BN Poetry Award reports:
On the morning of 15th September, close to thirty poets, writers, spoken-word performers and film-makers gathered at 32° East | Ugandan Arts Trust, to participate in the grand opening of Uganda’s first poetry library.
Dorothie Ayebazibwe at poetry library launch (Photo by Buyondo)
About One thousand five hundred titles were recently donated by the African Poetry Book Fund and Prairie Schooner, to collaborate with poets in Uganda and set up a space exclusive to poetry. The grand opening of the library, which was also the official kick-off of the BN Poetry Award Festival, celebrating the winners of the 2014 prize, was a celebration of a new future.
The launch started off with readings and performances from past Prairie Schooner Fusion poems, which led to readings from Makerere University Literature students and members from Poetry-in-session and Femrite. Some of the BN Poetry Award shortlisted poets namely Saba El Lazim from Sudan, Tom Jalio from Kenya (who eventually won), Dorothie Ayebazibwe and Moses Kyeyune from Uganda read from their shortlisted poems too. Beverley Nambozo, coordinator of the annual BN Poetry Award, thanked all in attendance and especially Fred Batale, the assistant librarian at 32° East | Ugandan Arts Trust, for receiving the shipment, cataloguing each title and together with the staff, publicizing the event widely...[continue reading]
