Spoken Word at WOMAD 2017

Announcing an exciting addition to WOMAD 2017... the World of Words, a site wide programme that celebrates the written and spoken word. The aim of each session is to encourage ongoing and informed conversation. We want to inspire people to think, talk, laugh, listen, learn and participate! Supported by WORLD OF WORDS LINE UP

Archie Roach Interview "Like the promises they did not keep And how they fenced us in like sheep. Said to us come take our hand Sent us off to mission land. Taught us to read, to write and pray Then they took the children away" Inna Modja Interview "During times of war , women and girls are very vulnerable. They are easy targets in the North of Mali. We want to be free. We want to be alive. We want to be strong. We want to dream. We want more. Music gave me a voice. And I'm going to use it for My People." Sam Hunt Reading One of New Zealand’s most prolific poets and a companion of the NZ Order of Merit, Sam Hunt has toured endlessly over the years, worked with a bevvy of musicians and published a few dozen collections of poems. Charlotte Grimshaw Interview Recipient of the Katherine Mansfield Award in 2006, Charlotte is both a critically acclaimed fiction writer and award-winning reviewer. To date she has 8 published works, of which 6 are critically acclaimed novels. Future Crunch Presentation Tané Hunter and Dr Angus Hervey "We're part of a global movement of scientists, technologists, hackers and creatives that think there are new and better ways of doing things in the 21st century." Malcolm Rands Presentation Malcolm co-founded New Zealand's first Eco-village, the megbrand ecostore, and later The Fairground Foundation. Fairground looks at the hardest problems facing us today including city housing and our disappearing native wildlife and sets up social enterprises to solve them....... Tanya Batt Reading Children's author Tanya Batt has always been a believer of magic. Not the trick kind but the sort that suddenly makes visible what you can’t see and delights you in the process. .... Elizabeth Knox Interview Elizabeth (NZOM), is one of NZ's most celebrated novelists and has over 15 published works. Her best known book, The Vintner’s Luck, has been published in 9 languages since its release in 1998.

Poetry Slam Hosted by Penny Ashton Poet, MC, Comedian, Actor, Social Commentator, TV Presenter, Improviser, and all round show off Penny Ashton will be hosting WOMADs first ever poetry slam. Poets will recite original works in a competition of prose for the chance to win WOMAD 2018 tickets!