All corners of Venezuela are preparing to celebrate and promote creation through the written word, verses, rhymes and prose, with the XVI World Poetry Festival, which will take place between 13 and 20 October 2022, and which will be attended by 35 international poets.
In this new edition, the 200 years of the poem "My Delirium About Chimborazo" by the Liberator Simón Bolívar, and the honored poet will be Ana María Oviedo Palomares.
This Wednesday, during a news conference To announce the preparations for the World Poetry Festival in the country, the Minister for Communication and Information, Freddy Ñáñez, reported that the event will bring together "35 international poets from 30 countries."
"We are very happy because 200 years ago, when the Liberator fought, he spoke words that show the spiritual dimension of Gran Colombia, which means hope and a look to the future," he said in his opening remarks.
Ñáñez emphasized that "it seems unthinkable that the Liberator, on the road to the liberation of the continent, had time to express prose that was an ethical and aesthetic testament that marked the spirituality of our liberating enterprise."
"A company that had the humility to recognize the power and value of nature at a time when we are in the midst of a climate crisis, when a predatory system has led humanity to the abyss of its existence. This poem by the Liberator becomes a protocol of doing and being with nature, with the spirit and divinity," he stressed.
35 poets from 30 countries
The Minister of Communication and Information also reiterated that "this World Poetry Festival will bring together 35 international poets from 30 countries, who will be at the Simón Bolívar Theatre every night reciting, calling and building bridges through words."
He stressed that this festival "is already a tradition in cultural politics of the Venezuelan State, and has been for more than a decade an experience that transcends books and becomes a summoning power.
For his part, the Minister for Culture, Ernesto Villegas, reported that poetry is being invited to Venezuela in this new edition of the Festival because "we are going to all corners of the country, with verses, with international guests and with national and international poets, and with poetry lovers," he said.
From the Ministry of Culture, "we have the hosts of Misión Cultura Corazón Adentro who will fill all the spaces and, in addition, with this event, Venezuela reaffirms its commitment to life, joy, faith, the future and hope in human humanity," stressed the Minister.
Recitals, forums and book presentations
The president of the National House of Letters Andrés Bello, William Osuna, who participated in the press conference, stressed that the World Poetry Festival does not only consist of recitals, but also conferences, forums and book presentations.
"We are planning a series of activities for the takeover of Caracas, in various spaces in the center of Caracas, an Anti-Imperialist Tribune will be held where poets, singers, cultural activists, and musicians will participate," said the poet.
For Osuna, the central theme of this festival is the 200th anniversary of the poem “Mi Delirio Sobre el Chimborazo” by the Liberator Simón Bolívar, which “should be disseminated from primary school and in all the workshops that are held.”
Historical moments of unity
The president of the Simón Bolívar Center for Studies, Alejandro López, stressed that this event represents "historic moments of unity, where we celebrate the union of the peoples of America."
He indicated that Bolívar in his poem “My Delirium on Chimborazo” challenges time.
López added that "the celebration of the Bicentennial is a meeting of the people around Bolívar and literature, so it is a great pleasure to support this initiative."
concert and joy
For her part, the mayor of Caracas, Carmen Meléndez, reported that a concert will be held in the Plaza de los Museos, in Bellas Artes, and extended an invitation to the people of Caracas to participate in the various activities.
"We will all be there together sharing poetry," he said.
The 16th World Poetry Festival will honor the Venezuelan poet, Ana María Oviedo Palomares, who expressed her joy at being able to be the voice of poets during the event.
"It is a commitment and a joy to be participating in this 16th festival," he added.
