Announcing: Imbewu Yesini, an anthology of young Cape poets!

uHlanga, Lingua Franca Spoken Word Movement and the Cape Youth Poetry Hub for Expression and Rhythm (CYPHER) are proud to announce the upcoming publication of Imbewu Yesini, an anthology of poetry, predominantly in Xhosa, written by young Cape poets.

Imbewu Yesini – compiled of work by various members of CYPHER aged between 15 and 19 – presents a journey through the gendered experiences of young poets, bearing witness to the wounds and the narratives that have come to separate women and men, and celebrating our power to shed worn petals and plant new seeds.

This marks the first of many upcoming collaborations between uHlanga, CYPHER and Lingua Franca, helping to bridge the gap between page and stage, and to promote publication of more poetry in African languages. CYPHER's youth poets represent a diversity and breadth of communities in the greater Cape Town area and beyond, including Fish Hoek, Khayelitsha, Delft, Mfuleni, Stellenbosch, Gugulethu, Knysna, Kraaifontein, Philippi, Simon’s Town and many more.

Featured poets include Lesego Mkhize, Sethu “Qhawekazi” Phekelela, Molupi Lepedi, Aviwe Gwele, Palesa Mohlala, Vusumuzi Mpofu, Genevieve Zongolo, Phelisa Sikwata and Sisipho Makambi. The cover art is by Danny Mose Modiba. The collection also includes a foreword by uHlanga poet Koleka Putuma, whose debut collection, Collective Amnesia, will be published by uHlanga in April 2017.

Imbewu Yesini is to marked for release at the end of November. For launch details, follow both uHlanga and Lingua Franca on Facebook.