Edward Tsumele

Edward Tsumele

Poetry vultures will descend on the Horror Cafe in Newtown, Jozi, to sample the best from some of this country's young lions and lionesses in the poetry arena.

The performances will start at 2pm on Friday and will run into the night in what promises to be the most memorable poetry event in Johannesburg in recent months.

Those featured will include Mmakgari Dabutha, Myesha Jenkins, Napo Masheane, Mac Manaka and Kojo Baffoe.

Dabutha is a soft-spoken, gentle-hitting wordsmith with an eternal touch. This angel of words has performed for dignitaries in functions and left them lapping from her poetic hands.

Myesha Jenkins needs no introduction. The chocolate-toned goddess from the US has found a home in South Africa and has been mesmerising poetry lovers for a while.

From the legendary Feel A Sista poetry collective, to a published poet, to a magical performer, there is just no stopping her.

Napo Masheane is a theatre director, poet, actress and gender activist whose stage presence is infectious and whose poetry delivery is bewitching. She has a solid following in Johannesburg poetry and theatrical circles.

Kojo Baffoe is admired as a love poet. He has already published two books and has debunked the myth that black men don't write love poems.

Baffoe's poetry embraces the spectrum of human experience and brings together a range of emotions and thoughts in free-flowing verse.