Body takes poetry to Lilongwe
Vilipanganga Poetry Movement will invade Lilongwe on Sunday for a recital dubbed The Capital Poetry Tour.
The tour, scheduled to take place at Kweza Art Hub, is among the movement’s efforts to grow Malawi’s poetry and inspire up-and-coming poets.
In an interview yesterday, Vilipanganga Poetry Movement coordinator William Shumba said the tour is about expanding their reach beyondtheir, Blantyre.
“We have been hosting poetry sessions in Blantyre for a while now and we feel it’s time to bring that energy to Lilongwe. We want to inspire poets in Lilongwe that they can also create an inclusive space where poets and poetry lovers can engage and connect,” he said.
Shumba added that they also want to use the event to bring attention and spark discussions on issues such as tourism, mental health and poetry expression itself.
“Through the same, we want to encourage expression among people when they are going through difficult times in terms of mental health. We also want to promote tourism,” he added.
Since 2016, the movement has been promoting poetry and creating a platform for aspiring artists to showcase and sharpen their skills through workshops.
University of Malawi professor of literature Ken
Lipenga Jnr said the tour is noteworthy, especially at a time when poetry is experiencing a decline in visibility. He said such initiatives are important for revitalising the art.
“This is a positive move as it sets as a reminder that poetry is not just confined to book publications or academic corridors, but also to people through such initiatives,” he said in an interview.
Lipenga also stressed the importance of such platforms in ensuring that poetry remains relevant in the current cultural landscape.
“People are now appreciating the fact that poetry is able to draw its strength and reach from the sound quality. So, its tours help in that regard. In this digital age, the poetry recitals can also be captured in various formats, reaching various audiences,” he said.
The event, which has been supported by General Alliance Insurance Company, will feature poetry recitals by poets, including Q Malewezi, Yankho Seunda, William Shumba, Beatrice Ligomeka and Refilwe
It will also be spiced up with a performance by musician Chifundo Chikonga
