Two East London poets have won an all-expenses paid trip to perform at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown after taking top honours at the Recite your own Poetry competition.
Babalwa Mtsholo and Luvuyo Nyalambisa were selected from a group of 11 competitors.
They will be in Grahamstown for the duration of the festival.
The auditions were held in March at the Imbizo lounge in Quigney, East London, where 11 poets were shortlisted for the final round that took place on Saturday at the East London Arts Theatre.
The trip is funded by Alphabetic Art, an event company which also organised the competition.
Founder Bandile Magibili said the winners were determined by the audience as there had been no judging panel.
“Before the show started we created tokens with the names of the 11 finalists, and gave these to each audience member. Once the performances were done, the audience submitted the names of the poet they favoured and that is how we tallied the results,” said Magibili.
Mtsholo, 22, a student at the Academy of Business and Computer Studies, said the competition was tough but she made it her mission to win.
“I only started writing poems last year, when I went through a rough patch emotionally,” said Mtsholo.
“I needed an outlet and found poetry to be very therapeutic but I never imagined myself competing and winning, especially considering that was only my third time performing for a large crowd.”
She said she wanted to hone her reciting skills and hoped attending the festival would open up new avenues for her.
Nyalambisa, 49, is unemployed and has been writing and reciting poetry for the past 10 years.
“I am hoping this trip is going to expose me to influential people as well as getting my name out there. I don’t think anyone is too old to pursue their dreams.
“One thing is definite – after the festival more people will know my name and I also stand to gain knowledge on drama and literature from professionals. I am excited,” said Nyalambisa. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
Poets hope for new avenues at fest
Two East London poets have won an all-expenses paid trip to perform at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown after taking top honours at the Recite your own Poetry competition.
Babalwa Mtsholo and Luvuyo Nyalambisa were selected from a group of 11 competitors.
They will be in Grahamstown for the duration of the festival.
The auditions were held in March at the Imbizo lounge in Quigney, East London, where 11 poets were shortlisted for the final round that took place on Saturday at the East London Arts Theatre.
The trip is funded by Alphabetic Art, an event company which also organised the competition.
Founder Bandile Magibili said the winners were determined by the audience as there had been no judging panel.
“Before the show started we created tokens with the names of the 11 finalists, and gave these to each audience member. Once the performances were done, the audience submitted the names of the poet they favoured and that is how we tallied the results,” said Magibili.
Mtsholo, 22, a student at the Academy of Business and Computer Studies, said the competition was tough but she made it her mission to win.
“I only started writing poems last year, when I went through a rough patch emotionally,” said Mtsholo.
“I needed an outlet and found poetry to be very therapeutic but I never imagined myself competing and winning, especially considering that was only my third time performing for a large crowd.”
She said she wanted to hone her reciting skills and hoped attending the festival would open up new avenues for her.
Nyalambisa, 49, is unemployed and has been writing and reciting poetry for the past 10 years.
“I am hoping this trip is going to expose me to influential people as well as getting my name out there. I don’t think anyone is too old to pursue their dreams.
“One thing is definite – after the festival more people will know my name and I also stand to gain knowledge on drama and literature from professionals. I am excited,” said Nyalambisa. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
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