XV International Poetry Festival of Medellín
Poets from Africa
Wole Soyinka (Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka), was born in Abeokuta, Nigeria, July 13 1934. Playwright, poet, novelist, critic, professor, lecturer, actor, translator, editor and political activist. In 1986 he became the first African writer and the first black writer in receiving the Nobel Prize of Literature. He attended the University of Ibadan, and the University of Leeds, in the United Kingdom. During his stay in England, he was librettist, actor and director of The Royal Court Theater in London. In 1960 he founded the Theater Company Masks, with which he would present his first major dramatic work, A Dance of the Forests. In 1964 he founded the "Company of Theater Orisun". In the 60's, during the civil war in Nigeria he was imprisoned two years. A mixture of the African mythical world with the European cultural traditions, his work is inspired by the tribal traditions, such as the Yoruba, under western forms. Poetry books: Idanre and other poems, 1967; Poems from the prison, 1969; A Shuttle in the Crypt , 1972 and Ogun Abibiman, The long poem (Ogun Abibiman,) 1976. Among his novels, they stand out, The interpreters, 1965. Philosophical Works: The Inhabitants of the Swamp; The Strong Breed, 1963; The Road, 1965. Theatrical pieces: Death and the King´s Horseman, 1975; Kongi's Harvest, 1967; The Lion and the Jewel, 1964; The Trials of Brother Jero, 1964; The Bacchae of Euripides, 1973; Opera Wonyosi, 1977; A Play of Giants, 1985; and Requiem for a Futurologist, 1985.
Breyten Breytenbach was born in Bonnievale, South Africa in September 16 of 1939, Poet, painter, novelist and essayist. He left his country in 1960, and settled down in Paris, where he presented several artistic exhibitions. His first published poetic work was Ysterkoei Moet Sweet, 1964. In 1975 he was arrested for political reasons in his country in the days of apartheid. In 1982 he was liberated thanks to the French government's help. During his years in prison he wrote: The true confessions of a white terrorist, 1984. He has lived in Spain, France, South Africa and the United States. He was part of the International Parliament's of Writers delegation that recently visited the occupied Palestinian territories. Other of his works: Die ysterkoei moet sweet, 1964; Katastrofes, 1964; Voetskrif, 1976; Blomskryf - anthology, 1977; Vingermaan - anthology, 1980;Une saison au paradis, 1981 Return to Paradise, 1993; Papierblom, 1998; Boklied, 1998; Memory of Birds in Times of Revolution (essay); Dog Heart, 1999. Lady One Human & Rousseau, 2001. A collection of his first poems was published in English translation in: In Africa Even the Flies Are Happy: Selected Poems, 1964-1977.
Timothy Wangusa was born in Uganda in 1940. He was reader and professor of Literature in Makerere University from 1969 to 2001, Secretary of Education and Consultant of the President. He has been invited to teach in universities of the United Kingdom, United States and Sierra Leona. Some works: Upon This Mountain, 1989; A Wordless World, 1994; Verse Anthem for Africa, 1995; and A Pattern of Dust, 1994. Active leader of the Anglican Church of Uganda.
Dorian Haarhoff was born in Namibia in 1944. Poet, narrator and workshop director of creative writing in África and in Canada. Professor of English Literature in the University of Namibia. One of his collections, Bordering includes a poetic history of his country. School songs is one of his lyrical books. His books for children include: Desert December, 1994; and Guano Girl and a children's play, Alice in Welwitschialand. He was invited to the Poetry Africa Festival in Durban, South África, in 2004. He has been published in magazines of India. His work is filled up with a mythological and psychological atmosphere also with the new physics and the narrative therapy. He wrote his first poem when he was 11 at the death of his father, from then on he discovers the relationships between poetry and health. Other works: The Writer's Voice, 1998; Tortoise Voices, 2001; Bordering, 1991; Aquifers and Dust, 1994; Tortoise Stories, Stories from Africa and the Great Elsewhere, CD, 2002.
Antjie Krog was born in Kroonstad, rural area of South Africa, in 1952. Poet, and journalist, she has also worked as teacher, lecturer and publisher. During the 80's she worked actively in the anti-apartheid movement. She has published eight poetry volumes in Afrikaans. Other poetry works, in Africaans, Dogter van Jefta, 1970; Januarie Suite, 1972; Mannin, 1974; Beminde Antarktika, 1974; Otter in Bronslaai, 1981; Jerusalemgangers, 1985; Mankepank en ander Monsters, 1989; Lady Anne, 1989; Voëls van anderster vere, 1992; Gedigte, 1989-1995; Down to my Last Skin, 2000; Kleur kom nooit alleen nie, 2000; Met woorde soos met kerse, 2002. Novels: Account of a Murder, 1997; Lang Pad na Vryheid (translation of the long route towards liberty of Nelson Mandela, 2000. Dramas: Mamma Medea (Translation of the drama Mom Medea) written with Tom Lanoye, from flemish and dutch into africaans, 2000.
Jean Claude Quentin (Quentin Ben Mongaryas) was born in Lambaréré, Gabon, January 1, 1948. He realized studies of International Public Relations in Tolouse. From 1976 to 1982 he worked as a diplomat in Germany. Member of the Association of Writers in French language and President of the Democratic and Cultural Front in his country. During 8 years he was president of the Association of Writers of Gabon. Poetic works: En route pour Kendjé, 1974; Poème et poésies, 1976; Dans la riviere en feu, 1978; Choix de poèmes, 1980 and Voyage au coeur de la plèbe, 1986. He has participated among other events in the African Cultural Meeting , Rabat, 1984; in Struga Poetry Evenings, Macedonia 1985 as well as in other important events.
Idris Tayeb was born in El Marj (Libya), in 1952. He studied Communicational Science and Journalism in Finland. Upon returning to his country, he worked as a journalist after 1968. In 1973 he was a correspondent for the Libyan press in Sweden and Finland. In 1978 he was imprisoned for life in Tripoli. After his release by a pardon in 1988, he dedicated himself fully to writing. He writes poems, essays, short stories and pieces of art criticism. From 1992 to 2000 he lived in Rome as Cultural Attaché of the Libyan Embassy in Italy and he worked for four years as Professor of Arab Letters in the Third University of the Italian capital. From 2000 until mid-2005 he was the Cultural Attaché of the Libyan Embassy in New Delhi, India. He currently resides in Tripoli, the Libyan capital. His poems have been translated into German, Chinese, Spanish, English, Italian, Finnish, French and Swedish. He has published five books of poetry in Arabic. His most recent personal anthology is titled Fires of the sea, Tenderness of the desert, bilingual: Arab-English, translated by the author and published by Shibani Ahuja Kapoor publishers, New Delhi, 2003.
Koulsy Lamko was born in Dadouar, Chad, October 25 1959. Poet, playwright, novelist, author of scripts, cultural agent and actor. PhD in arts, language and French literature. Winner of numerous prizes for his dramas and brief narrative. His work has been presented by Theater Companies in África, Europe and Canada. Promoter of the Theater of the Community in Burkina Faso, he was one of the founders of the International Festival of Theatre for Development. He founded and directed the Center for the Arts and the Theater in the National University of Rwanda, where he has also taught Theater and Creative Writing. He produced a Poetry CD in 1997. Publications: Le camp tend la sebile, 1993; N'do kela ou l' initiation avortée, 1993; Tout bas
Si bas, 1995; Comme des fleches, 1996, Le mot dans la rosée in Brèves d'ailleurs, 1997; La tête sous l'aiselle, 1997; Regards dans une larme, 1990; Le repos des masques, 1995; Sou sou sou gre gre, 1995; Exils, 1993; Aurore, 1997; La phalène des collines, 2000; Le Serpent à Plumes, 2002; y Au large de Karnac in Europe vue d'Afrique, 2004.
Poets from America
Meira del Mar (Olga Chams Eljach), was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, in 1922. She studied music in the Conservatory Pedro Biava of the University of Atlántico and History of Art and Literature in Rome, Italy. The University of Atlántico granted him the Doctorate Honoris Causa in literature. She received the Simón Bolívar Medal of the Ministry of Education; the Medal of Colcultura; and the Medal Puerta de Oro of the Governorship of Atlántico. In 1995 she received the National Prize of Poetry for Recognition from the University of Antioquia. Member of the Colombian Academy of Language, since 1989. She directed during thirty six years the Departmental Public Library that has its name before her. Published works: Alba del Olvido, 1942; Sitio del Amor, 1944; Verdad del Sueño, 1946; Secreta Isla, 1951; Reencuentro, 1981; Laúd Memorioso, 1995; Alguien Pasa, 1998. Her poetry has been published in numerous Colombian, Hispanic-American collective anthologies as well as in some particular ones such as as Huésped Sin Sombra, 1971; and Poesía, 1962, Spanish-Italian bilingual edition printed in Siena, Italy.
Maruja Vieira was born in Manizales in 1922. Poet, professor, literary critic and journalist. Some of her published books: Campanario de lluvia, 1947; Los poemas de Enero, 1951; Poesía, 1951; Sombra del amor; Palabras de la Ausencia, 1953; Ciudad remanso, 1955; Clave mínima, 1965; Mis propias palabras, 1986; Tiempo de vivir, 1992; She is member of the Colombian Academy of the Language. A selection of her poetry was published in Medellín by the poet Jorge Montoya Toro in 1951.
Ernesto Cardenal was born in Granada, Nicaragua in 1925. He realized studies of Literature in the University of Mexico and later in the University of Columbia in New York. In 1957 he entered a trapist monastery in Kentucky, U.S.A, where the instructor of novices was the famous mystic writer Thomas Merton and he was there until 1959: Later he studied for priest, first at the Benedictine monastery of Cuernavaca ;Mexico and then at a Seminary in Antioquia, Colombia: He was ordered as a priest in 1965. He founded a small community in the archipelago of Solentiname in the lake of Nicaragua: During his permanence there he joined the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional and after the revolution won he was appointed as Minister of Culture. Besides being a writer he has performed during all his life as a sculptor, art in which he has greatly outstanded. Among his books there are: Epigramas; Hora 0; Salmos; El Evangelio en Solentiname; En Cuba; Canto Nacional; Oráculo sobre Managua; Cántico Cósmico; Telescopio de la noche oscura; Vida Perdida (Memorias Tomo I); Ínsulas Extrañas (Memorias Tomo II) and La Revolución Perdida (Memorias Tomo III).
Juan Calzadilla was born in the Guarico State, Venezuela in 1931. He made studies in the Universidad Central de Venezuela and in the Instituto Pedagógico Central. He was co-founder of the group El Techo de la Ballena (1961) and of the Magazine Imagen (1984). He has realized, an extensive work as plastic artist, literary critic and journalist. He is author of an extensive bibliography in plastic arts and has published around fifteen poetry titles among which they outstand: Dictado por la jauría, 1961; Malos Modales, 1965; Oh Smog, 1978; Minimales, 1993, Principios de Urbanidad, 1997; Corpolario, 1998; Diario sin sujeto, 1999 and Aforemas, 2004. In march-april, 2005 he visited Chile invited by the 26th Biennal of Sao Paulo, as member of the review that of this event took place in the Museum of Contemporary Art of Santiago. He lives in a remote town of fishers in the west coast of Venezuela: La Vela de Coro, state of Falcón. In 1997 he was awarded with The National Awards of Plastic Arts in Venezuela.
Nicolás Suescún was born in Bogotá in 1937. Poet, translator, journalist and bookseller, advanced secondary studies in Virginia; then he took courses of humanities, history and literature in the University of Columbia and, later on, in the school of High studies of Paris; at his return to Bogotá he was appointed professor of English at the National University; He worked at the Buchholz bookstore whose magazine Echo he directed during several years; in 1976 he exposed a collection of his collages in the University of Berlin and in the Gallery Belarca; then he founded the Extemporánea Bookstore, he was diagramador of the Magazine Nueva Frontera, Chief of the editorial staff in Cromos Magazine, he prepared international reports for the TV news program Noticias Uno, and author of countless bibliographical notes in different national and international publications . Translator of Rimbaud, Flaubert, Somerset Maughan, Ambrose Pierce, W.B. Yeats, Christopher Isherwood and Stephen Crane. Works: El retorno a casa, 1971; El último escalón, 1974; El extraño y otros cuentos, 1980; La vida es...; Los Cuadernos de N, 1994; y Oniromanía, 1996.
Alfonso Kijadurías was born in Quezaltepeque, Salvador, in 1940. He has lived in Madrid, Paris, New York and Vancouver, working as a translator and other occupations. He participated during two decades next to the poets of the so called Generación Comprometida in publications such as La Pájara Pinta. He obtained several awards for his poetic work such as two serial honorary mentions in the Casa de las Américas Awards in 1969 and 1970 for El otro infierno and Sagradas Escrituras respectively. Some works: Toda Razón Dispersa, Antología, 1998; Reunión, Antología, 1992; Obscuro, 1997; Es Cara Musa, 1997. He has also written works in prose from Cuentos (San Salvador, 1971) to Gravísima, 1967-1991, 1993; and the novel Lujuria Tropical, 1996.
William Agudelo was born in Bolombolo, Antioquia, Colombia, in November 14, 1942. He made some studies of Philosophy in the Seminar for adults of La Ceja (1964). Cofounder with Ernesto Cardinal of the Community of Solentiname Nicaragua (1966) from which he was a member until 1977. He worked with committees of solidarity with Nicaragua in Colombia and Germany (1978 - 1979). He worked as director of graphic arts and as producer of cultural recordings in the Ministry of Culture of Nicaragua from 1980 to 1984 and with reconstruction and development projects for the Association for the Development of Solentiname (APDS) from 1985 to 1990. He directed The Cultural Center Coro de Ángeles in Managua from 1990 until 2000. At the moment he is devoted to poetry, edition and correction works, to wood carving and leather engraving. Books: Nuestro lecho es de flores, 1970 (translated into German in several editions, under the title Unser Lager beiden Blumen auf dem Felde); El asalto a San Carlos, 1983; El ángel de San Judas, 1997; and Städtein Lateinamerika, Peter Hammer Verlag, Wuppertal, Germany, 1976 (collaboration with several authors of Latin America for a book about our cities with a special history.) Collaboration in poetry magazines such as: El Corno Emplumado, Zona Tórrida, Cormorán and Delfín, Nicarahuác and in literary supplements such as: La Prensa Literaria, El Nuevo Amanecer Cultural and The Literary Supplement of El Colombiano.
Sam Hamill was born in the United States in 1943. Poet, essayist and translator. Orphan during the Second World War, he served to the Marine corps in his country between 1961 and 1965, and at the moment he dedicates his time to fight against war and in favor of peace movements. He is author of 13 poetry books, three of essays, and of diverse translations from Old Greek, Latin, Estonian, Japanese and Chinese. He taught in prisons during 14 years, in artist's programs in residence for twenty, and worked thoroughly in favor of woman and unprotected children. He has received scholarships from The National Endowment for the Arts, The Guggenheim Foundation, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, the Mellon Fund, the U.S. - Japan Friendship Commission, among other recognitions. Founding Editor of Copper Canyon Press. In January of 2003 he founded Poets Against War. He also published a very well known anthology of antiwar poetry. His work has been translated into more than a dozen languages.
Juan Manuel Roca was born in Medellín in 1946. Poet, narrator, essayist and Colombian journalist. Published books: Memoria del agua, 1973; Luna de ciegos, 1975, Premio Nacional de Poesía Eduardo Cote Lamus; Los ladrones nocturnos, 1977; Señal de cuervos, 1979, National Poetry Prize Universidad de Antioquia; Fabulario real, 1980; País secreto, 1987; Ciudadano de la noche, 1989; Pavana con el diablo, 1990; Memoria de encuentros, 1995. Recently he was awarded with The National Poetry Prize from The Ministry of Culture of Colombia, for the work: Las hipótesis de nadie. During 10 years he directed the Magazin Dominical a weekly publication that comes out weekly with the newspaper El Espectador.
Enrique Hernández D'Jesús was born in Merida, Venezuela, in 1947. Poet, photographer and editor. Since 1978 he has carried out exhibitions in his country, Italy, Spain and Puerto Rico. He has published: Muerto de risa, 1968; Mi abuelo primaveral y sudoroso, 1974; Así sea uno de aquí, 1976; Los últimos fabuladores, 1977; Mi sagrada familia, 1978; Mi abuelo volvió del fuego, 1980; El circo, 1986; Retrato en familia, 1988; Los poemas de Venus García, 1988; Recurso del huésped, 1988; Magicismos, 1989; La semejanza transfigurada (94 fotografías intervenidas por Vicente Gerbasi), 1996; and La tentación de la carne, 1997. He has obtained diverse literature and photography prizes. At the moment he lives in Caracas.
Sergio Badilla was born in Valparaíso, Chile in November 30, 1947. Poet, narrator, essayist, playwright, translator, journalist, anthropologist and university professor. During his stay abroad, for political reasons -20 years - he was part of the Stockholm Workshop Group. Cultural journalist in Radio Sweden International and in the program Panorama of Sveriges Radio, during 13 years. Guest to the World Congress of Poets in Madrid, Poetry International of Rotterdam, The First Encounter of Writers of Spanish Language in the Canaries Islands, The World Encounter of Poets from Oslo and to Poesidagarna, in Malmo, Sweden where more than 40 poets gathered. In 1989 he organized, in collaboration with Sun Axelsson, The First Great Encounter of Latin American Poetry in Stockholm, Sweden, with the assistance of more than 40 poets, currently living in Europe. With La Mirada Temerosa Del Bastardo, he obtained the Poetry Prize: Ciudad de Valparaíso. He has been translated into Swedish, English and French. Other of his poetry books: La Morada del Signo, 1982; Cantonírico, 1983; Reverberaciones de Piedras Acuáticas, 1985; Terrenales, 1989; Saga Nórdica, 1996.
William Osuna was born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1948. Poet, editor and educator. He directed the poetry workshop at the Center of Latin American Studies Rómulo Gallegos, Celarg (1981), and the poetry workshop of the Casa de la Cultura de Maracay (1982). He Coordinated the literacy plan of the Barrio de los Erasos (1985). He gave a poetry class in the Metropolitan University, Culture Direction (1991-1995). He obtained the prizes: IV Biennial José Antonio Ramos Sucre (1976), Manuel Díaz Rodríguez (1982), Ciudad de Caracas (1983), He was mentioned in the international award organized by the Magazine Poetry, in Valencia, state of Carabobo (1990). He has published: Estos 81, 1978; Mas si yo fuera un poeta, un buen poeta, 1978; Antología de la mala calle, 1990, 1994, 2002; San José Blues + Epopeya del Guaire y otros poemas, 2003). He is editor of the Magazines: En el camino and A plena voz.
Rigoberto Paredes was born in Santa Bárbara, Honduras, in 1948. Published poetry books:En lugar de los hechos, 1974; Las cosas por su nombre; Materia prima, 1985; Fuego lento, antología personal, 1989 and La estación perdida, Co-author of the anthology Poesía contemporánea de Centro América.
Gabriel Jiménez Emán was born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1950. Poet, narrator, essayist, translator and editor. His work has been translated to several languages and collections in Latin American and European anthologies. He has represented Venezuela in international events in Athens, Paris, New York, Mexico and Seville. Some short stories: Los dientes de Raquel, 1973; Saltos sobre la soga, 1975; Los 1001 cuentos de 1 línea, 1980; Relatos de otro mundo, 1988; Tramas imaginarias, 1990; Biografías grotescas, 1997; y La gran jaqueca y otros cuentos crueles, 2002. Algunas novelas, La isla del otro, 1979 y Una fiesta memorable (Planeta, 1991). Libros de poesía: Materias de sombra, Premio Monte Ávila de Poesía, 1983; Narración del doble, 1978; Baladas profanas, 1993; and Proso estos versos, 1998. That same year the Cinemateca Nacional published his book of film essays Spectra of the cinema. Invited professor in the literary workshops of the Universidad Central and the University of Los Andes. He has worked in the Literature Direction of the Conac and the magazine Image of the same entity, in the Ministry of International Relations, in Venezolana de Television, in the Center of Latin American Studies Rómulo Gallegos, and he has been director of the House of Poetry of the Yacambú University (Barquisimeto). Poetry translator from the English language.
Fernando Rendón was born in Medellín in 1951. Poet, essayist, editor and journalist. Cofounder of the poetry magazine Clave de Sol in 1972. Founder of the poetry magazine Imago in 1988. Founder and Director of the poetry magazine Prometeo since 1982, with 72 issues up to the moment. Founder and Director of The International Poetry Festival of Medellin which has carried out fifteen editions of the event since 1991. He has published the poetry books Contrahistoria, 1986; Bajo otros soles, 1989; Canción en los campos de Marte, 1992; Los motivos del salmón, 1998; and La cuestión radiante (2005). His poems have been included in poetry publications in France, Germany, Sweden, Luxembourg, Serbia, Hungary, Angola, United States, México, Haití, Argentina, Brazil and Colombia. He has participated in international poetry encounters in Havana, Paris, Nantes, Rosario, Mondorf, Ludenscheid, Viena, Florence and Valencia, Venezuela. In 2002 he was appointed as editor of the Colombian poetry web page of Poetry International Rotterdam. He has directed and produced 17 documentaries in DV Cam format that make up a TV series entitled Tiempo de Poesía which is an audiovisual anthology of the participant poets in The International Poetry Festival of Medellin.
Piedad Bonnett was born in Amalfi, Antioquia, Colombia, in 1951. Since she was 8 she moved to Bogotá. She is a graduate in Philosophy and Letters from the University of los Andes, where she is Literature teacher in the faculty of Arts and Humanities since 1981. For her first book De círculo y Ceniza, 1989 she received mention of honor in the Spanish American Poetry Contest Octavio Paz. In 1991 premiered the play Gato por Liebre. In 1994 she published Nadie en Casa, her second poetry book. In that same year she obtained the National Prize of Poetry Colcultura with her book El hilo de los dias, published in 1995. In 1996, with Ese animal triste, she consolidated as one of the most representative voices in the contemporary Colombian poetry. In 1997 at the Teatro Libre she presented her second play named: Que muerde el aire afuera under the direction of Ricardo Camacho. In 1998 she published a personal anthology of her poetry entitled No es más que la vida and the book of love poems Todos los amantes son guerreros.
Santiago Mutis Durán was born in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1951. He has published the books: Tú también eres de lluvia; Soñadores de pájaros; El visitante; Afuera pasa el siglo; Relámpagos de la ciudad, Guillermo Wiedemann, Eduardo Ramírez Villamizar and Panorama inédito de la nueva poesía en Colombia. He is publisher since 1975, and within this work he has compiled the works of José Asunción Silva, Aurelio Arturo, José Antonio Osorio Lizarazo and Álvaro Mutis, among others. He has been vice-director of Procultura, founder of the Magazine Gazette, Director of Publications of the Colombian Institute of Culture and director of the Editorial Center of the National University of Colombia and the Literary Magazine Gradiva.
Di Brandt was born in Winkler, Manitoba, Canada, in 1952. She has published five poetry collections: Now You Care , 2003; Jerusalem, beloved, 1995; Mother, not mother, 1992; Agnes in the sky, 1990; and Questions I asked my mother, 1987. She published a critical study on the Women Contemporary Canadian Literature, Wild Mother Dancing: Maternal Narrative in Canadian Literature, 1993 and Dancing Naked: Narrative Strategies for Writing Across Centuries, 1996. She received The Canadian Authors' Association National Poetry Award, among other recognitions. Her poetry has been put into music, and adapted to theater, CD, cinema, video, radio, television, multimedia and dance.
Rita Dove was born in Akron, Ohio, United States, in 1952. Graduate in Fine arts from the University of Iowa. Her poetic works are: The Yellow House on the Corner, 1980; Museum, 1983; Thomas and Beulah, 1986; Grace Notices, 1989; Selected Poems, 1993; Mother Love, 1995; On the Bus with Rosa Parks , 1999 and American Smooth , 2004. She published a book of brief narrations, Fifth Sunday, 1985; the novel Through the Ivory Gate , 1992; and a collection of essays, The Poet's World, 1995. Her play The Darker Face of the Earth has been represented by diverse groups, among them The Royal National Theatre in London. In 1987 she received the Pulitzer Poetry Prize. She teaches English at the University of Virginia.
Esteban Moore was born in Argentina in 1952. Poet, translator and journalist. In poetry he has published: La noche en llamas, 1982; Providencia terrenal, 1983; Con Bogey en Casablanca, 1987; Poemas 1982-1987, 1988; Tiempos que van, 1994; Instantáneas de fin de siglo, 1999; Partes Mínimas y otros poemas, 1999. He has translated Charles Bukowsky, Raymond Carver, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, Gary Snyder, Bill Berkson, Anne Waldman, Andrei Codrescu, Seamus Heaney among others, In 1990 he was invited to The Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, founded by Allen Ginsberg, where he carried out a translation project. In 1994 he exposed about poetry and translation in the Poetry School of Vienna, Schüle fur Dichtung in Wien. He has participated of various festivals in his country as well as in those of Montevideo (1993), Medellín (1995) and in 1998 he was invited by Amiri Baraka to take part in the homage committee to Allen Ginsberg that carried out an encounter in New York, in which he participated. He collaborates with publications of his country and abroad. His work has been partially translated into English, Italian, German and Portuguese and included in several anthologies. At the present time he prepares an anthology of contemporary Irish poetry.
Victor Rojas was born in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1953. He studied law and political science. For two decades he has been living in Sweden, where he obtained a Master of Arts in Comparative Literature from the University of Gothenburg. He has performed as professor, cultural journalist and publisher. At the present time he works as inspector of supervised freedom in the Department of Criminology of Sweden. In 1996 he published his first book: Los suicidas no van al cielo. Then they have been published the books: Poemas para un pájaro ciego; Sin curar mis heridas; Mientras los vikingos saquean en París; and Palabras en remojo. He is also author of the books Un grito en la tierra and Textos de la bruma nórdica. He received the annual prize of culture from the city of Jönköping, (1997), the Prize Klas of Vylder of the Federation of Swedish Writers (1998), the Literary Prize of the Academy of Småland (2000) and the ABF Prize of the region of Jönköping (2002), for his work as translator of Swedish authors' into Spanish.
Carlos Osorio Granado was born in Venezuela in 1955. Poet, translator, plastic artist and musician, he works in the Department of Literature of the Direction of Culture of the University of Carabobo, where he has been directing workshops and seminars of poetic creation for 16 years. He is the vice-director of the magazine Poetry and belongs to the organizing committee of the International Poetry Encounter of the University of Carabobo. He has published the poetry books: Saravá, 1988; Albricias, 1992; Caminería, 1998; Vaivén, 1999 and Amatoria, 2004.He has received several prizes and distinctions in national contests, not only for his poetry but for his pictorial work as well.
Rubén Darío Arroyo was born in Sincelejo, Sucre, Colombia in July 3 of 1955. Poet and essayist, he is graduate in Social Sciences from the University of Atlántico, where he teaches in the Faculty of Human Sciences and Education. He has published the poetry books: Postales para Martha, 1987; Crónica y Ausencias, 1997 and Hojas de Diario, 2001. His first two books were published by the publishing house Escarabajo, which constituted itself into a literary group with a magazine of the same name that was distributed in Barranquilla, The Atlantic Coast , other regions of Colombia and abroad during the eighties.
Pedro Arturo Estrada was born in Girardota, Antioquia, Colombia, in 1956. Poet, narrator and essayist, he has been literary workshopist and member of the workteam of the House of Poetry Porfirio Barba Jacob in Medellín. His texts have been included in different anthologies, magazines and newspapers of Colombia and abroad. He was awarded the poetry prize Ciro Mendía in 2004. Co-founder of the magazine Fuegos. He has published the books: Poemas en blanco y negro, 1994; Fatum, 2000; and Oscura Edad y otros poemas, 2005.
Adhely Rivero was born in Arismendi, Barinas, Venezuela, in 1956. Graduate in Language and Literature of the University of Carabobo. He has been awarded with several literary prizes. He has published: 15 poemas, 1984; En sol de sed, 1990; Los Poemas de Arismendi, 1996; Tierras de Gadín, 1999. He currently works at the Department of Literature of the Universidad of Carabobo where he belongs to the editorial committee of the Magazine Poesía.
Humberto Jarrín was born in Cali, Colombia, in 1957. Poet, playwright, professor and editor. He received the National Prize of Literature, Colcultura, playwrighting for children, Bogotá 1992. National Award of Short Stories for Children, Atlántico, 1995. National Poetry Prize Ciudad de Chiquinquirá, 1996. National poetry prize Jorge Isaacs (two times 1994 and 1996). National Poetry Prize Ministry of Culture 1998. At the same time he has been devoted to the cultural diffusion in the mass media, He co-directs and presents the radio program "Gesto Cultural", co-director of the poetry magazine Deriva, director of the literary magazine of German School of Cali, "Clepsydra."
Ángela García was born in Medellín in September of 1957. Social communication studies Co-director of the video "La orilla opuesta". she has published the poetry volumes Entre leño y llama and Rostro de Agua. Poems published in the Anthology NEW LATIN AMERICAN POETRY New Lateinamerikanische, Germany, (bilingual Anthology), 1996. Anthology of Colombian Poetry, directed by Henry Luque Muñoz, Mexican edition, 1997. Publications in magazines and newspapers of Mexico, Spain, France, Costa Rica, Argentina, Venezuela, Germany. Member of the Editorial Committee of the magazine PROMETEO up to 1999. Co-founder and Executive Director of the International Poetry Festival of Medellín, from 1991 to 1999.
Allison Hedge Coke was born in the Cherokee nation in August 4 of 1958. Of French, Canadian and Portuguese ascendants, she grew riding horses, picking up tobacco in North Carolina and working in factories. She carried out studies of creative writing in the Institute for American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, and in the Boulder's Naropa Institute with poet Allen Ginsberg. Her poems have been included in diverse newspapers, magazines and in the anthologies: Speaking for the Generations and the Lanas, Visit Teepee Town , and Reninventing the Enemy's Language. Co-editor of Voice of Thunder. Her first published poetry book, Dog Road Woman obtained the American Book Award in 1998.
Ana Mercedes Vivas was born in Cali in 1960. Poet and journalist. Communications Official of the Regional Office of UNICEF for Latin America and the Caribbean. She has been translated into English, Portuguese, French, German and Galician, in diverse anthologies. Published Works: Verso a Verso, 1986; Las Trampas del Amor, 1991; Cartas de la Nostalgia, 1992; La Noche del Girasol, 1996 and Material de Guerra y otros materiales, She has been Writing Staff Coordinator of Semana and Chief of Press of Caracol Television.
Ariruma Kowii was born in Otavalo, Ecuador, August 4, 1961. Poet, professor and editorialist of the Quitean newspaper Hoy, He belongs to the Quechua nation. Graduate in Social and Political Sciences from the Central University of Ecuador. He teaches literature and Studies about Culture in the Andean University Simón Bolívar in his country. He has published the poetry books: Mutsuktsurini, 1988; Tsaitsik: poemas para construir el futuro -edición bilingüe, 1993; and Diccionario de nombres kichuas, 1998.
María Baranda was born in Mexico City, Mexico, in 1962. Poet, publisher and translator. She has written the poetry books: El jardín de los encantamientos, 1989; Fábula de los perdidos, 1990; Ficción de cielo, 1995; Los memoriosos, 1995; Moradas imposibles, 1997; Nadie, los ojos, 1999; Causas y azares, in collaboration with painter Magali Lara, 2000; Narrar, 2001; Atlántica y El Rústico, 2002; and Dylan y las ballenas, 2003. Her poetry has been translated into French, English and Lithuanian. She has obtained the prizes: Ibero-American Poetry Prize granted by the Villa of Madrid, Spain, 1998, I National Poetry Award of Aguascalientes, 2003.
Tarek William Saab was born in Anzoátegui, Venezuela, in 1963. Poet, lawyer, politician. He was President of the Commission of Human rights of the National Constituent Assembly in his country. He has published the poetry books: Los ríos de la Ira, 1987; El Hacha de los Santos, 1992; Príncipe de Lluvia y Duelo, 1992; Al Fatah, 1994; Ángel Caído Ángel, 1998; Cielo a Media Asta, 2001; Cuando Pasen las Carretas, 2003.He received the poetry prize:"Esta Tierra de Gracia" from la Casa Ramos Sucre, 1992 and was first finalist of the CONAC poetry prize in 1995. At the moment he is Governor of the State of Anzoátegui.
Pablo Montoya was born in Barrancabermeja, Colombia, in 1963. Poet, narrator, musician and university professor. He carried out studies of Music in the Superior School of Music of Tunja. Graduate in philosophy and letters from the University Santo Tomás de Aquino of Bogotá. Master and doctorate in Latin American Literature from the University of the New Sorboune, Paris. Since August of 2002 he is professor of literature of the University of Antioquia. He coordinates in Colombia the international collection files of the UNESCO. He has published: Cuentos de Niquía, 1996; La sinfónica y otros cuentos musicales, 1997; Habitantes, 1999; Viajeros, 1999; Razia, 2001. Winner of the National Competition of short-story "Germán Vargas" of the newspaper El Tiempo, 1993. Winner of the scholarship for foreign writers of the National Center of the Book of France, in 1999, for Viajeros. he was awarded the prize Colección de Autores Antioqueños with the book Habitantes, in 2000. His stories have been included in different anthologies of Colombia, Europe and Latin America.
Ramón Cote was born in Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, Colombia, in 1963. Poet and university professor. Graduate in History of Art from The Complutense University. He is author of five books of poems, among them: Poemas para una fosa común, 1984; Los fuegos olvidados, El confuso trazado de las fundaciones, 1991; Poesía, 1992; and Botella Papel, 1999. The book: Informe sobre el estado de los trenes en la antigua estación de Delicias was published in Venezuela in the collection Pequeña Venecia. He also published: Diez de Ultramar Antología de la joven poesía Latinoamericana. Collaborator of the supplement of literary critic of the newspaper El País of Spain.
Caridad Atencio Mendoza was born in Havana, Cuba, February 14, 1963. Poet, essayist and investigator, she is author of half a dozen books and worthy of several prizes and recognitions, among them the Distinction for the National Culture, in her country. In the present year she received the National Poetry Prize of the Magazine Gaceta of Cuba. Author of the poetry volumes: Los viles aislamientos, 1996; Los poemas desnudos, 1995; Umbrías, 1999; Los cursos imantados, 2000; Salinas para el potro, 2001; La Sucesión, 2004. She has published in all the prestigious literary magazines of her country, and in magazines of the United States, Spain and Mexico. She has been anthologized in diverse selections, among them in the Album of Cuban Poetesses, prologue and poetic selection by Mirta Yánez. She received the prize Pinos Nuevos in poetry in 1996, the prize Dador in the year 2000 (for essay) , the prize Calendario for essay in 1999. She received the prize Dador of the Cuban Institute of the Book for Poetry during the year 2002. Member of the Scientific Council of the Centro de Estudios Martianos. She has been member of the jury of the Prize David of Poetry, of the Prize Dador, of the Prize Calendario and of the International Competition of Poetry Raúl Hernández Novás, of the Magazine Revolution and Culture Award, of the Prize Pinos Nuevos of the ICL and of the Prize Razón de Ser.
Victor Raúl Jaramillo was born in Sonsón, Antioquia, Colombia, on June 14, 1966. He is a poet, musician, philosopher and tewacher, and the creator of a Philosophical Consulting Room. Founder of the progressive-metal group Reencarnación. Books of poetry: Tatuajes de viento, 1992; Jornada de silencio , 1994; Lucifer el hermoso 1997; Bajo el signo de Hermes , 1998; Alas para el escorpión, 1999; Poemas vivos, 1992-2001, 2001. In other genres: El vuelo del ancla, 2002; The doctoral thesis: Terapia dialógica: introducción al consultorio filosófico (Dialogical Therapy: Introduction to the Philosophical Consulting Room), 2000; La reunión del solitario 1999; La palabra detonante 2001; Sufrimiento y vida feliz 2004; Sobre la lectura, 2004.
Zabier Hernández Buelvas was born in Montería in 1966, Graduate in social sciences from the University Distrital Francisco José de Caldas of Bogotá. Director of the Center of Studies and Social Investigations CEIS, Bogotá: 2000- 2002. Journalist and permanent collaborator of the Weekly publication VOZ. Publisher of the poetry book Hojas de diario of Rubén Darío Arroyo, 2001. Director of the Investigation "Diagnosis about Community Justice in the area of Distension" in Coordination with the Corporation Center of Constitutional Studies PLURAL financed by the High Commissioner's Office for Peace. October of 2000. Editor and Compiler of the book Fallaces and Truths About The Plan Colombia, 2001. Next to be published is the poetry book Baile para ahuyentar la tragedia, which is actually in its publishing process.
Genaro Villalaz was born in the city of Panama in 1967. He was part of the Community of Young Writers José Martí. He has published his poems in the Cultural Magazine Maga, Viceversa, El Diario Panamá América, Temas de nuestra América and in the Collection of Anthologies and Homages El Afán que es una Fiesta (INAC, 1996). He obtained honorary mentions in the Prizes Gustavo Batista Cedeño (1992 and 2000), Demetrio Herrera Sevillano (1993), the Copa Frankfurt, organized by the Embassy of Germany (1995), the Second Prize of the Municipal Competition of Poetry "León A. Soto" (1995), the First Prize of the Competition Demetrio Herrera Sevillano of the University of Panama (1997) and First Prize of the Competition of Young Poetry Gustavo Batista Cedeño (2001). He has published: Baile de Máscaras (INAC, Serie Anthologies and Homages; Gustavo Batista Cedeño Award, 2001) and En los Agujeros del Tiempo y Otros Tiempos (La Rama Dorada Editions, 2003). He represented his country in the Poetry Festival of El Salvador (2002) and the Book Exhibition of Santiago de Chile (2004).
Hugo Jamioy Juagibioy was born in Bëngbe Wáman Tabanóc (Our Sacred Place of Origin) located in the Sibundoy Valley, Department of Putumayo, Colombian Amazon Basin, in 1971. He belongs to the Camuentsa Cabëng Camëntsá Biyá people (Men from Here with Their Own Thoughts and Tongue). He has published poetry books: Mi Fuego y Humo; Mi Tierra y Mi Sol, 1999; No Somos Gente, 2001. His texts have been published in Canada, Germany, Spain, Mexico, in university cultural magazines; and in Anthologies of Writers in the Indigenous Languages of America. He is currently preparing a book titled Preguntas y Respuestas Sabias de un Niño Camëntsá, a text that contains dialogues with a 3 year old indigenous child; and the poetry book titled Danzantes del Viento, 2001.
Mónica Velásquez Guzmán was born in Bolivia in 1972. Graduate in Literature by the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés in Bolivia and Doctorate in Hispanic-American Literature by El Colegio de Mexico, Mexico, 2004. She is actually teacher in The Universidad Mayor de San Andrés and The Universidad Católica Boliviana. She has published the poetry books: Tres nombres para un lugar, 1995; Fronteras de doble filo, 1998 and El viento que doblega en los naufragios, 2004. And as an anthologist, the Anthology of Bolivian poetry of the XX Century: Ordenar la danza, 2004.
Felipe García Quintero was born in Popayán, Colombia, in 1973. He carried out Literature Studies at the Universidad del Cauca. In his city of birth, he has been director of the Ophelia poetry magazine. In poetry, he has published, Monólogos del huésped (the guests monologues), 1996; Señales de tránsito (traffic signs), 1997; Vida de nadie (no ones life), 1999; and Piedra vacía (empty stones), 2001. He won the Pablo Neruda Poetry Prize.
Alejandra Castro was born in San José de Costa Rica in April 22 of 1974. She is Master Graduate of Spanish Literature from the University of Costa Rica. Master graduate in Computer Science Law and Doctorate in Constitutional Law from The Universidad Complutense of Madrid. She has published five poetry books: Desafío a la Quietud, 1992; Loquita, 1997 (Awarded with the Annual Poetry Prize given by the Publishing House of The University of Costa Rica); Tatuaje Giratorio, 1999 (Young Creation Poetry Prize); Hay Milagros Peores que la muerte, 2002; and No Sangres, 2005. In 1993 she obtained for her book Desafio a la Quietud the CELULAJ Award.
Sherwin Bitsui was born in the United Status in 1975. A native of the Navajo White Cone reservation, Arizona, he lives in Tucson, where he attends the Creative Writing Program at the University of Arizona. He belongs to the Bitter Water People. He has published his poems in American Poet, The Iowa Review, Frank (Paris), Red Ink, among others. Shapeshift is his first book. Shape: form, and shift: the systematic change in the phonetic or phonemic structure of a language (linguistic meaning), is the prelude to a very creative handling of the language: a dazzling geography inhabited by magical animals and dreamlike atmospheres with existential episodes that register beyond the linear draft of a realistic portrayal, the painful cultural clash ever present for the indigenous peoples. The poem, a musical piece made of words, is metamorphosed into something beyond itself and becomes the surreal border where language, without ceasing to be a creative tool, goes mad as it witnesses with an ironic tone a world always on the verge of disconnection.
Álvaro Lasso was born in the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1982. He lives in Peru since he was 10 months. Actually he studies Hispanic Literature in The Universidad Católica of Peru. He has participated in recitals in cities all around Peru. He has organized the national poetry Festival Novissima Verba, in three consecutive editions since 2002. He directs Odumodneurtse! poetry newspaper that has issued four numbers up to now. He also directs the publishing house Estruendomudo. He has published poems in Magazines of Peru, Chile and France. He has also published the following poetry volumes: Acariciante Humedad Aquella, 2001; Mara en ciudad Breton, 2003; Hotel, 2003 and Trenes, 2004.
Poets from Asia
Shuntaro Tanikawa was born in Tokyo, in 1931. At age 18 he published his first poems in the daily Literary World and in 1952 his first book: Twenty billion light years of solitude. Besides poetry and texts for children, he writes theater, scripts for cinema, television and radio. He has translated into Japanese the cartoon Peanuts and the text of Mother Goose. In poetry, moving away from the traditional haiku, he has experienced with free verse looking for new metric and rhythms. His work is described as an encounter point between east and west due to his fondness towards Charlie Brown, John Coltrane and Oscar Hammerstein, among other western icons. The critics have connected him with the Beat Generation. His poems have been interpreted in Japan from 1985 for the group Goddess, following a similar style to the jazz. Fruitful and diverse, he has written more than sixty books, some of which have been translated to English, French or Chinese, among other languages. The good known poet in Japan, his poems are memorized by children and girls in primary and secondary schools.
Edwin Thumboo was born in Singapore in 1933. He is a poet and a literary critic. He is the Director in Chief of the Center for the Arts of the National University of Singapore, where he has been Dean of the Faculty of Arts, at the Faculty of Social Sciences, and was made a professor emeritus in 1997. Publications: Rib of Earth, 1956; Childs Delight: Book 1, 1972; Childs Delight: Book 2, 1972; Gods Can Die, 1977; Ulysses by the Merlion, 1979; A Third Map: New and Selected Poems, 1993.
Shin Kyong- Rim was born in 1935. His literary career dates from the publication of three poems, including The Reed in 1956 but after that he published nothing for a number of years, immersing himself instead in the world of the working classes, the Minjung, and working as a farmer, a miner, and a merchant. His fame dates mainly from the publication of his first collection Nong-Mu (Farmers Dance), in 1973. Shin Kyong-Nim has continued to play a leading role in the world of socially involved poetry. He has served as president of the Association of Writers for National Literature, and of the Federated Union of Korean Nationalist Artists. Other volumes of his poetry include Saejae, 1979; Talnomse, 1985, Namhankang (South Han River, 1987), Kana nhan sarangnorae (Song of poor love, 1988), Kil (Road, 1990), Ssurojin cha ui Kkum (Dreams of the fallen, 1993), Halmon i wa omoni ui silhouette(Silhouettes of grandmother and mother, 1998). This last volume received the 1998 Daesan Literary Award for Poetry. He was published too recently to be included here. He has also published several collections of literary and personal essays. He has traveled widely collecting the popular songs that have survived in Koreas rural areas and his poetry is deeply marked by the rhythms of traditional Korean music as a result. An English translation of Farmers Dance was published in this same series in 1999.
Anwar Al-Ghassani was born in 1937 in Qalat Saleh in the South of Iraq, growing up in the province of Kirkuk, the first and oldest oil center in Iraq. He worked in oil exploration and as an Artistic Education teacher, before moving to Baghdad to work as a translator and journalist. In 1968 he left the country to study in Germany, where he received a doctorate in journalism from the University of Leipzig. He arrived in Costa Rica in 1979 and returned to Germany. He then worked in Argelia before returning to Costa Rica in 1984 to remain there definitely. He currently works as a professor of journalism and internet in the University of Costa Rica. Co-founder of one of the most influential literary groups upon current Iraqi and Arab poetry, the Kirkuk Group, which appeared during the 50s in the multi-ethnic city of Kirkuk.
Hanan Awwad was born in Jerusalem, Palestine, the thirteen of August of 1951. A prolific writer, doctorate in Canada, she is author of numerous books and has devoted her life to teaching and to show off the role of woman in the Palestinian cause. She is president of The Association of Palestinian Writers.
Ibrahim Nasrallah was born in Amman, Jordan, in a Palestinian refugee camp, in 1954. A poet, novelist, profesor, painter and photographer, he taught in Saudi Arabia for 2 years and worked as a journalist between 1978 and 1996. He has published 10 books of poetry, seven novels and two childrens books. Published works: Horses are Overlooking the City, 1980; Morning Songs, 1984; The Last Dialogue a Few Minutes Before the Killing of the Sparrow, 1984; The River Boy and the General, 1987; The Rain Inside; Storms of the Heart, 1989; Green Wood, 1991; The Foxs Scandal, 1993; Verandahs of Autumn, 1997; The Book of Death and the Dead, 1998; In the Name of the Mother and the Son, 1999; Mirrors of Angels, 2001; The Birds of Warning. He won the Arrar prize in 1991 and the Sultan Oweis Prize for his poetry in 1987. In the United Arab Emirates he received the Al-Uweis Literary Award in 1997, the most prestigious prize for Arab language poets.
Adnan Al-Sayegh was born in Bufa, Iraq, in 1955. A poet, narrator and journalist, and a Member of the Arabic Writers Association and the Swedish Writers Association. Books of poetry: She Waits For me Under the Statue of Liberty, 1984; Songs on the Kufa Bridge, 1986; The Birds Dont Love The Bullets, 1986; The Sky in a Helmet, 1988; Mirrors for Her Long Hair, 1992; Under a Strange Sky, 1994; Formations, 1996; The Hymn of Uruk, 1996; A Shout as Large as a Country of Birth, 1998; and Embrace my Exile, 2001. He resides in Sweden since he left his country in 1993. His poetry has been translated into English, Dutch, Persian, Kurdish, Spanish, German, and French, among others. He has lived in Jordan, Yemen, Sudan, Syria and London. In 1997 he received the International Poetry Award in Rotterdam.
Chiranan Pitpreeecha was born in Thailand in 1955. She was a well known figure in the 1970s student movement in Thailand. Following the violent suppression in 1976, she, along with thousands of Thai students, fled to the jungle and joined the Communist insurrection. Almost immediately after she returned from the jungle in 1981, under the protection of amnesty law, her poem, Cracked Pebble was selected The best Poem of 1981 by P.E.N. International, Thailand. She then resumed her education at Cornell University in the United States where she received a B.A. and M. A. History. Chiranan is one of Thailands best known authors, and has produced a wide range of writings for Thai periodicals and newspapers, from poetry, history, travel articles to social commentaries. In 1989 The Missing Leaf, her first poetry book based on personal experiences in the jungle, won the prestigious South East Asia Write Award. In 1992 First Rain was selected as The Best Poem of the Year by P.E.N. International, Thailand. Her works have been translated into English, French, German, Japanese, and Malay.
Sujata Bhatt was born in Ahmadabad, India, on May 6, 1956. A Poet and Translator, she received her Bachelor in Fine Arts from the Writers Workshop of the University of Iowa. She has received a number of international prizes and recognitions, among them the Commonwealth Poetry Prize. She has published six volumes of poetry in the United Kingdom, and her work, which has been translated into over twenty languages, is included in a number of poetic anthologies and has been broadcast on Londons BBC radio and television stations. She has been a visiting writer at the University of Victoria, in British Columbia, Canada, and also at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States. In February, 2004, UNESCO published her poem Search for My Tongue as part of the celebrations of the International Day of the Mother Tongue. Other works: Brunizem, 1988, Commonwealth Poetry Prize; Monkey Shadows, 1991; The Stinking Rose, 1995; Nothing is black, really nothing, Augatora, 2000; and A Colour for Solitude, 2002.
Malak Mustafa (Malak Sahioni Soufi), was born in Syria on January 29, 1957. A poet, translator, journalist and editor, she studied a Masters Degree in Arab philology at the Jesuit University in Lebanon. She speaks Spanish, Arabic, German and French. Publications: Bahrein, a world to know; a Spanish-Arabic pocket dictionary; Sparks (poetry); Mirage (poetry); To God with my Love (poetry); The Virgin Mary in the Koran (Research); the History of Sufism (Research). She has translated some Spanish poets into Arabic, such as: Luis Cernuda, Rafael Alberti, José Hierro and Antonio Gamoneda. She worked as a Secondary School teacher in Argelia, in Lebanon as a journalistic corrector, in the Embassy of Qatar in Madrid and as Professor of Arabic in the Iraqi School of Madrid. She directs the Don Quixote Publishing House and Gallery. She is a Member of the Union of Arab Writers and of the Board of Directors of the Association of Arab Journalists. She is also a Member of the Association of Spanish Translators and of the Editors Union. She has organized the Arab Book Fair in Spain since 1991, and has also organized photography, painting and archaeology exhibitions.
Meisun Saker Al-Kasimi was born in 1958 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. She studied Political Science and Economy in the University of Cairo, Egypt. From 1989 to 1995 she was director of the Department of Culture of the Ministry of Information of her country. She is also a painter and has realized personal exhibitions in Tunisia, Bahrain, Egypt, France and The United Arab Emirates, she also participated in collective exhibitions in the U.S.A, Syria, Jordan and her country. She currently lives in Cairo and her native city Abu Dhabi, She published ten poetry volumes, among them, The House, 1988; A short story as, 1990; Another place, 1992; The art of pain, 1994; Personal Anthology, Cairo, 2001. Her poems have been translated into several languages.
Ali Al-Shalah was born in Babylon, Iraq, in 1965. He studied Literature in Baghdad (Iraq), Amman (Jordan) and Bern (Switzerland). In 1997 he was eradicated from his country, after the censure of one of his books and was exiled in Switzerland where he founded the Arab-Swiss Cultural Center / The Earth Gallery in 1997, and in 2000, the Al-Mutanabbi International Poetry Festival, currently the only international festival of Arabic poetry in Europe, both of these in Zurich. In 2003 he founded the Arab-Swiss Cultural Center / The Baghdad Gallery in the Iraqi capital, currently the only cultural center that functions regularly in Baghdad and Babylon. He collaborates with a number of Arab dailies and magazines, such as Asfare and Al-Finique. In 2003 he received the Arab Poetry Award of the As-Sila Festival in Morocco. He has published a number of books of poetry and critique of modern Arab literature. His most recent collection of poetry is titled: Gurub Babili Babylonische Dämmerung (The fall of Babylon), bilingual, German-Arabic, with a German translation of the Iraqi author (Babylon Verlag, Zurich, in cooperation with Delta, Stuttgart, 2004).
Layla Al- Sayed was born in Bahrain in 1967, A poet, philologist and critic. She is a member of the Bahrain Writers Association and of the National Film Circle. Her work has been published in a number of anthologies both within and outside her country. Her poetry has been translated into German, English and Spanish. A highlight is her participation in the al-Ard poetry event in Switzerland, as well as in El Cairo. She is a well known student of the regions poetry and popular traditions. She published her first book of poetry under the title: We Passed by There, 2002. She has two unpublished books of poetry and an essay on female Arab novel in exile.
Joumana Haddad was born in Lebanon in 1970. She is a poet, translator, journalist and teacher. She has worked at the Lebanese newspaper An Nahar since 1997. She speaks seven languages, including Spanish, and is preparing a doctorate thesis on the subject of poetic translation. Publications: The time of a dream, 1995; Invitation to a secret dinner, 1998; Abyss, 2000; I havent sinned enough, anthology, 2004; The return of Lilith, 2004. She has published a number of works translated from Italian, French and Spanish, and has translated a number of Arab poets into French, Italian and Spanish. She is preparing an anthology of modern Lebanese poetry in Spanish. Her poems have been translated into Spanish, French, Italian, Polish and English, and have been published in literary magazines such as Alhucema (Spain), Fornix (Peru), Hojas Sueltas (Colombia), Kalimat (Australia), Europe (France), Supérieur inconnu (France), as well as in two anthologies put together by Abdel Kader Janabi on modern Arab poetry and published in Paris: Le poème arabe moderne (the modern Arab poem) and Le verbe dévoilé (The uncovered word). She has interviewed recognized international authors, including José Saramago, Paul Auster, Umberto Eco, Yves Bonnefoy, Peter Handke, Wole Soyinka and Antonio Tabucchi.
Poets from Europe
Edoardo Sanguineti was born in Geneva, Italy, in 1930. A poet, novelist and essayist, he received a degree in Letters from the University of Turin, where he taught Italian Literature; later he taught this same subject in Salerno and Geneva, where he currently lives. Poetic work: Laborintus, 1956; Opus metricum, 1960; Triperuno, 1964; Wirrwarr, 1972; Catamerone, 1974; Postkarten, 1978; Stracciafoglio, 1980; Scartabello, 1981; Segnalibro-Poesie, 1982; Novissimum Testamentum, 1986; Bisbidis, 1987; Senzatitolo, 1992; and Corollario, 1997, among others. He occupies an important place in the generation of Italian writers of what is known as the Grupo 63, a neo-avant-guardist movement, bellicose and polemical which also included the participation of Umberto Eco, Giorgio Manganelli and Nanni Ballestrini, among others. He has written works for the theater and has translated some classics (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Seneca).
Michel Deguy was born in Paris, France, in 1930. A poet, philosopher, critic and professor, he is one of the most notorious poets of contemporary French poetry. He is a professor at the University of Paris. Poetic work: Les Meurtrières (The murderers), 1959; Fragment du Cadastre (Fragment of the cadastre), 1960; Poémes de la presquile (Poems of the peninsula), 1962 ; Biefs (Satins), 1964; Ouï-Dire (Rumor), 1966 ; Poémes (Poems 1960-1970); Poésie (Poetry), 1973 ; Interdictions du Séjour (Interdictions of the sojourn), 1975; Coupes (Cups), 1974); Essays: Actes (Acts), 1966; Figurations (Figurations), 1969; Tombeau de du Bellay (The Tomb of du Bellay), 1973; Reliefs (Reliefs), 1975; Le Monde de Thomas Mann (The World of Thomas Mann), 1962.
Casimiro de Brito was born in Algarve, Portugal, in 1938. He is the author of 42 books of poetry, prose, essays and aphorisms. He has been included in over 120 anthologies and has been translated into 21 languages, including Galician, Spanish, Catalan, Italian, French, English, German, Flemish, Dutch, Swedish, Polish, Slovenian, Serbo-Croatian, Greek, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Arabic, Yiddish, Chinese and Japanese. He has edited the following literary magazines: Cadernos do Meio-Dia (1956-1959) and Loreto 13 (Medium of the Association of Portuguese Writers) where he worked for ten years. In 2002 he received the Leopold Sedar Senghor Poetry International Prize, for his poetic work. Some of his works are: Poemas da Solidão Imperfeita, 1957; Ode & Ceia, 1984; Versilia/Itália, 1985; Labyrinthus, 1980; Duas Águas, Um Rio, 1989 (with António Ramos Rosa); Subitamente o Silêncio, 1991; Intensidades, 1995; Opus Affettuoso, 1997; Na Via do Mestre, 2000; Arte Pobre, 2000; Animal Volátil, 2001, and the anthology O Amor, a Morte e Outros Vícios, 2004. Director of the International Poetry Festivals of Lisbon, Porto Santo (Madeira) and Faro. Vice-president of the Association of Portuguese Writers, President of the European Association for the Promotion of Poetry and President of the Portuguese PEN Club.
Spiros Vergos was born in Athens, Greece, in 1945. Poet, narrator and journalist, in 1967, when the dictatorship in his country started, he exiled himself in England, France, Switzerland and Holland. His publications include three poetry collections: Anonimíes; Martiría thanatu included in the most recent collection Riyes sto jrono, When democracy was reinstated in his country, he worked as a journalist in the Athens journal Kathimerini, in the TV program Paraskinio and in the area of foreign affairs of the diary Ta Nea. He has also been personal assistant to the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs in political cooperation issues with the E.U. In 1987 he was named director of The National Radio in Athens, he has also been counselor to the Greek embassy in Buenos Aires.
Kristina Lugn was born in Sweden on November 14, 1948, and is one of the most appreciated and widely-read poets in her country. After her debut in 1972, she has written nine collections of poetry which mostly reflect the aspirations and feelings of subjugated women. She also writes theatrical works and her plays have been put on by the Swedish Royal Dramatic Theater and the Brunngatan 4 Theater. She has received the following awards: The Bellman National Award, the literary award from the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper, the Piraten award and the award granted by the Selma Lagerlöf Foundation. For the last 7 years she has been the artistic director and director of the Brunnsgatan 4 theater in the city of Stockholm. Her latest collection of poetry was recently translated into Spanish under the title ¡Adiós y buena suerte! (Goodbye, and Good Luck!)
Urs Engeler Allemann was born in the city of Schlieren, near Zurich, (Switzerland) in 1948. He actually lives in Bettingen, near Basle. From 1986 to 2004 he directed the section of culture and literature of the Swiss journal of Basle (Basler Zeitung). He published three books of short stories and the following poetry books: Fuzzhase, 1988; Holder die Polder, 2001 and schoen, schoen!, 2003. Lately he has been applying the traditional poetic forms with the classic metrics - odes, sonnets and others and modern contents which he uses to recite in song form.
James Fenton was born in Lincoln, England, in 1949. He is a poet, university professor, theater critic, journalist, and a war correspondent in Cambodia and Vietnam. He has also lived and covered events in the Philippines, South Korea and Indochina. He studied Philosophy and Psychology. He succeeded the Nobel Prize winner Seamus Heaney as Poetry Professor at Oxford University. He was made a member of the Royal Society of Literature in 1983. His poetry has been collected in two volumes: Children in Exile, 1968-1984; and Out of Danger, 1994. All the Wrong Places: Adrift in the Politics of the Pacific Rim, 1988, is another of his works.
Michael Augustin was born in Lübeck, Germany, in 1953. A poet, translator and radio commentator, he works with Radio Bremen, where he conducts a poetry radio program and works as an editor of the weekly radio documentaries. He is the author of a number of poetry books, dramas and short stories, including: Kleines Brimborium and Das perfekte Glück. Some of his work has been translated into English, Italian, Polish, Gaelic and Dutch. He has translated works by Roger McGough, Adrian Mitchell and Raymond Carver, among others. He has participated in numerous poetry recitals and has received the Friedrich-Hebbel and Kurt-Magnus awards. In 1984 he was part of the International Writers program of Iowa University, and during 2003 he was the Max-Kade resident writer, at Dickinson College (USA).
Luuk Gruwez was born in Courtrai, Belgium, on August 9, 1953. He is a poet, playwright, narrator and journalist. Works: Stofzuigergedichten (Vacuum Cleaner Poems), 1973; Ach, wat zacht geliefkoos om een mild verdriet (Ah, what a soft Fondling for a mild Sorrow), 1977; Een huis om dakloos in te zijn (A House to be Homeless in), 1981; De feestelijke verliezer (The festive Loser), 1985; Dikke mensen (Fat People), 1990; Vuile manieren (Dirty Manners), 1994; Bandeloze gedichten (Riotous Poems), 1996; Dieven en geliefden (Thiefs and Lovers), 2000; and Allemansgek (All Mens Fool), 2004. Works in prose: Het land van de wangen (The Country of the Cheeks) and Het bal van opa Bing (The Ball of Grandpa Bing), 1994; and In Een stenen moeder (A Mother of Stone), 2004. In 1995 he wrote Lucky Star, a monologue for Dutch and Flemish television, and in 1996 Een bijzonder bevallig paar (An extremely charming Couple), a television drama. A collection of his columns appeared in 1999: Slechte gedachten (Bad Thoughts), and in 2002 De maand van Marie (The month of Mary), 4 monologues by women from different generations.
Dorin Popa was born in Rumania in 1955. Poet, journalist, editor and professor. He has published 14 poetry books in Romanian, English, French, Spanish and German. Member of the Association of Writers of Romania and of the Association of Romanian Journalists. He was nominated for the Nobel Literature Prize in 2001. He has published his poems in Italy, France, India, Luxembourg, Canada, United States, Ivory Coast, Venezuela, Spain, Korea, Portugal, England, Israel, Japan, Morocco, Slovakia and Poland. He published three books interviewing the most important intellectuals of Romania as well as four books of journalistic investigations.
Blanca Andreu was born in La Coruña, Spain in 1959. She lived her childhood in Orihuela, Alicante and Murcia and later she moved to Madrid. She obtained the Adonais Award in 1980 with her book De una niña de provincias que se vino a vivir en un Chagall and the World Award of Mystic Poetry Fernando Rielo, in 1982 with Baculo de Babel. Later she published Capitán Elphiston in 1988 and Sueño Oscuro in 1989. She was awarded in 1981 with the short story award Gabriel Miró, in 1982 with the Award Icaro and in 2001 she was awarded the Laureá Melá Poetry Award for the book La tierra transparente. Her poetry is considered as the start point of the so called Generación postnovísima of Spain.
Kostis Gimosoulis was born in Athens, Greece, in 1960. Poet and novelist. Poetic work: The fever of the thief, 1983; Fully ink, 1983; The thief mouth, 1986, Dangerous boys, 1992 and the recently published anthology: Jealously returning to Love , 2004. Published novels: One night with red woman, 1995; Anatoli; 1998; Hand in fire, 1999; Rained Light, 2002 which is the history of María Polydouri and Kostas Karyotakis, two exceptional poets of the mid- war time, and The beast is everywhere, 2003. Also a drawer and aquarellist, he published the book: Golden Black, in 2001, which contains poems, stories and water colors.
Raoul Schrott (Austria) was born in 1964 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Lyric poet, essayist, novelist and translator. He grew up in Tunisia and in Landeck. He studied literature and Philology in Norwich, Paris, Berlin and Innsbruck. Master graduate in philosophy in 1986. From 1986 to 1987 he was secretary of Philippe Soupault. From 1990-1993, he was university reader of Germanistics (Germanic philology) in the Oriental Institute in Naples. Publisher of the series South-North. He has received, among others, the following awards: Award from the State of Kärnten of the Award Ingeborg Bachman, 1994; Friedrich- Hölderlin Award for Literature support of the city of Hamburg, 1996. In 1996 he received the scholarship Robert Musil. He actually lives in County Cork, Ireland.
Poets from Oceania
C. K. Stead (Christian Karlson Stead) was born in New Zealand in 1932 and is one of his countrys most famous writers. He has published 12 books of poetry, nine novels, two collections of short stories, six volumes of literary criticism, among other texts. He has won the New Zealand Book Award on a number of occasions, both for his poetic as for his prose work. He is Professor Emeritus at Auckland University. In 1986 he published a book of essays on Pound, Yeats and Eliot. Poetic work: Whether the Will is Free, 1964; Crossing the Bar, 1972; Quesada, 1975; Walking Westward, 1979; Geographies, 1982; Paris, 1984; Between, 1988; Voices, 1990; y Straw Into Gold: Poems New and Selected, 1997.
