Kistrech Poetry Festival 2016 Report
The 2016 edition of Kistrech International Poetry Festival took place on Monday 3rd to Saturday 8th October 2016. The guest-poets who participated include: Prof. Seth Michelson (USA), Godspower Oboido (Nigeria), Beatrice Ekesa (Kenya), Tete Burugu (Kenya), Dr. Hagar Peeters (Netherlands), Menace (Dennis Manduku) (Kenya), Anto-Kay (Antony Musyoka (Kenya), Vincent Oenga (Kenya), Gunnar Waerness & Sofia (Norway), Erling Kittelsen (Norway), Jennifer Karmin (USA), Eric Tinsay Valles (Singapore), Dr. Martin Serup (Denmark), Valerie LeBlanc & Danie H. Dugas (Canada).
The poets arrived on Monday 3rd October 2016 and travelled to Ksiii on the same day. On Tuesday 4th October 2016 the Vice-Chancellor, Kisii University, Professor John Akama, gave his welcoming speech and officially declared the festival open. On that day poets read their poems at Kisii University. On the same day, a paper titled, “Writing About Trauma in Poetry” was presented by Eric Francis Tinsay Valles (Singapore). Another paper titled, “Aesthetic Communication in Luo Children’s Performed Oral Poetry” was presented by the Kenyan scholar, the late Dr. Michael Oyoo Weche (Kenya), followed by “Flow: Big Waters” by Valerie Ann LeBlanc & Daniel H. Dugas (Canada). An academic paper titled, “Captions Without Images: On the Holocaust Museum” was presented by Dr. Martin Glaz Serup (Denmark).
In the afternoon of the same day, we had a Poetry Reading by Student Poets: Constany Oteki Mose, Elly Omullo, James Rolex Akatcha, Fabian Omoke, Sam Nyambari and Kodalo Tombo. We also had the launch of a poetry collection, Purgatorius Ignis & a play, Otenyo the Hero of the Abagusii, by Christopher Okemwa- Nsemia Inc. Publishers.
On the 2nd day, Wednesday 5TH October 2016, we had several presentations: “The Rains Down in Africa: Modern African Poetry within Our national Context”, by Tony Mochama (Kenya), “Speaking in Tongues: Poetry Translation and the Practice of Human freedom”, by Prof. Seth Michelson (USA), “Art and Destiny: Exploring Christopher Okigbo and Alexander Pushkin” by Godspower Oboido (Nigeria), and “Spoken Word in Kenya: Embracing Cultural Globalization” by Beatrice Ekesa (Kenya). We also had a Collaborative performance with Students by Jennifer Karmin (USA).
On the 6th day, Thursday 6TH October 2016, poets visited Genesis Preparatory School where they read poetry to pupils, donated books to the school library, and planted trees on the school compound. It was such a beautiful day. In the afternoon, on the same day, poets had a visit to Bogiakumu Village to share indigenous foods and brew & watch oral poetry of the Abagusii people of Kenya.
On the 4th day, Friday 7TH October 2016, poets visited Tabaka Soapstone Mine. In the afternoon, they had a Visit to Kiboko Bay, Kisumu. On Saturday 8th October 2016, poets departed to their countries.