#BNPA2014 AT WOMEN'S ONLY INSTITUION, AFRICAN RURAL UNIVERSITY-NOV-DEC 2014

Photos taken  by various participants.

The BN Poetry Foundation team, as part of its #2014outreach, visited African Rural University, women’s university in Kibaale-Kagadi, one of the educational hubs under Uganda Rural Development Transformation. The team included Mildred Kiconco Barya, published poet and author and doctorate fellow at The University of Denver, Rashidah Namulondo, coordinator at Art or Change and #BNPoetryAward2013 winner and Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva, poet, author and founder of the annual BN Poetry Award.

Received by Varerious Ndagije, the University Academic Registrar, the #BNPA2014outreachteam was privileged to be given a tour of the lush and spacious grounds. With acres of Robusta coffee, endless citrus groves, hundreds of pineapple plantations, countless jack-fruit trees, numerous fowls, cattle, grain-milling machines for both subsistence and commercial use, millet and all types of subsistence farming. Varerious acquainted the team with the practical advantages of owning agricultural tools as a way of applying them in lessons. Self-sustainability, a key factor at the university, emphasizes one year of internship and the practicum constitutes 40% of the degree course.

On 1^st December, World Aids Day, the founder of ARU, Musheshe and university secretary, Jacqueline Akello, delivered a lecture on HIV and its origin in Uganda and the various facets it has taken. This took place just before the #BNPA2014outreachteam began their talk with how poetry and art can contribute to raising social awareness.

Some highlights included how poetry, originally an oral form in Uganda, was a hub of songs, proverbs and sayings, which held wisdom, historical and anthropological anecdotes and also provided entertainment. Unfortunately a lot of this beautiful history is diluted or lost because not enough effort was made to document in either written or audio-visual form. As a result, the team emphasized the role of written poetry, of reading widely and reading or performing their works to as many audiences as possible. A significant part of the outreach was when the students and faculty presented their own poetry and song in local languages, from Bridal and give-away songs to the more political and personal.

The team then donated a large supply of books to the library, ranging from personal and public health material, donation from Uganda Health Marketing Group (UHMG), copies of A Thousand Voices Rising, an African poetry anthology produced by BN Poetry Foundation, copies of Poetry Potion anthologies and a few copies of Diaries of a Dead African by Chuma Nwokolo. Despite the male-dominated faculty, the female students opened up during a personal life-skills session where they spoke candidly about their own goals, gender-activist role in the community and their individual artistic aspirations.

This trip was made possible through the generous financial donations of Palle Moeller Foundation and Success Spark Brand and book donations from Uganda Health Marketing Group, Poetry Potion and the BN Poetry Foundation.

Many thanks to Joy Bongyereire for the reconnection and conversations, too!

Fun and Fun at #Ake2014

Yejide Kilanko , author of Daughters who walk this path and Clifton Gachagua , poet.

These photos were taken by various guests at the Ake Festival.


The Ake Arts and Book Festival 2014 was tremendous. Lola Shoneyin, the Director and to the wonderful team, what can we do to help out next year?
All the nights were short except the first one, with a 3 hour bus ride from Lagos Airport to the June 12 Cultural Center. The Air conditioning and open door matatus alongside us, with conductors standing astride, did not make the time go any faster. They were just a reminder that Nigeria is not Uganda. Also, everyone drives a new car. What’s that about?
It was obvious from the dinner that first night that God created so many fine looking people and said, “They shall be called writers.” This festival was not for the faint at heart. No one’s steed could withstand that. No Sir. The heart flutters and betrayals notwithstanding, the festival was at the crest of literary power in many ways, possibly the synergy of publishers and their authors, feminists and past Presidents (Former President Obasanjo was there) and the poets on their dance floor. The connectivity was scattered and yet absorbed at the same time.
The film, October 1, directed by Kunle Afolayan and written by Tunde Babalola, was an incredible platform of traditional and cultural beliefs, the many faces of National and personal independence and more deeply, sexual abuse against children. The film had lots going on and some can arguably edit out a few scenes but it was overall an intelligent piece of work that has positively changed my opinion of the Nigerian film industry. It’s a film with universal appeal, which grossed 300,000 US Dollars in five weeks and Netflix also contacted them. It’s a good thing.
School tours: In groups of about five, we all headed to different schools for, well, a school tour. My fabulous team had Jekwu Ozoemene (how can you not love this banker with the abs), Adenike Campbell –Fatoki, author of historical fiction, Thread of Gold Beads and the always friend, Richard Ali, who has and continues to be a tremendous support to BN Poetry Foundation. We visited Gateway Secondary School, a public school about ten minutes from the June 12 Cultural Center. The literature class in particular-such confidence in knowing what they wanted to achieve in life, quite amazing. I knew what I wanted at 29 years, I think. Visiting schools is important so that the students get a peek into the various alternatives ahead of them, the creative abundance of choice.
Mutation and Mutilation: Feminism in Africa. A well-thought out panel with Bissi-Ayedele Femi, founder of African Women Development Fund, Iheoma Obibi of Intimate Pleasures, you all need to drop by, Zukiswa Wanner, Molara Wood, Nomboniso Gasa, Ayisha Osori, Edwige-Renee DRO and Ukamaka Olisakwe Evelyn. Bissi, an unapologetic feminist, explained that it’s about mutual respect. It’s not about destabilizing marriages and just because women are born women, they should not be demeaned.
Later in the day, I had the pleasure of launching A Thousand Voices Rising, an African contemporary poetry anthology, produced by the BN Poetry Foundation. Several of the contributors like Rotimi Babatunde, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, Richard Ali and Clifton Gachagua read their poems. Fubaraibi Benstowe, shortlisted poet of the BN Poetry Award 2014, read from his piece, Orukoro Dancer.The launch closed with autographs and a recitation of Ssebo gwe wange. Different reactions each time.C

It’s impossible to highlight all the awesomeness of Ake. Call Mr. Robeson, the one man act produced by Tayo Aluko was phenomenal and energetic while historically deep, performances by the remarkable Bassey-Ikpi with multiple meanings of identity and feminism, Kei Miller-Jamaican award-winning poet, Efe Paul with his political piece, Chijioke amu-Nnadi,  author of several collections, Jumoke Verissimo, Dr. Dami Ajayi-it got real in there, especially poetry dipped in palm-wine.
And while we all strut about from one session to another, the most talented photographer and artist, Victor Ehikhamenor, showed us his exhibition, The Lion’s Lair, photos of Prof. Wole Soyinka at his home. Honestly though, I would love to read Victor’s secret photo diary, the photos he keeps for himself. Vera Butterbusch, German photographer, likewise revealed interesting shots of various Nigerian social landscapes, like the Masquerades.
What’s a literary festival without a dance party and swimming? We laid it all out there. The music called and we responded. How else could we show our appreciation to the Ogas and first ladies that had put such a great event together? It was a bevy of rams on spit, tangled feet, hands where they shouldn’t have been and sweaty sweaty sweaty bodies. Prof. Rem Raj, President of Association of Nigerian Authors, celebrated his birthday just after midnight as well.
And the ghosts at Continental Suites didn’t follow Lizzy Attree the Caine Prize Director, or myself, to the swimming pool that last night either. Heck! Maybe they couldn’t swim.
by Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva

KAMPALA IS CALLING TO YOU-POETRY!

THE KAMPALA POETRY ANTHOLOGY: SUBMISSIONS FROM 10^TH NOV 2014 TO 10TH FEB 2015

SUBMIT YOUR POEMS FOR THIS AMBITIOUS POETRY ANTHOLOGY ON THE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE CITY OF KAMPALA, SUNDRY CAPITAL OF UGANDA.

GUIDELINES:

  Submit one to three poems of not more than 40 lines each, in Times New Roman, font size 12, single-spaced to kampala@bnpoetryaward.co.ug

  On the subject line, include KAMPALA POETRY ANTHOLOGY

  The poems should be original, clearly marked with their titles and sent as one Word attachment, exclusive of your name

  Include your name, country of residence, email address and telephone number in the subject of the email, with a 50-word bio.

 

Submissions will be accepted from 10^th November 2014 to 10^th February 2015 at 11:59pm Uganda time

   The anthology will be launched during the 2015 Bayimba International Festival of the Arts in Kampala

   We accept poems in any language, from writers and artists all over the world

  If you have a non-English poem, kindly provide an English translation

  Submissions after the deadline will not be accepted

    By end of July 2015, we will send notifications of those accepted

   Contributors will each receive a copy of the anthology

The Editor of the Kampala Poetry Anthology is Mildred Kiconco Barya, a Ugandan doctorate fellow at The University of Denver. She holds a Masters Degree in Creative Writing from Syracuse University and a Masters Degree in Organisational Psychology from Makerere University. She is the author of three award-winning poetry collections, namely Give Me Room to Move My Feet, The Price of Memory after the Tsunami and Men love Chocolates But They Don’t Say. Mildred serves on the board of African Writers Trust and is devoted to social change through creative works.

The Director of the BN Poetry Foundation, Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva says,

“Mukwate kalamu.”

Website:    http://www.bnpoetryaward.co.ug

Twitter:     @BNPoetryAward

Facebook:  Babishai Niwe

Financial partners for this project are Stichting Doen.

Supporting partners are:-Bayimba Foundation, Gilgal Media Arts, Afri-art gallery and African Writers Trust.

                 

                                     #BNPA2015

WHEN A POET WINS 1,000 US DOLLARS, POETRY AND FILM FESTIVAL IN KAMPALA

Courtesy photo of Tom Jalio

It’s a pleasure and a privilege to coordinate annual poetry awards in Africa. Tom Jalio, the #BNPA2014 winner is by far one of the most dedicated, self-aware and respectful poets we have awarded. During the #BNPA2014 festival in Kampala and Nairobi, the #BN team could not help but notice the intensity in which he took note of his surroundings, acquired himself, took possession of the poetry spaces availed him and created a metaphysical commitment to learning and nurturing are inspirational.
Mildred Barya, Ugandan poet based in the US, will be part of POETRY AND FILM FESTIVAL running from 24th to 26th November in Kampala. BN Poetry Foundation will host the Women Film-makers of Zimbabwe as they tour Makerere University Film Studies Department, the African Poetry Library, Femrite and hold a mini film festival at CICP-Uganda National Cultural Center.

#PHOTOGALLERYBNPA2014

#BNPA2014WINNER-TOMJALIO-KENYA

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#BNPA2014 INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL-POETRY LIBRARY LAUNCH

Orukoro Dancer,Benstowe Fubaraibi Anari (Nigeria) #BNPA2014COMMENTS

(Courtesy-photo)

Orukoro Dancer by Benstowe Fubaraibi Anari (Nigeria)

“Child, weep not

Mother will be fine”

Still Tonye’s voice went out

Surpassing the rolling drums

To win mother’s attention,

Her hands stretched forth

Forcing body through dense crowd

To mar mother’s drunken steps,

She, solitary Lass, soaked with her tears,

Weaved a cry:

“Mother! Mother!

What have they done to you mother!?

It’s me your daughter!

Come! Come homeward!”

But all were health tips for pigs.

Dancer, canoe to the unseen paddler

Dancer, slave to the spiritual native banter

Feet, chalk-patterned by her painter

Body, clad with white and red George-wrapper,

Danced forward, danced backward,

Danced drummers-ward, danced viewers-ward,

Danced, Shell to her marine partner

Danced she, beats after beats, songs after songs,

Swung, palm leaves at wind’s gate.

Ah! Several fresh eggs went lost to her belly.

Then I replaced the soil on my soles with another

Weaving pity in my heart

Pity for viewers, lost in spirit’s huddle

Spirits who seek for more canoes to paddle.

Your comments on The Orukoro Dancer.

Precious Nkwanzi

This is a real Nigerian voice: The overt imagery of dance and strong traditional reference. The daughter-month interaction of banshee like is shrill and eerie.

Michael the adventurous:

The first line is so similar to Ngugi’s book. The traditional strength from the myth of the dancer is so strong and inescapable. Even the daughter forcing her way through the dense crowd is allegorical to the woman with the issue of blood in the bible.

William:

So much dancing and drumming in the poem. I want to dance away the women’s troubles.

Note:

Orukoro dancers are women ( most times men) who dance to certain drumbeats under the influence of a marine spirit, at this times, songs and drums are played for them by members of their Orukoro society. Viewers usually come out in their numbers to witness the dancesteps and drumbeats. This experience does not happen frequently, but occasionally.

The word Orukoro means the coming down of a deity, but in this case it is usually the marine deity that possesses a person.

The Orukoro society are worshippers of marine deities in many Ijaw communities in Bayelsa , Delta and Rivers States of Nigeria.

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