25 years of the Medellín International Poetry Festival: World Poetry Summit for Peace and Reconciliation
25 MEDELLIN INTERNATIONAL
POETRY FESTIVAL
July 11th to 18th, 2015
2nd World Poetry Summit for Peace and Reconciliation
With the aim of strengthening the climate of peace and reconciliation of the Colombian people and of expanding the dialoging and visionary spirit of poetry, in a city sorely affected and segmented by complex social problems, there shall be celebrated, from July 11th to 18th, the first 25 years of existence of the Medellín International Poetry Festival, one of the great icons in the struggle to overcome the deep hatred that divides us due to a long conflict, and to materialize utopia in our country.
In parallel to the Festival, Alternative Nobel Prize in 2006 and national cultural heritage, main events shall be held, such as the 2nd World Poetry Summit for Peace in Colombia, the 19th Medellín International Poetry School, the International Meeting of Poetry School and Workshop Directors, the Meeting of the National Coordinators of the World Poetry Movement in different continents and countries, the World Young Poets Meeting, and an International Poetry Translators Meeting.
The 25th Medellín International Poetry Festival –organized by Prometeo Magazine, with the attendance of 100 poets from over 40 countries through over 150 poetry, musical, academic and artistic events, and which shall include rock and rap concerts and several photography and art exhibitions– shall also be the framework for honoring the winner of the I René Char World Poetry Award, launched last December by the Festival, which will earn the winner US$ 6,000 and an air ticket from any country in the world to take place in a Festival which is a world pioneer in social and cultural impact on contemporary society.
The 2nd World Poetry Summit for Peace in Colombia will include panels, conferences and dialogues between world poets who have taken part in peace and conflict resolution processes, specialists in the field, artists and peace builders, human rights defenders and environmentalists, who will submit to the country documents with their recommendations for strengthening the will for a new country that is really just, harmonious, democratic, peaceful and poetic.
Additionally, the Festival shall edit and publish #102 of Prometeo magazine, which shall include poems and essays by the guest poets, a Report on this international event’s 25 years’ history, and a world poetry anthology by bards from 150 countries who have taken part in this event.
Attending poets
The following poets have fully confirmed their attendance: Basir Ahang (Afghanistan), Martin Langford, Eduardo Dalter, Karina Macció (Argentina); Samuel Wagan Watson (Australia), Winston Farrell (Barbados), Gabriel Chávez Casazola (Bolivia), Tj Dema (Botswana), Jean-Claude Awono (Cameroon), Álvaro Inostroza Bidart, Oscar Saavedra Villarroel (Chile), Shen Wei, Yang Ke (Popular Republic of China), Giovanni Quessep, Eduardo Gómez, Jotamario Arbeláez, Juan Manuel Roca, Jesús Gaviria, Alfredo Vanín, Fernando Rendón, Jorge Eliécer Ordóñez, Juan Mares, Carlos Vásquez, Marco Mejía, Javier Naranjo, Gabriel Jaime Franco, Gustavo Garcés, Fernando Herrera, Manibinigdiginya -Tule Nation-, Álvaro Marín, Orlando Gallo, Cristina Toro, Jairo Guzmán, Wiñay Mallky -Yanacona Nation-, Vito Apushana -Wayuu Nation, Hugo Jamioy Juagibioy -Kamsa Nation, Juan Diego Tamayo, Anna Francisca Rodas, Winston Morales, Lina Gómez, Lindantonella Solano -Wayuu Nation-, Eliana Maldonado, Ángela Suárez, Edwin Rendón, Diana Isabel Pizarro, Isabel Dunas, Ronald Cano, Felipe López, Felipe Posada, Carlos Andrés Jaramillo, John Garzón, Yenny León, Camilo Restrepo (Colombia), Norberto Salinas (Costa Rica), Marko Pogačar (Croatia), Norberto Codina, Omar Pérez, Jesús David Curbelo, Jamila Medina, Larry González, winner of the Award Magazines Gaceta-Prometeo (Cuba), Augusto Rodríguez (Ecuador), Mohamed Salmawy (Egypt), Manlio Argueta (El Salvador), Paul de Brancion (France), Dinos Siotis (Greece), Francisco Nájera (Guatemala), Kate Newmann (North Ireland), Stefano Strazzabosco (Italy), Mite Stefoski (Macedonia), Umar Timol (Mauritius), Natalio Hernández -Nahuatl Nation-, Juan Gregorio Regino -Mazateca Nation-, Kalu Tatyisavi -Savi Nation- (Mexico), Maria Augustina Hâncu (Moldavia), Baatar Galsansukh (Mongolia), Ayo Ayoola-Amale (Nigeria), Marry Ailonieida Somby -Sami Nation- (Norway), Hanan Awwad (Palestine), Ron Riddell (Nueva Zelanda), Myra Jara Toledo (Perú), Dinah Roma (Philippines), Magdalena Camargo Lemieszek (Panama), Ivo Svetina (Slovenia), Rafael Lechowski (Spain), Bengt Berg (Sweden) Nouri Al Jarra (Syria), Ataol Behramoglu (Turkey), David wa Maahlamela (South Africa), Pornpen Hantrakool (Thailand), Moëz Majed (Tunisia), Kevin Bowen, Katharine Coles (United States), Robin Myers (United States), Freddy Ñañez (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela).
The Festival count with relevant support from Municipality of Medellín, Ministry of Culture of Colombia, Norway Embassy, Zhongkun Foundation for Development of Poetry, Foundation Alta Mane, Confiar Financing Cooperative, Municipality of Envigado, Coofinep Financing Cooperative; among other institutions.
Although the Festival does not count on the support of private enterprises, it hopes that entrepreneurs shall take part in this celebration that has long been at the fore of Colombias cultural and spiritual movement for plural dialogue between the Earths poetry and cultural traditions, for the building of a creative and inclusive environment, and for a whole and just peace, within the context of a democratic culture.
Published at January 27th, 2015
Updated May 18th
