Dear Friends,We are relishing thoughts of 2016 as we thank you for being great partners and friends this year. The Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation team is indebted to you for your unyielding support, humour and leadership.

Our Babishai Poetry Festival takes place next year from 24 to 26 August 2016 in Kampala. The theme is Abundance: Poetry from Contemporary Africa.  -themes include, but are not limited to:-

1. Does poetry from Africa need a definition and how does that impact its production?
2. The extension of poetry and the sustainability of relationships with artists and the corporate world

• If poetry exists everywhere, why do so many people say that they don’t understand it?

1. When and how does a poem become a poem?
2. The co-existence of political and personal freedom and bondage
3. Teaching poetry to children and the question of age-appropriate poetry and its accessibility

If you are interested in participating in the festival, kindly email festival@babishainiwe.com,We will also, together with literary partners, celebrate the golden anniversary of Song of Lawino’s first publication in Luo and English since it was first published in 1966. A few schools and guest writers and poets from across Africa, The U.S and Europe have already confirmed attendance at the festival. From January, we will unveil them. The facebook page is Babishai Poetry Festival.

We will also launch our new website and in June, hold the first ever in Uganda, Poetry On The Mountain, scheduled for June and alongside this will be a launch of a poetry collection. Mount Rwenzori’s first ever poetry collection launch.

The 2014 and 2015 Babishai Poetry award long-listed poets will also be published in an anthology and launched during the #Babishai2016 Poetry festival.

We wish you a magnificent year ahead and sincerely look forward to bumping our poetry minds together. Read below for more of our festival calls.

Kindly note that our new official address is babishainiwe@babishainiwe.com

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SPECIAL CALL FOR UGANDAN WOMEN POETS DURING THE #BABISHAI2016 POETRY FESTIVAL

Nakisanze Segawa performing during the African Poetry Library launch, 2014. Photo by Buyondo

#Babishaipoetry began by celebrating Ugandan  female poets and we aren’t stopping yet. We invite the talented women of Uganda to join us for the #Babishai2016 Poetry Festival from 24-26 August 2016, under the theme, Abundance: Poetry From Contemporary Africa.

We invite you to showcase your work by:-

• Launching your poetry collection
• Performing your poems
• Attending a poetry master class or monologue
• Participating in a poetry dialogue or silent poetry or
• Showcasing children poetry or poetography

We accept poetry in Lumasaaba, Luo, Luganda, Runyankore and any other Ugandan language.

During the three-day festival, we will also have new and older Ugandan and international poets and artistes performing, holding open mics and children’s poetry sessions.

Eligibility

If you are a Ugandan female poet, send us the following:-

• A one-page summary of what you propose to showcase (as MS Word attachment)
• A 500-word bio (as MS Word attachment)
• A recent passport photograph (in jpeg or GIFF)
• Links to your previous work

DEADLINE: Monday, 8 February 2016.

Successful poets will be notified on Monday, 4 April 2016

We look forward to CELEBRATING #Babishai2016 with you

For inquiries, contact: 

Harriet Anena: +25678141297

Email babishainiwe@babishainiwe.com or festival@babishainiwe.com, with your work.

Many children in Africa are interested in the dance and music of poetry but where do they find it? We have a three-day poetry festival this August from 24-26. In celebration of our Babishai Poetricks program, primary school children will be making their own case for poetry?

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#BABISHAI2016    #LAWINO@5O

CELEBRATING SONG OF LAWINO’S GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY SINCE ITS FIRST PUBLICATION IN LUO AND ENGLISH IN 1966.

Internet source

Are you filled with the potency, cultural significance and shrewdness of Okot p’ Bitek’s Song of Lawino? Then join us for the #Babishai2016 Poetry Festival from 24-26 August 2016 in Kampala. This is an open call. In 2016, the celebrated Song of Lawino is celebrating 50 years since its first publication in Luo and English,1966.  We want to make this 50^th anniversary as grand as we possibly can.

Under the special theme, #LAWINO@50, we invite you to showcase your work,  by:-

• Performing your poems on the theme of #Lawino@50
• Leading a poetry master class or monologue
• Participating in a poetry dialogue or silent poetry or
• Showcasing children’s poetry or poetography
• Presenting a paper or new theoretical discussion

We accept poetry in Acholi, Langi, Alur, Lumasaaba, Luganda, Runyankore and any language, you please. We want to hear from you and celebrate with you.

During the three-day festival, we will also have new and older Ugandan and international poets and artistes performing, holding open mics and children’s poetry sessions.

It’s an open call.

If interested, send the following details:-

• A one-page summary of what you propose to showcase (as MS Word attachment)
• A 500-word bio (as MS Word attachment)
• A recent passport photograph (in jpeg or GIFF)
• Links to your previous work

All works and inquiries should be sent to babishainiwe@babishainiwe.com

DEADLINE: Monday, 8 February 2016.

Successful poets will be notified on Monday, 4 April 2016

We look forward to CELEBRATING #Babishai2016 with you!