For the first time in HERstory, the Pan Afrikan Poets Cafe will be hitting Sydney.
Zimbabwean storyteller, Poets Cafe founder, radio broadcaster and educator Sista Zai Zanda is bringing a powerful line-up of female wordsmiths and 'black girl magicians' to the Red Rattler Theatre in Marrickville.
Themed as 'Black Girl Magic', the event features the poetic mastery of Sista Zai, Lorna Munro, Kween G, Black Birds, Candy Bowers and Mahogany L. Browne.
Featured poet Candy Bowers lists her top five 'black girl magicians' (icons and inspirations) before the event.
Mahogany L. Browne (US)
International award-winning author, slam poet, director of the Nyorican Poets Cafe in New York, Mo Browne has always been a huge inspiration. Her raw and lyrical poetry combined with years of work on Brooklyn street corners and on the underground of NYC makes her an Icon of of hip hop culture.Hannah Pool (UK)
The ever-stylish Eritrean born journalist and commentator Hannah Azieb Pool's first gig was as the Fashion and Beauty Editor of The Guardian. I met Hannah in South Africa when she was working on her new design book 'FASHION CITIES AFRICA'. She is currently the senior programmer of WOW and Africa Utopia festivals at the Southbank Centre London.{youtube}v=WDZJPJV__bQ{/youtube}
Lebo Mashile (South Africa)
"You and IWe are the keepers of dreams
We mould them into light beams
And weave them into life’s seams.."
The hugely influential South African poet, actor and writer whose words rock my world. I first saw Lebo in London performing poetry in 'Beyond Words'. Her parents were exiled to the US in the '70s and '80s and her work is universal.
Eugenia Flynn (Australia)
Writer, Activist and current Executive Officer of Melbourne's Social Studio (Fashion and Food), Eugenia is a gentle and intelligent leader. A unique and absorbing talent, her use of language and storytelling skills are entangled in her multi-lingual upbringing.Beyonce (US)
“My daddy Alabama, momma LouisianaYou mix that negro with that Creole, make a Texas bama
I like my baby hair with baby hair and afros
I like my negro nose with Jackson Five nostrils
Earned all this money but they never take the country out me
I got hot sauce in my bag, swag.”
