The beginning of 2018 heralds the introduction of slam poetry and Split Image to St Mary’s. The Split Image initiative is intended to create a poetry community where school children can express themselves freely. By meeting on a weekly basis with local poet and CEO of Split Image, Dali Luthuli, each girl’s writing and performance potential is nurtured. In addition to this, professional and seasoned mentors who have performed globally as well as locally host workshops biweekly.

This past weekend the girls had the privilege of working with Xabiso Vili, who is an award-winning writer and performer who has toured South Africa, India, the US and the UK performing poetry and running workshops in schools, universities and juvenile detention facilities. He believes that art is a vehicle for social change and internal growth and is constantly developing theories to develop and aid the South African spoken word scene. The girls have displayed fantastic initiative and courage in their writing thus far. There is little doubt that these poets in training are going to wow audiences at our annual STAMP festival in July.

Head of Culturals: Jane McMurray