Mangaliso Kabulika
THE Poetry Red Carpet Awards will be hosting its second edition today at the Jason Mphepo Little Theatre in Harare.
Founder Cynthia Mapando said that the awards received an overwhelming response from poets, particularly from Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare.
The event, hosted by TV presenter Nabeelah and Comedian El Munya, will award trophies in seven of the 16 main categories.
The ceremony will also have performances of mbira music, dance and spoken word poetry from Tears in The Soil, Anele Nkundlandle, Chido Machanzi and Mah Brown.
“We are thrilled by the remarkable number of submissions we received from poets countrywide.
“It’s incredibly encouraging to see the diverse and vibrant poetic talent that exists throughout our nation.
“Our panel of judges dedicated themselves to ensuring a fair and comprehensive assessment of the submissions.
“We wanted to honour and recognise the poets who truly embody excellence in the art of poetry,” said Mapando.
She said submissions were judged paying particular attention to originality, creativity, thematic depth, technical skill and emotional impact.
“In the previous edition, the awards only presented certificates to the winners. However, the inclusion of trophies this year aims to further motivate and inspire poets to pursue excellence in their craft.”
The poetry Red Carpet Awards aim to provide and celebrate the art of poetry in Zimbabwe recognising the contribution of poets in the cultural and literary landscape of the country.




