Literary Festivals Archives - Page 6 of 12 - BABISHAI NIWE POETRY FOUNDATION

Introducing Charlotte Akello.

Charlotte Akello from Uganda, was shortlisted for the Babishai 2017 haiku prize. She is proud that Ugandans have represented well this year and if her haiku submission was a food, it would be cooked pilau, she says.

What drew you to enter for the competition?
I love writing haikus so when I heard about this competition, I decided to submit.

Do you have a particular story with haikus?
I love nature and I love poetry. It’s only natural that I fall in love with haikus. I usually take pictures and transform them to haikus. I started writing haikus last year and there’s nothing more relieving. I can still capture memories with haikus even when I don’t have a camera.

What do you feel towards the shortlist in general?
It’s great. I love the depth in the little poems. Too much is said in a few syllables. I also love the fact that Uganda is well represented unlike last year. This shows that Ugandan poets are getting on board.

What motivation do poets need, to keep writing, in this ridiculously competitive world that vies for their attention?
Poets need to be patient and aim to become better each day. Some poets tend to give up after a year or 2 yet writing in general needs a lot of patience.

If your 2017 submission was food, what would it be?
Pilau. It is eaten on festivals but everyone has his or her definition of a perfectly cooked pilau.

Here below is Charlotte’s haiku.

A slice of the moon

swimming in the calm night pond–

another festival

Charlotte Akello is proud that Ugandans are representing well this year. We at Babishai, congratulate her again. The winners will be announced at the #Babishai2017 Poetry Festival dinner on Sunday 6 August at Humura Resort, Kitante Close. Cards are on sale at 40,000/- Call +256 703147862. The full festival programme is here.

https://www.babishai.com/2017/07/17/babishai2017-poetry-festival-programme/

The full winning haikus are here:

http://bnpoetryaward.blogspot.ug/2017/07/the-babishai-2017-haiku-shortlist.html

“We see it but we don’t understand it. We understand it but we don’t own it.”

“Poetry is a teacher, an emotional healer, an activist, an intelligent mirror, an appraiser, a pleasure and a treasure in times of joy.”

St. Thereza Namagunga Primary School presented these unforgettable quotes during the #Babishai2016 Poetry Festival in August. The young brilliant minds redefined African poetry, set the stage for a tremendous performance.

Competing against Hope Senior School Watoto, the two schools put their best feet forward with incredible talent. Hope Senior School Watoto amused the audience when they began with a play where when a teacher asked them about a folk song, the best they could do was a song from the 90s.

Hope Senior School Watoto students

The younger girls of Namagunga stole the day when they performed Okot p Bitek’s poetry, significant for the 50th anniversary of the first publication of Song of Lawino.

Towards the close, there was a panel discussion led by the children. Acaye Pamela reminded us how words evoke emotion and truth and when it came to award-giving, Mama Tendo, proprietor of the Mama Tendo Foundation, gave out the prizes and cerificates, appreciating Babishai for the excellent work in promoting creative literature amongst children.

Mama Tendo reading a poem

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Tag: Literary Festivals

CHARLOTTE AKELLO FROM UGANDA; PROUD TO BE ON THE BABISHAI 2017 HAIKU SHORTLIST

Namagunga Primary wins The #Babishai2016 Schools’ Competition