Africa poetry news

Here are some recent poetry news and updates from Africa:

Awards and Recognition

• The 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize has been won by Nigerian writer, Nnedi Okorafor, for her short story "The Bride of Eshu".
• South African poet, Makhosazana Ncube, has been shortlisted for the 2022 Forward Prize for Best First Collection for her book "If an Egyptian".
• Ghanaian poet, Nii Ayikwei Parkes, has been longlisted for the 2022 International Dublin Literary Award for his novel "Tail of the Blue Bird".

Festivals and Events

• The 2022 Lagos International Poetry Festival is set to take place from October 22-30, featuring performances by poets from around the world.
• The 2022 Cape Town International Poetry Festival is scheduled for November 12-14, with a lineup of local and international poets.
• The 2022 Nairobi Poetry Festival is planned for December 3-5, with a focus on promoting African poetry and spoken word.

New Releases

• "The BreakBeat Poets: New American Poetry in the Age of Hip-Hop" edited by Kevin Coval, Quraysh Ali Lansana, and Nate Marshall, features contributions from African poets such as Warsan Shire and Yrsa Daley-Ward.
• "The New Daughters of Africa" edited by Margaret Busby and Bernardine Evaristo, is a collection of essays, poetry, and fiction by African women writers, including Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Yvonne Vera.
• "The Poet's Companion: A Guide to the Pleasures of Writing Poetry" by Kim Addonizio and Dorianne Laux, features contributions from African poets such as Warsan Shire and Kofi Awoonor.

Online Platforms

• The African Poetry Book Fund, founded by Kwame Dawes and Chris Abani, has launched a new online platform, "The African Poetry Library", featuring a curated selection of African poetry.
• The online literary magazine, "The Kalahari Review", has published a special issue on African poetry, featuring work by poets from across the continent.
• The "African Poetry Database" has been launched, providing a comprehensive online archive of African poetry from the 19th century to the present day.

Other News

• The African Writers' Association has launched a new initiative, "African Writers' Residencies", providing opportunities for African writers to work and study abroad.
• The University of Cape Town's Centre for African Literary Studies has launched a new MA program in African Literary Studies, with a focus on poetry and creative writing.
• The "African Poetry Prize" has been established, with a focus on promoting and celebrating African poetry and poets.

These are just a few examples of the many exciting developments in African poetry.