Poetry festival, le Marché de la Poési, has come under fire after canceling the honorary presidency of Nancy Morejón over the 40th edition of the festival.
Nancy Morejón is an internationally recognized Afro-Cuban poet, academic, and translator. The decision to withdraw the honor has been considered politically motivated.
Artists, activists, and writers’ organizations from across the world have strongly condemned the decision.
In a media statement, Secretary-General of NWASA, Dr. Lebogang Lance Nawa said “We here in South Africa, who have endured the trauma of colonialism and its vestiges the longest in the African continent, as whose country’s Constitution makes special provision for the promotion and protection of human rights, know that vigilance against any form of attack on human dignity will not end as long as humanity exists.”
Read the full media statement below.