Winner of the Poetry Africa Slam Competition 2021, Xabiso Vili, recently represented South Africa in the final of the World Slam Poetry Competition in Brussels, competing against slam poets from 40 nations across the globe.
After leaving a great impression on the international jury with his poem ‘Forget How to Die’, Vili was declared this year’s World Slam Poetry Competition Champion. In his winning speech, Vili pointed out that the award was not only his, but belonged to all the slammers in the tournament who grew enormously during the time spent together. Vili is a multi-award-winning performer, writer, new media artist, producer and social activist. He strongly believes that art offers humanity a path toward integration, joy and healing. He works towards creating alternative spaces for art to be shared innovatively.
He is currently researching and creating a methodology for how writing can be used as a tool for therapy. He is a champion of multiple slams, has been published in various anthologies and has performed on four continents. Vili has also worked with abandoned spaces and converted them into art hubs. Vili has also released an album, a one-man show, a poetry collection and co-authored a Young Adult novella. He created an augmented reality poetry-audio-visual project, exhibited in Paris in June 2021, along with a projection mapping installation. His win comes shortly after Xabiso Vili was announced as the New Generations Featured Poet at the 26th Poetry Africa Festival presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Ismail Mahomed, Director of the Centre for Creative Arts, said: “At the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, we are incredibly proud of Xabiso’s achievement. He positions South African Slam Poets and the Poetry Africa Festival at the forefront on the global stage. Xabiso represents a generation of young South African Slam Poets who actively use their voices to advocate for a more just social order. We are also proud of the advocacy work done by Poetry Africa curator, Siphindile Hlongwa, to position the Poetry Africa Festival on the global stage.” The first inclusive World Poetry Slam Championship took place in Brussels from 27 to 29 September 2022. Apart from the championship itself, during these days, the organisers offer a satellite programme of diverse activities, collaborating with Brussels-based artists and organisations, to make this an unforgettable experience for all. The championship in 2023 will take place in Brazil, and the Centre for Creative Arts will host the championship in 2026.
