#BABISHAI2016 POETRY FESTIVAL EXHIBITOR'S FORM

Dear Exhibitor,

Do you have music, books, art and craft, jewellery, children’ s stories or any other family friendly product you would like to sell? Have you heard of Maria’s Place in Ntinda, the homeliest of Ntinda homes?

We invite you to market and sell your material during the #Babishai2016 Poetry Festival, from 24-26 August, 0900h to 1700h, in one of Kampala- Ntinda’s lushest gardens, at Maria’s Place. With guests from the academia, arts, corporate world, schools and all around the world, we are certain that your products will fall in the right hands.

Please provide  the following information:-

1.       The name of your organization

2.       Name the exhibitor(s) Maximum of 2.

3.       Name the products to be sold.

If they are books or CDs, kindly provide the titles, authors, producer of publisher, year of publications and email the cover pages to babishainiwe@babishainiwe.com

4.       Your contact information:-

Email address: 

 Tel no:             

5.       Each exhibitor will be provided with lunch and exhibition space. If you would like the Babishai sales team to sell your products, that is also acceptable.

6.       The exhibition fee for three days is 100,000/-. Kindly send payment via Airtel money on

+256 751 703226 or MTN mobile money on +256 782 764335 by 5^th August 2016.

Early registration fee is 70,000/- and the deadline is June 30^th 2016.

7.       For any inquiry, call George Kiwanuka on + 256 703 147862 or email babishainiwe@babishainiwe.com

     

HARRIET ANENA, LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HER

Harriet Anena is the Online ContentProducer at the African Media Centre for Excellence and the author of A Nation In Labour, a poetry collection. She’s also a guest at the #Babshai2016 Poetry Festival from 24-26 August in Kampala.

On stage

Anena, your production, “I Bow for my Boobs,” was described as Political Erotica. Would you say this was an accurate description?

Yes. I deliberately framed the performance around political erotica. First, because my up-coming poetry collection is centered on political erotica. Secondly, politics and erotica are provocative topics on their own and even more provocative when merged; and considering Uganda is just walking off a hot political podium, I thought it relevant to focus the performance on the politics and erotica theme. 

when she's normal

What were some of the most surprising reactions to that performance?

I sort of expected most of the reactions to the performance – the shock, the awe and the pats on the back. After my first week of rehearsal, I was sure the person going on stage would not be Harriet Anena but someone new, someone has known before; someone no one suspects exists; except my director. The only reaction that surprised me was that people found the performance humorous. There was laughter throughout the performance and I could hear a laugh first and a sad sigh later as I performed the central poem of the day, I Bow for My Boobs’, in which I breakdown. 

Have people expressed incredulity at how there is an overt difference between your art and your demeanour?

Yes. A lot of people who have interacted with me know Anena is reserved; speaks only when she has to; shies away from crowds and is not the type who will be in your face. What they saw on stage was a different Anena. Some of the questions I got after the show was; ‘What did you drink before the performance?’ and ‘Was that really you on stage?”. It’s a pleasant reaction, which I still continue to receive, and I largely credit my director, Elizabeth Pamela Acaye, for it.  She literally dug me out of my cage, ensured I immersed myself in my poetry so I can lift them off the page to the stage. 

a star

What are some of your biggest fears as a poet?

My greatest fear has been whether I could ever perform my poems on stage and do it as well as I have done on paper. I think I’m on the way to overcoming that fear wholly, soon. Presently, the looming legal restrictions on how artists can express themselves, through the anti-pornography law, is what has been bothering my mind. I do hope we’ll find a way around it because as it stands, the law is ‘unimplementable’ and a mere diversion from more crucial things facing Uganda.

In an ideal world, how different would poets be than they are today?

In an ideal world, poets would live on poetry ALONE.

What are some of your expectations at the Babishai Poetry Festival?

I hope to see more Ugandans - young and old - converging to celebrate poetry and participate in the various activities and events at the festival.

When it comes to food, what in your opinion, should poets feed on?

Hahaha I love sweet bananas, Odii and sugarcane. Try it out.

Any parting remarks?

I am delighted and encouraged at the expanding spaces for poetic expressions, especially in Kampala today. I’m hoping the wave of poetry sweeps across the country and extends to upcountry areas. Poetry is all around us, we just need to be awaken to see it, feel it, live it. Together, we can make poetry a movement in Uganda and beyond.

Thank you!

The #Babishai2016 Poetry Festival runs from 24-26 August in Kampala. For details, visit www.babishainiwe.com or email, festival@babishainiwe.com

BABISHAI LAUNCHES QUARTERLY BARBEQUE NIGHTS

On Friday 18 March, to celebrate World Poetry Day, Babishai launched its quarterly Babishai Barbeque Nights at Blue Hummingbirds in Muyenga. Given the strength of spoken word events in Kampala like Poetry in session and Tontoma Poetry Jazz, there is a growing audience and a growing spoken word community which speaks into progress.

Preparing for the barbeque

Given the recent ripple effect of Presidential elections that arguably  crippled social media freedom for  a while and small businesses, events like these give an outlet for unhinged expressions, which are necessary for survival.

This night was held in the unique and breath-taking gardens of Blue Hummingbirds, where poets, musicians, word lovers and the corporates gathered to experience an  infusion of barbeque and poetry. The Body of Brian,with his melodious Humanoid, stunned the crowd. Mark Gordon,  slam poet, recited several poms amongst them, Rolex, published in Boda Boda Anthem.

The Body of Brian, performing Humanoid.

Israel Kalyango was probably the biggest surprise when he sang Lean on Me. Rather timid at first, his gifted voice rang throughout the night. One of our favourite comedians Daniel Omara, was able to wow us at every interval with his unforgettable jokes and gimmicks. you should hear the on about his surname.

Earlier that day, Babishai participated in the Song of Lawino 50th anniversary symposium, held at Makerere University. Packed to the brim with academics, students, schools and writers, Okot p’Bitek received a full honour that day.

Professor Taban lo Liyong and Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva at Makerere University.

During the Babishai Poetry Festival from  24-26 August in Kampala, we’ll be holding more celebrations of Song of Lawino @ 50.

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