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In its second incarnation under the Africa Centre’s banner, what was the Spier Poetry Exchange will now be launched as Badilisha! – An African Poetry X- change at the Africa Centre in 44 Long Street on Heritage Day, 24 September.

This project - which in late January 2008 took the form of a one-week festival with a series of educational community-based satellite activities – has been further developed by the curators Malika Ndlovu and Lorelle Royeppen –Viegi. Badilisha! – An African Poetry X- change will no longer be confined to an annual festival format but manifest in a range of poetry and related activities throughout the year, with a festival showcase remaining a highlight on this calendar scheduled for late May 2009 tying in with Africa Day activities on 25th May, an annual commemoration of the 1963 founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union.

Badilisha! – An African Poetry X- change’s 2008 programme launches with the first of a series of events - a National Heritage Day event entitled Belongings: A Poetic X-ploration of Heritage. A feast of ten Cape Town - based poets including Andrea Dondolo, Rustum Kozain, Jitsvinger (Quintin Goliath), Khadija Heeger, Burni Aman , Winslow Schalkwyk, Diana Ferrus, Christopher Ferndale, Annelie De Wet and Harrison Makubalo will bring their inspired and varied voices to a creative re-engagement of our personal and political histories. Each poet will bring a box – a container and symbol which they will “unpack” for us through poetry and performance, sharing with the audience the significance of this apparently neutral container now infused with meaning. The box as a metaphor potentially points to personal heritage, legacies and heirlooms, forced removals, occupation of new spaces, unpacking of histories, safekeeping of one’s belongings, storage of archival material or treasures and much more. In the hands of our local poets we enter the realm of multiple interpretations and perspectives as they lead us up a staircase, down a passage, into a corner, onto balcony of this historical building where we share their discoveries, recoveries and revelations.

Belongings: A Poetic X-ploration of Heritage takes place on 24th September 2008, from 15h00 to 17h00 at 44 Long Street, the new premises of the Africa Centre (www.africacentre.net) – also home to the recently launched the New Space Theatre. Entrance to the public is free. For further information contact curator Malika Ndlovu on himoon@yebo.co.za or Project Manager Lorelle Royeppen-Viegi on lorellev@gmail.com