Speak the Mind Poetry and Music Sessions

Koleka Putuma

Koleka Putuma

The popular poetry and music festival re-launches in Cape Town between February and March after a nine-year hiatus.

Known for bringing about thought provoking and entertaining content though a sublime delivery of spoken word and live music, The Speak the Mind Poetry and Music Sessions return after a nine-year absence. The reputable poetry and music festival re-launches in Cape Town with an outreach programme of creative writing workshops, masterclasses and an open mic session at Masiphumelele High School and Langa’s Guga S’Thebe Cultural Centre respectively on February 27 – 28.

The main event happens at The Homecoming Centre in District Six, Cape Town on March 1 with poetry headliners Koleka Putuma and Professor Pitika Ntuli, complemented by highly regarded street poet and attorney, Makhafula Vilakazi, as well as Page Dina, Valerio Moser from Switzerland and Keith Lewis, among other names. The music programme features jazz band of the moment, Kujenga, former The Soil lead-singer Buhlebendalo Mda, multi-instrumentalist and cape jazz veteran composer Hilton Schilder featuring Ndlulamthi and DJ Ra Mava.

Full artist line-up to be announced in the coming week.

The revival of Speak the Mind is an exciting development within the dearth of poetry and music platforms. Speaking on the motivations to bring back the beloved festival, founder Langa Mancunga says, “The total absence of well curated quality live word (and word-related) entertainment is what drove me to decide to rekindle the festival. Poetry is a valuable artform that carries strong messaging, and I have always found top-tier spoken word performances that have international flavour absolutely captivating and inspiring.

The objective when we started (and even now) was to create and stage a thoughtfully curated and organised showcase that takes audiences on an experiential trip where they are introduced to hot novice names, discover unknown surprise jewels and get exposed to spellbinding international talent.”

The inaugural show at the Songwriters Club in Newtown back in 2005 included the late legendary poet, Keorapetse Kgositsile, Kwani Experience, Maakomele Manaka, Blindfold, Lebo Mashile, Pitika Nutli, Stanley Kenani and Alfred Msadala from Malawi, setting a tradition of rich engagement and nuanced cross generational connections.

Over the decade of Speak The Mind the likes of Tamika “Georgia Me” Harper (USA), Roger Bonair-Agard (Trinidad), Ewok & DJ Veranda Panda, Jah9 & Rory Stone Love (Jamaica), Takeasha Henderson aka Queen GodIs (USA), Ishle Yi Park (Korea/USA) featuring Pops Mohamed, Neo Muyanga with the late Madosini, TJ Dema (Botswana), Floacist (of Floetry) and Mutabaruka have heated up the festival’s stages, creating stimulating memories with verse and tune.

The last festival was in 2016, its life suspended due to funding issues which were later exacerbated by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. This revival and 2025 iteration of the event is a continuation of a legacy that upholds and nurtures the power and magic of poetry and music.

Tickets for the Speak the Mind Poetry and Music Sessions cost R150 at Quicket.


Note To Editors:

The Speak the Mind Poetry and Music Sessions are presented in association with Elemental Flavours and proudly supported by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) with assistance from the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP 5), a special government initiative geared towards employment creation for artists, creatives, heritage and cultural workers through the National Arts Council of South Africa.


For further information, visuals and interview requests, please contact:
Aya Gidi
Tel: 073 904 0596 
speakthemind.africa@gmail.com


Kgomotso Moncho-Maripane
kgomotso.moncho@gmail.com
072 435 4632
Independent