Durban, 20 August 2025 – The countdown has begun for the 29th edition of the Poetry Africa Festival, presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Running from 6 – 11 October 2025 at Seabrooke’s Theatre in Durban, this year’s festival will gather poets, artists, and activists under the powerful theme: “POETRY: ARCHITECTURE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE.”
The theme highlights poetry’s role as a structural framework for equity, inclusion, and transformation. By giving voice to the marginalized and challenging systemic injustices, poetry becomes a tool to bridge divides, inspire change, and build a more just world.
Featured Poet: Ari Sitas
This year’s featured poet is Ari Sitas – a sociologist, poet, dramatist, ensemble leader, and civic activist. Known for using words as scaffolding for social critique and transformation, Sitas has consistently placed the cultural and creative voices of workers and communities at the center of his work.
His writings include:
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The Flight of the Gwala-Gwala Bird – exploring working-class culture.
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The Mandela Decade 1990–2000 – a critique of post-apartheid South Africa through sociological and poetic insight.
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Passageworks – his latest genre-busting book, launched with the Africa Open Institute alongside William Kentridge and Sarah Mosoetsa.
Sitas has been awarded numerous honors, including the Order of Mapungubwe in Silver for contributions to social sciences and the arts.
Global Gathering of Poets
The 2025 edition of Poetry Africa will feature 70 poets from across the world, including South Africa, Mexico, Nigeria, Kenya, Sudan, Palestine, Somalia, Uganda, Reunion Island, the UK, US, Jamaica, India, Côte d’Ivoire, Ukraine, and Brussels.
The festival continues to embrace a hybrid format, combining in-person events in Durban with an online program accessible to global audiences.
Partners & Support
The festival is made possible through partnerships with the University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, University of Johannesburg Arts and Culture Centre, and the French Institute of South Africa.
How to Join
The full programme and ticket sales will be released on 25 August via poetryafrica.ukzn.ac.za. For updates, follow @PoetryAfrica on Instagram and Facebook.
