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EXPOSING THE VIRUS - a Poetry & Politics Symposiums

Fri Oct 23, 18:30 - Fri Oct 23, 22:00

Curiocity Joburg

ABOUT

EXPOSING THE VIRUS’ - Poetry and Politics Symposiums

The greatest virus in the world? Racism. Classism. Gender Discrimination.

LESEGO RAMPOLKENG IN DIALOGUE WITH Poets from Jamaica sharing poetry and ideas.

Symposium One 23 October 2020

join the amazing minds of MUTABARUKA and LESEGO RAMPOLOKENG.

Mutabaruka is one of the best-known dub reggae poets in the world. Born Allan Hope and raised in Rae Town, Kingston, Jamaica, Mutabaruka adopted his name from the Rwandan language, Kinyarwanda meaning one who is always victorious.

Mutabaruka was drawn into the black awareness movement of the late 1960s and early '70s and started performing with his band Truth in 1977.

Over the past four decades Mutabaruka has established himself as a global literary and musical force. Mutabaruka is a writer, musician, actor, educator, and talk-show host. He has worked as a performer and academic in his homeland and across the world.

Mutabaruka has created two of Jamaica's most popular radio programmes, The Cutting Edge and Steppin' Razor.

One of his best-known poems, Dis Poem, is known for the way in which it speaks truth to power and represents the commitment and creativity of this incredible artist.

Mutabaruka has received awards for his cultural activism from countries as far afield as Senegal and the USA. He was acknowledged in his home country, receiving the Government of Jamaica’s Order of Distinction, Commander Class for Cultural Contributions, in 2016.


Lesego Rampolokeng was born in Soweto, South Africa. He studied law but decided he was better cut out to be an ungovernable disturber of the peace.

Influenced by black consciousness during the 1970s and 1980s, and witness to the abuse of his people during the Apartheid era, Lesego has become a political commentator through his poetry, plays, novels. He has challenged the style of writing in the various genres he engages with and combines his own linguistic background and style of performance with a strong influence of Caribbean rap and dub styles of performance, creating his own unique voice. He is considered a major stream of consciousness writer on the continent.

Lesego has produced eight books of poetry, two plays and three novels, and collaborated with visual artists, playwrights, film-makers, theatre and opera producers, poets, and musicians. His body of work and his commitment to challenging his society and societal norms have earned him the reputation of being and uncompromising voice in literature.

Lesego is a formidable writer performer and intellectual and is currently doing a critical study of black consciousness in the work of Mafika Gwala

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EXPOSING THE VIRUS - a Poetry & Politics Symposiums
Curiocity Joburg
302 Fox St, Jeppestown, Johannesburg, 2043
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