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poets are cut from a tender cloth that covers our world in beauty - Adiela Akoo Quote.jpg
Adiela Akoo
2021
Vice Chair
best new african poets 2020

PRESS 2021

 
THIS NEW YEAR

We light a candle in memory
of the many lives lost...
We light a candle in honour
of the frontline heroes
who risk their own lives
to ensure the safety of ours...
We light a candle in honour
of the resilienceof the human spirit
- WE'RE SURVIVORS!
This New Year we light a candle
in the HOPE of a healthier New Year...

Wishing you a HEALTHY New Year!

- Adiela Akoo


 

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Vice-Chair Appointment


27 February 2021
Litasa, KZN AGM (Online)


Adiela Akoo appointed as the Vice Chairperson of Litasa, KZN - The Literacy Association of South Africa - conferred at the KwaZulu Natal Annual General Meeting on 27/02/2021.


 

Adiela Akoo appointed Vice Chair of Litasa.png
Adiela Akoo Quote -EACH ONE, TEACH ONE and give someone the precious gift of literacy


Published

ILA MAGAZINE
February / March Issue

Two poems published in ILA Magazine - the International Literary & Art Review. The November issue had a book feature on Lost in a Quatrain

















 

Adiela Akoo Poetry in ILA Magazine.png


Commissioned

March 2021
Utrecht UNESCO City of Literature
Netherlands


Adiela Akoo chosen to represent Durban UNESCO City of Literature in a chain poem commissioned by Utrecht UNESCO City of Literature in commemoration of World Poetry Day.
 
11 Cities of Literature will be participating with a poet from each city adding three lines to the poem that began in Utrecht, on the 21st of each subsequent month

 

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Best New African Poets 2020

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April 2021

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The Best New African Poets series spotlights leading emerging poets across Africa.

 

 

The Best New African Poets 2020 Anthology was listed among the 50 Notable African books of 2021 by Brittle Paper. It has 352 poems from 140 African poets who reside in over 20 African countries.

 

 

The Best New African Poets 2020 features three poems by Adiela Akoo, including the poem 'Coupling' from her soul-stirring debut collection, Lost in a Quatrain

 

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Adiela Akoo - Best New African Poets 2020 - Listed among the 50 NOTABLE BOOKS OF 2021 by B

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Litasa Leadership Course

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April 2021

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Completed a four part online leadership course 

 

 

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Litasa Executive Meeting

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Saturday, 22 May 2021

 

10:00 - 12:00 (Online)​

 

 

 


Giving Back

29 May 2021 
 
In an effort to raise much needed humanitarian aid, a Lost in a Quatrain hamper served as an added incentive. Whoever spent/donated a thousand rands or more during a fundraising event organized by a dynamic group of PMB women, had their names included in a lucky draw.


The event was held on 29 May and the winner, Zaibie Frank, was drawn by the organizers on 1 June 2021


 

In an effort to raise much needed humanitarian aid, a Lost in a Quatrain hamper served as

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Litasa Executive Meeting

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Saturday, 12 June 2021

 

10:00 - 12:00 (Online)

 

 

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Litasa Board Meeting

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Thursday, 24 June 2021

 

15:00 - 17:00 (Online)

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Litasa Board Meeting

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Friday, 25 June 2021

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15:00 - 17:00 (Online)

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Litasa Executive Meeting

Saturday, 3 July 2021

10:00 - 12:00 (Online)

Meeting included final report back on the virtual book fair project devised and spearheaded by Adiela Akoo and scheduled for 17 July 2021


 

Adiela Akoo spearheads Virtual Book Fair as Vice Chair of Litasa, KZN.jpg

 

Civil Unrest

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13 July 2021​

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Violent unrest breaks out across South Africa

 

 

Pray for South Africa.jpg

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Virtual Book Fair Postponed

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Due to the current conditions in the country and traumatized participants, the event was postponed until further notice

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Litasa Executive Meeting

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Saturday, 31 July 2021

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10:00 - 12:00 (Online)

 

 

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Litasa Executive Meeting

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Saturday, 28 August 2021

 

14:00 - 16:00 (​Online)

 

 

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Litasa Conference 2021

 

 3 - 4 September 2021

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Garden Court Hotel, Durban & Online

'Connecting the Dots'

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Commissioned

Litasa Conference 2021

Litasa commissioned Adiela Akoo to write a poem for the welcome video at the annual conference. Theme: 'Connecting the Dots'


 

Adiela Akoo - Connecting the Dots - poem commissioned by Litasa for the conference 2021.pn

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Paper Presented at Litasa Conference

3 September 2021 (Online)

'The Uplifting Effects Of Literacy'


 

 
Donated a Lost in a Quatrain
Book Hamper to Litasa


4 September 2021

Litasa Conference
Garden Court Hotel, Dbn

Adiela Akoo donated a hamper consisting of a signed copy of her book, 'Lost in a Quatrain', along with some delectable goodies to cater to the reading pleasure of any book lover with a sweet tooth, courtesy of Quilled Ink Press

The hamper was part of a lucky draw open to attendees of the conference and was handed over to the lucky winner by the Litasa National Chairperson


 

Adiela Akoo's Lost in a Quatrain book hamper being handed to a lucky draw winner by Litasa


Giving Back

17 September 2021


The African Dream Sunflower Effect

Adiela Akoo was grateful for the opportunity to give back by contributing to The African Dream - Sunflower Effect anthology. All proceeds from book sales go to the Durban based African Dream Foundation that funds women empowerment projects

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Adiela Akoo poetry featured in The African Dream Sunflower Effect . All proceeds fund wome

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Litasa Executive Meeting

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Saturday, 9 October 2021

 

10:00 - 12:00 (Online)

 

 


The Only Question Project

October 2021

Ulyanovsk UNESCO City of Literature

Adiela Akoo one of 40 writers invited to participate in The Only Question Project, an initiative by the Ulyanovsk UNESCO City of literature that aims to connect and open dialogue between writers linked to literary cities across the globe

The dialogue will be posted online on the Ulyanovsk UNESCO City website and will be rolled out into the coming year.

Adiela will again be representing the Durban UNESCO City of Literature, where she grew up and schooled


 

Adiela Akoo invited to participate in The Only Question Project by Ulyanovsk UNESCO City o


SAIP Awards 2021

28 October 2021
Richmond

At a gala event held in Booktown Richmond, Lost in a Quatrain by Adiela Akoo was announced as the first runner up for poetry at the South African Independent Publisher Awards 2021

The list of poetry winners were:

Mark De Wet

Adiela Akoo
Gameeda Henry


source: The Richmond Reader Issue 51 - 19 November 2021



















 

Adiela Akoo's Lost in a Quatrain First Runner Up for poetry at the SAIP Awards 2021 (1).jp
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Universal Poem
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11 November 2021
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'A drop of PURE LOVE contains an ocean of transformative power'
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Adiela Akoo contributed to the UNHCR Universal Poem by adding 'a verse that brings down walls and creates love'
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Adiela Akoo added a verse to the UNHCR Universal Poem to bring down walls and create love.


UNESCO Cities of Literature
Chain Poem Project


21 November 2021

Utrecht UNESCO City of Literature
Netherlands

Representing the Durban UNESCO City of Literature, Adiela Akoo's contribution to the chain poem, commissioned by Utrecht UNESCO City of Literature, was added to their website on 21 November 2021, and the audio recording of her reading her lines was uploaded to the Ulyanovsk SoundCloud profile here

 

Adiela Akoo represents Durban UNESCO City of Literature in UNESCO Cities of Literature chain poem project

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Litasa Board Meeting

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Thursday, 2 December 2021

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14:00 - 16:00 (Online)

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Litasa Executive Meeting

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Saturday, 9 December 2021

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10:30 - 14:00 

 

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The Only Question 
Durban, Ulyanovsk


16 December 2021

Representing Durban UNESCO City of Lterature, Adiela Akoo posed the following question to Sergei Gogin from Ulyanovsk:

 “Having trained in various modalities of comprehensive healing, I find that I very often, subconsciously, meld healing into my writing. Readers tend to respond to this thus bringing it to my attention. How does your training as a healer influence your writing?”

Read Sergei's response here


 

Adiela Akoo  - the UNESCO Only Question Project with Sergei Gogin .png

 

Published

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18 December 2021

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Durban International Book Fair

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Adiela Akoo is one of the author contributors to the book 'Hope & Resilience', a collection of poetry and prose about hope & resilience amidst life, COVID, lockdown and looting

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Adiela Akoo one of the co authors of Hope & Resilience.jpg


The Review That Brought A Smile

2021 Roundup

It has no doubt been a bumpy year but a moment that stood out and brought a smile was stumbling upon this review from one Emily May. So, this is a shout out to say 'Thank you, Emily May,' for the timely incentive to keep going


 

Adiela Akoo - the review of Lost in a Quatrain that brought a smile.png
SAIP Awards
UNESCO Chain Poem
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