationships and HIV and AIDS”

Tell us what it’s about

PROJECT SUMMARY:

The Lover + Another Poetry Challenge is an exciting and innovative performance poetry project which aims at empowering University students, youth and the wider community to confront their realities pertaining specifically to multiple sexual relationships and HIV AND AIDS. This is a project that allows the youth to talk about SEX, RELATIONSHIPS & HIV AND AIDS education in a space designed to fit their socio-cultural contexts. Through the spoken-word culture the youth is able to directly address the risks and cultural factors affecting their sexual behavior, values and attitudes towards SEX, RELATIONSHIPS & HIV AND AIDS.



See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcW-6u269km

and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js-NczP3eaA for a sample of performances from the final of The Lover + Another Performance Poetry Festival held on the 20th August 2009 at the UKZN.



The Lover + Another Poetry Challenge began at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (Pietermaritzburg Campus) in 2009. The concept is truly an example of applied arts in HIV AND AIDS Education. The 2009 and 2010 extension of the project proved very successfully and popular at multiple levels, the competition saw regional finals in both Johannesburg and Pietermaritzburg, culminating in a successful competition held at Wits University with 6 finalists from both cities, battling it out. The project had great support, with over 700 students in attendance. This was a competition between the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) and University of Johannesburg (UJ). An extension of the concept and project for 2011 now sees the inclusion of youth in Cape Town.



TARGET AUDIENCE and PARTICIPANTS:

The Lover + Another Poetry Challenge is targeted to University students, youth (17 –35 years old) in our community to produce and perform original pieces of performance poetry that speak to the social, psychological and physical correlates of multiple sexual relationships and HIV and AIDS.

JULY newsletter!! Hot off the press =)

Progressive greetings friends!

Hope you all are keeping the arts and literature fires burning around the globe.
With each new year, without fail, some start off with that list of objectives to accomplish during the year ahead. Now, with the first half behind us, we can reflect upon what we have achieved and on some unfinished business that we must still attend to.

I hope you have entered into the second half of the year with all cylinders burning. We can start off this half with thanksgiving to every situation that has affected us, and hope that we are better people through overcoming those circumstances. Give thanks for the good and the not so flattering times, there often is a lesson hidden in-between. What are YOU grateful for?

I’m grateful for the people that I’ve crossed paths with and have touched my life. Grateful for the platform given through the Afrikan Poets and Writers Facebook group.
Thank you to its creator, Emmanuel Ekosse and the members who have been with the movement since day 1, thank you for the support. Thank you for crossing over to the U write what U like blog. Thank you to all who contributed their writings to the AfroConscious journal (2010) and to those who’ve bought the publication, I hope you enjoy the work put into it with love! http://uwritewhatulike.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html

Thank you to Moses Shimo Seletisha for the translation of the short story “The rebirth of Kweku Ananse” by Kofi Anane Kyeremeh, into Sepedi. This will form part of the AfroConscious volume 2, COMING SOON! http://uwritewhatulike.blogspot.com/2011/07/pelego-ya-kweku-ananse-rebirth-of-kweku.html

What’s new with the blog
1. There is a link that shows the 3 most popular posts on the blog. Scroll down the UWWUL blog page.

2. You can also subscribe by email l to the blog so that when a new post has been made, you will be the first to receive it conveniently to your personal email address. (Your email address will remain private; your details are secure and will not be shared.)

3. Are you an Lesotho based poet/ writer/artist? Then get more info the the writing competition by clicking this link: http://uwritewhatulike.blogspot.com/2011/07/writing-contest-lesotho-based-artists.html Thank you Sechaba Keketsi for you untiring work in the Lesotho poetry field and for your contribution to the blog.

4 Click this link for info on the Jozi Book Fair 2011: http://uwritewhatulike.blogspot.com/2011/07/jozi-book-fair-2011.html

What are you reading? Here is the link to the book recommendation from Emma Arogundade, by author Ben Okri, titled A way of being free. http://uwritewhatulike.blogspot.com/2011/07/book-recommendation-ben-okri-way-of.html Thank you Emma! Have YOU read this book, do you want to share or recommend another book to us?

If you have any literature centred news/event/project you want to spread to many, you can become a contributor to the UWWUL blog and share it with multitudes.

Literally yours,
Vuyokazi