DigiPoems 2021 is Here!
DigiPoems, the cross-sector arts collaboration between UK and Southern African creatives is back! This year’s edition is bigger and better! But before we get into details on the 2021 Edition, here is the run down on what DigiPoems really is.
What is DigiPoems?
DigiPoems is a programme commissioned by British Council and delivered in partnership with Comexposed and Page Poetry Alive, that provides digital artists and poets from the UK and Southern Africa an opportunity to co-create new art through experimental digital illustrations, animation, and poetry.
The digital artists’ work is presented as a creative and imaginative ninety second visual interpretation of their collaborating poets’ work. These collaborative pieces are then showcased across digital media platforms of all the DigiPoems partners.
DigiPoems’ objective is to provide an opportunity to connect creatives and arts organisations within Southern Africa and the UK to collaborate, share skills, find new audiences, network as well as supporting the creation of new innovative collaborative art.
DigiPoems 2021- What’s Going Down This Year!
The 2021 edition will be more exciting! Commissioned by British Council, Comexposed (ZW) and Page Poetry Alive (ZW) will be partnering up with Writing West Midlands (UK), BBC Contains Strong Language Festival (UK) and Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 to deliver the third Edition of DigiPoems!
To keep in line with COVID- 19 regulations and for the safety of our community, the third Edition of DigiPoems will be held entirely online!
This year DigiPoems will feature the collaborative work of six digital artists, Refilwe Bantle Wale (Botswana), Dana Chis (UK), Tavonga Shumbanhete (Zim), Kudakwashe Rwizi (Zim), Eugene Ramirez Mapondera (Zim) and Mudiwa Kimberely Marasa (Zim) and their six poetic counterparts Andrea Mbarushimana (UK), Aysar Ghassan (UK), John Bernard (UK), Lorna Zita (Mozambique), Musenga “MessenJah” Katongo (Zambia) and Prudence Delah Dube (Zim).
The DigiPoems launch event will be happening on the 29th April on Page Poetry Alive’s Facebook Live, Instagram Live and YouTube Live. Afterwards, there will be some exciting and engaging online skills development, networking, and showcasing events where the artists will share their experiences, creative skills and process..
A big highlight of this year’s Edition is that it will be featured at BBC Contains Strong Language Festival in September 2021 as part of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 where the participating creatives will showcase their work!
What’s happened so far?
The first Edition of DigiPoems was launched two years ago on the 7th of February 2019 at Alliance Française in Harare.
Those who attended the DigiPoems launch event had the pleasure of watching the amazing collaborative work of Zambian poet, Musenga Katongo and Zimbabwean digital artist Tavonga Shumbanhete, Mozambican poet Alberto Juliano and UK artist Will Hurt as well as that of Zimbabwean artist Tatenda Ndove collaborating with Botswanan poet Ndii Aphrykah.
2020 marked the launch of second Edition of #Digipoems, and the event was showcased brilliant collaborative work between artists and poets from the UK and Southern Africa.
The launch event was held on the 14th of February at British Council, Harare and attendees were wowed by the co-creations of poet Tice Cin (UK) and Lerato Motshwarakgole (Bw) on the poem “I am the River”, Mozambican poet Lorna Zita and Zimbabwean digital artist Tanyaradzwa Njerere on a poem titled “African Identity” and UK Poet Rufus Mufasa and Comexposed showcased their collaboration on the poem “Kill the Empath”.
All the previous DigiPoems can be viewed here: DIGIPOEMS VIDEOS
Join us again for this year’s edition being launched online on 29 April and don’t miss out on another awesome event! Follow the #DigiPoems to get updates.
About the Project Partners
Page Poetry Alive
Page Poetry Alive is a poetry collective that nurtures storytellers from page poets to spoken word artists with as focus on youth development and explorative work. Page Poetry alive is based in Harare, Zimbabwe.
https://instagram.com/pagepoetryalive?igshid=wxubmd2bdaql
Comexposed
Comexposed is a brand and division of Kay Media Africa. Comexposed is the organisation behind the annual Zimbabwe Digital Arts Convention, Converge. Comexposed has built a community of digital creators breaking the boundaries in Zimbabwe, Africa, and the World. www.comexposed.com
Writing West Midlands (WWM)
Writing West Midlands (WWM) is the Literature Development Agency for the West Midlands region of the UK.
BBC-Contains Strong Language
Contains Strong Language is the BBC’s national poetry and spoken word festival. The BBC’s poetry and spoken word festival Contains Strong Language will be coming to Coventry in September 2021 for the biggest celebration of poetry ever seen in the region.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08hbd4j
Coventry City of Culture Trust
Coventry City of Culture Trust is the organising body behind Coventry UK City of Culture 2021.
www.coventry2021.co.uk/coming-soon/contains-strong-language/
Nine Arches Press
Nine Arches Press was founded in 2008 and emerged from an awareness of the local literary landscape and a desire to provide a platform for new and emerging poets. Since 2008, Nine Arches has continued onwards and upwards, publishing poetry and continuing to develop Under the Radar magazine
Voluntary Arts
Voluntary Arts works to promote and increase active participation in creative cultural activities across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
The British Council
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education, and the English language. Last year we reached over 80 million people directly and 791 million people overall including online, and through broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive a 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government.
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