Twelve + One

Description

In this thought-provoking and enlightening collection of interviews (accompanied by several poems from each participant), thirteen Johannesburg based poets create a memorable mosaic of those pursuing this ancient vocation. Veteran poet, Mike Alfred, draws out their personal histories as well as reflections on each poet’s evolution as an artist and expectations for the future. The resulting cross section of generations, styles, cultures and languages gives us both background and direct testimony of their diversity and depth. And so those wishing to extract more bullion from the City of Gold will find more than the fool’s variety that has taken so many lives and in its place celebrate the wealth of words. The poets include Jane Fox, Frank Meintjies, Phillippa Yaa de Villiers, Ike Mboneni Muila, Gail Dendy, Ahmed Patel, Nova, Lionel Murcott, Makhosazana Xaba, Siphiwe ka Ngwenya, Allan Kolski Horwitz, Mandi Poefficient Vundla and Mike Alfred.