Two talented CPUT students with a passion for poetry recently showcased their skills at an international youth slam poetry festival in the United States.
Lesego Mkhize and Alutho Mbendeni, both journalism students, were part of a four-member team who were invited to participate in the 20th Annual Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival, which was held in San Francisco, California.
According to Wikipedia a poetry slam is a competition at which oral poets recite original work. A panel of judges scores each participant, with those scoring lowest being eliminated until there is only one winner.
Members of Team SA were the winners of the Cape Town Youth Poetry Slam, held in April.
“The more you enter slam competitions the more you grow as a writer. You learn and you observe and you have so much to write about at the end of the day,” says Lesego, a second-year student.
The international poetry slam festival convened young poets from around the world for four days of workshops, slams, showcases, community service, and civic participation events.
South ho.Africa sent the only team from Africa and its team reached the quarter-finals of the competition.
“It was a great learning curve,” states first-year student Alutho.
