Resistance and resilience: Black (Queer) Women’s Voices in Poetry

Join us for an evening of poetry, performances and conversation, celebrating the work of Yonwaba Matshobotiyana, winner of the 2025 Africa Thesis Award!

Yonwaba won the Africa Thesis Award of the African Studies Centre, Leiden University, for her master’s thesis on the resurgence of Black women’s voices in South African poetry. She completed her thesis at the University of the Free State, South Africa.

The evening explores the growing prominence and presence of Black women’s and Black queer women's voices in South African poetry. Historically, these voices have often been marginalized. Their resurgence marks a pivotal moment, as their poetry critically engages with the conditions of Black social life, particularly  the lived realities of Black women and Black queer women.

What strategies of resistance and resilience do poets employ to disrupt systems of power such as racism, the white gaze, white heteropatriarchy, patriarchy and the hegemony of heteronormativity?

What is driving the growing visibility and recognition of Black women and Black queer women poets, not only in South Africa, but also in other African countries, and the wider world?

We are excited to have a conversation with, and performances by the following guests and artists: 

Julia-Beth Harris, poet-storyteller 

Twasiima Bigirwa, poet and visiting fellow at the African Studies Centre Leiden

Shishani, singer-songwriter

Yonwaba Matshobotiyana, 2025 winner of the Africa Thesis Award

Programme:

·       Poetry readings and performances

·       Conversation with and among the poets

·       Presentation by Yonwaba Matshobotiyana of her award-winning thesis

·       Reading of the jury report and presentation of the Africa Thesis Award to Yonwaba Mathshobotiyana by Dr Jody Metcalfe (Utrecht University), member of the 2025 award jury.

This evening is a collaborative venture between the African Studies Centre Leiden, ZAM, and Zuid-Afrika Huis.

Practical information

Date: Tuesday 24 November 2026

Doors open at 19:00 with a small exhibition of poetry works. Event starts at 19:30. Drinks from 21:00.

Free entrance, but registration is required: bit.ly/4zf7rHU