Poets at 26th Festival

Querubín Queta (Nación Kofán, Colombia), Berito Cobaría (Nación U´uwa, Colombia), Mikeas Sánchez (Nación Zoque, México), Adriana Paredes (Nación Mapuche, Chile), Isabel Crooke Ellison (Reino Unido), Fredy Yezzed (Colombia), Adhely Rivero (República Bolivariana de Venezuela),Israel Domínguez (Cuba), Raúl Vallejo (Ecuador), Björn Kuhligk (Alemania), Barbara Pogačnik (Eslovenia), Juliane Okot Bitek (Uganda), Samir Delgado (España), Judith Crispin (Australia), Marianela Medrano (República Dominicana), Krystyna Dabrowska (Polonia), Ali Al Hazmi (Arabia Saudita), Juan Carlos Galeano (Colombia), Jochen Kelter (Suiza), Emilio Coco (Italia), Hatto Fischer (Alemania), Pablo Montoya (Colombia), Aicha Bassry (Marruecos), Koulsy Lamko (Chad), Duna Ghali (Irak), Augusta Laar (Suiza), Kalle Aldis Laar (Alemania), Ashur Etwebi (Libia), Keki Daruwalla (India), Gibi Bacilio (Curazao), Rudsel Isidora (Curazao), Juan Carlos Mestre (España), Terje Dragseth (Noruega), Samm Monro (Zimbabue), Deeb (Egipto), Dane TS Hawk (Dinamarca), Gcina Mhlophe (Suráfrica), Savina Yannatou (Grecia), Spyros Manesis (Grecia).

World Poets present themselves to the press June 18, 2016 at Gran Hotel, Medellin

Fernando Rendon

In his opening remarks, Fernando Rendon, Director of the World Poetry Festival, explains why the 26th Festival is dedicated to "The Mysteries of Eleusis" and to Rimbaud. Poetry is a question of culture by which it is sought to overcome violence and drug related crime which had been especially rampant in Colombia and in particular in Medellin. Poetry has proven through the world festivals taking place now for the 26th time to show consistency over time. It has affected the local culture by having brought international poets to Medellin. Fernando Rendon is a person with a strong endurance to realise this aim of bringing poetry to all people. He loves to hug everyone and shows at the same time the constant need to remain strong.

The panel of poets from Indigenous people to a poet from Australia

The audience

The audience composed of the other poets who have been invited to the 26th World Poetry Festival, young poets, the staff of the organisation, visitors and the press. After the poets on the panel had explained briefly where they stand, other poets were asked to make a brief intervention. A common thread was shown to exist from the indigenous people emphasizing nature to other poets exclaiming that poetry is the best way to overcome tormented souls.

Carl A.P. Ruck from Boston University and key speaker about "Mysteries of Eleusis"

The Gaia Project - Carl A.P. Ruck

Hugo Mujica (Argentine), Ashur Etwebi (Libya) Ruck (Boston University)

"At home in Libya the smell of blood is stronger than the smell of the sea."

Ashur Etwebi levels strong criticism against the West for being so indifferent when again 120 men are killed innocently. His house was first bombed, and then burned down. And yet he manages to survive as if in a surreal dream he can sleep-walk through danger zones as if they would not exist for him.

Here Koulsy Lamko from Chad speaks with Judith Crispin from Australia sitting on his left listening as well as Hugo Mujica from Argentine and Ashur Etwebi listening as well.