Deft Poetry is back!
The art of writing and reciting poetry is growing every day in Malawi. Last year, we saw the birth of a full poetry festival called Deft Poetry which took place at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre. This year, organisers are back and have announced the return of the poetry celebration. Our Arts editor EDITH GONDWE taked to Deft Poetry spokesperson William Shumba for details.
Q
: This is the second edition of the Deft Poetry Festival. First tell us how the first edition faired?
A
: We were humbled with the overwhelming support from both poets and poetry lovers. I should open up to the masses here. Being the events organiser, I was so afraid the morning of 30th October 2021, my legs felt too heavy to take me downstairs where the event was. Deep down I was asking myself, what would happen if people didn’t come? However, my eyes saw the opposite of my expectations the moment I arrived in the Orchid Hall of Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre. Students were walking to and fro that day as if it was a school campus. Our host started adding more chairs as the planned seats were all filled. Last year’s Deft Poetry Festival was a dream come true.
Q
: What are you targeting this year and what activities are lined up to take place?
A
: Talking about activities, just like last year, poetry recitals by legendary poets from across the country will dominate. Meanwhile, we intend to add one big artist in the music circles because we believe that music is also poetry. I should remind people that Deft Poetry Festival has two segments, one which is Deft Poetry Speech Contest celebrated in the morning hours of the day intended to expose talents from primary, secondary and university students. This is followed by a massive ceremony cerebrating legendary poets in the afternoon. In addition, this year’s Deft Poetry Festival intends to act as a tool for renewable sources of energy as one way of mitigating climate change. We understand that as much as many people are planting trees, many are also cutting down trees, since many people Malawians rely on charcoal and firewood as sources of energy. As such, we, as a festival, seek to address sustainable energy sources.
Q
: Last year some poets complained that they were not given time to recite despite being on the programme. How do you plan to ensure that this year the programme is followed and every invited poet is given time to perform?
A
: We agree that some poets did not perform despite being invited and scheduled on our programme. Truly that error made us learn and with that we want to ensure that this year’s Deft Poetry Festival accommodates every scheduled artist.
Q
: Malawi is still in its infancy when it comes to embracing poetry festivals. What are you doing to popularise poetry?
A
: Truth be told, apart from ideas and skills that we have, such a big event needs money. We are looking for individuals and organisations to support us with money. Our greatest challenge to manifest a full picture of this dream is money. Such festivals are fully embraced when enough money has been set aside for planning the event. We need a prize for Deft Poetry speech contest for schools and students to be encouraged, we need money to handle artists logistics, and we need money to accommodate poets coming from distant areas. We need money to make the event as beautiful as we envision in our fantasies. Meanwhile, we are thankful and looking forward to a K2 million pledge from Caleb Thole and a K1 million pledge from a Mr Chokotho.
Q
: Anything you want to add?
A
: On the 30th of March this year, we are opening doors through our social media channels Deft Media Malawi to all poets interested to participate in this year’s Deft Poetry Festival. We encourage poets to share with us their A game for them to stand a chance of being part and parcel of this beautiful and unique event. We also invite companies to partner and help us achieve success together.
