A Movement Born from Words
Rooted in the Okavango. Open to every creative voice. Poetavango is a non-profit arts organisation based in Maun, Botswana, dedicated to developing, promoting and elevating performance, literary and visual arts.
Poets + Okavango = Poetavango
The name Poetavango brings together two worlds: poets and the Okavango. When the organisation was founded, its heart was spoken word and performance poetry created by artists living in the Okavango region of Botswana. As the years passed, the movement grew beyond poetry into music, visual arts, comedy, theatre, storytelling and other creative expressions. The name still honours the poets and writers who planted the seed.
The power of the word, carried in a symbol
The Poetavango logo carries the power of the word. The microphone represents voice, sound, music and the creative power carried by performance. The human shapes inside the logo speak of unity, warmth and openness, welcoming people across race, colour, creed and gender. It can also be read as a sun, a flower and a sign of growth, light and creative belonging.
What guides the movement
Mission
To develop, promote and elevate performance, literary and visual arts.
Vision
To become a well-organised, resourceful, educating and entertaining body of disciplined and dedicated artists of international standards.
Values
Professionalism, oneness, teamwork, global competitiveness and integrity.
April 2008, Red Cross Hall
Poetavango has been in existence since April 2008. It was founded after a simple but important realisation: Maun needed inspiring, informative and entertaining spaces where the community could meet, perform and positively spend time. The first poetry session took place at the Red Cross Hall with only three performers and twenty-three audience members. The response was strong, and by the next month the hall was filled to capacity, proving that Maun was ready for a creative movement of its own.
An all-inclusive creative collective
Today Poetavango is an all-inclusive arts organisation with poets, writers, musicians, administrators and creative collaborators. It runs activities throughout the year, including outreach projects, performances, workshops, awareness campaigns, youth programmes, cultural activities and art tourism initiatives. The organisation continues to use creativity as a way to build skills, strengthen community and open Maun to cultural exchange.
Office bearers
Administrative placeholder: current leadership and office bearer names should be supplied by Poetavango and added here. No names are shown until confirmed.