Poetry festival in McGregor

The McGregor Poetry Festival celebrates 12 years with the theme “Towards a Wonderful World” in an intimate poetry weekend-gathering format from Friday September 6 to Monday September 9 at Temenos Retreat in the village of McGregor, 150km from Cape Town.

Included in the programme are well-known poets presenting their latest work, new talent, and poetry for peace and healing.

The long-lost epic work of Robert Grendon Nongamu, which has now finally been published, will be presented.

There will be a special session honouring some of the small publishers who keep poetry alive: uHlanga Press, Modjaji, Botsotso, Dryad Press, Stanzas, Deep South, New Contrast, Strandwolf Press and African Sun Press.

You will have the opportunity to read your own poetry at the Hugh Hodge Open Mic, hosted by Harry Owen, and The Red Wheelbarrow Open Mic hosted by Jacques Coetzee and Eduard Burle.

The weekend also includes a fun quiz called “That’s Entertainment”, as well as performances of Ashley Dowds’ one-man show Circle Song.

There will be an art exhibition at La Galleria featuring the work of Adriaan Landmann, and the launch of the 2023 Poetry in McGregor Anthology, with readings.

On the line-up are Die Mengelmoes Digters – Theresa Carstens, Diana Ferrus, Fiona Fertyn, Gaireyah Fredericks, Naidene Lottering, Sophia Oliphant and Jadrick Pedro.

Elisa Galgut, Christine Coates, Wendy Woodward, Gertrude Fester, Stephanie Saunders, Chantal Stewart, Steve Shapiro and Archie Swanson, among others, will also be presenting.

Gaireyah Fredericks will accompany the young poets she mentors, and they will read their work at a dedicated session.

Past festivals will be celebrated with readings, in English and Afrikaans, from the 2013 to 2022 anthologies.

Poems read at the open mics will be eligible for awards, and for inclusion in the 2024 anthology.

Book through Quicket or at the Temenos office.

For the full programme and more information, visit https://poetryinmcgregor.co.za/