Africa Haiku Society

13/04/2024

An Invitation to a Rengay Gathering by Sherry Grant.

I have just sent off zoom details for the 6th IRG (International Rengay Gathering) Zoe and I will host in about 24 hours from now. So far over 20 poets from around the world have signed up to attend.

In this rengay gathering we will open with a short round of quick introductions from all poets, followed by a talk by our guest speaker Don Baird (USA) and then all will go into breakout rooms to write rengay together.

For this time Zoe and I would like to invite each participating poet to bring an old published haiku (with first publication credit) they’ve written as potential starter verses.

Below are the time zones for this gathering. Not too late to sign up yet! Just send me an email: rainingrengay(at)gmail(dot)com

Also Issue 3 and 4 of Raining Rengay is open for submission at the moment…

Time zones:

7-9am Sunday 14 April NZ

5-7pm Saturday 13 April Eastern Time

4-6pm Saturday 13 April Central Time

2-4pm Saturday 13 April Pacific Time

10pm-midnight Saturday 13 April London

11pm Saturday 13 April-1am Sunday 14 April Amsterdam

2:30-4:30am Sunday 14 April Mumbai, India

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/i8W5u7Qn7sPS1YLi/?mibextid=Whttps://www.facebook.com/share/p/i8W5u7Qn7sPS1YLi/?mibextid=WC7FNeC7FNe

02/04/2024

Hello everyone,

The Haiku Poets of Northern California would like to make members aware of the 2024 San Francisco International Haibun Contest. This contest is open to all poets writing in the haibun genre. The deadline for submissions is May 1st and complete guidelines can be found at hpnc.org.

Please feel free to contact the organizers with any questions.

J Hahn Doleman, HPNC Contest Coordinator, looks forward to your participation.

23/03/2024

Hello everyone,

It is with mixed emotions that we bring you this edition of The Mamba. We are delighted to share our offerings with our cherished readers worldwide, yet saddened by the absence of our esteemed founder and editor, Adjei Agyei-Baah. He passed away suddenly on December 18th of last year, and this journal is dedicated to his memory.

As always, this issue features haiku submissions from across the globe, showcasing the diverse cultural and personal experiences of our contributors. We have also dedicated a page to Adjei, offering readers a glimpse of his significant impact on haiku on a global scale. This section includes haiku, either composed or inspired by Adjei, by the haiku community in honour of him. Additionally, Justice Joseph Prah offers a sterling literary review of Adjei's Scaring Crow, serving as a testament to the talent we have sadly lost. Myron Lysenko as well offers a review of Emmanuel Jessie Kalusian’s chapbook The Map of Nowhere.

We hope you enjoy exploring the diverse voices and perspectives within this edition of The Mamba. We kindly ask that you keep Adjei Agyei-Baah's family in your thoughts during this difficult time.

https://africahaikunetwork.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/mamba-issue-15-february-2024.pdf

16/02/2024

A Brief Update for Our Members, Readers, Followers, and Facebook Community,

We are pleased to announce that we are migrating to a new page here on Facebook. We kindly ask everyone to follow the link below to join our new page.

This new page will continue to promote Africa Haiku and uphold our core values as we gradually transition most of our activities to this new platform.

We sincerely appreciate your ongoing support over the years. Thank you to each and every one of you.

https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555866523648

Africa's premier haiku community. The Publishers of Africa's first Haiku Journal the Mamba.

28/12/2023

To the Global Haiku Community,

It is with a deep sense of shock and regret that we announce the untimely death of our founder and leader, Adjei Agyei-Baah.

Mr. Adjei Agyei-Baah co-founded The Mamba, Africa's premier haiku journal, and was a trailblazer in the practice of haiku on the African continent. His influence was far-reaching, as he mentored many current haiku writers in Africa.

Mr. Adjei Agyei-Baah was scheduled to complete his PhD at the University of Waikato in New Zealand this month. He leaves behind a significant legacy.

We ask all well-wishers and sympathizers to keep the family in their prayers during this difficult time.

Thank you.
AHN Editorial Board.

29/09/2023

IT IS HERE!

Hello, world! We couldn't close out the year without fulfilling our deepest desire to bring you the second issue of 'The Mamba' for this year. This has been made possible thanks to your unwavering support for our journal.

What can you expect in this issue? We have once again curated a delightful collection of haiku from various countries. There is also a haibun by Taofeek Ayeyemi which leaves one reminiscing childhood. Additionally, we are proud to feature some of our young talents who not only participated but also secured prizes in the 2022-2023 JAL Foundation World Children's Haiku competition. At the review section of the journal are also some insightful takes on two books. Jerome Berglund and Brian Bartlett deliver interesting reviews on Between Two Dates by Kwaku Feni Adow and Scaring Crow by Adjei Agyei-Baah respectively. Both chapbooks can be downloaded for free on our website.

As we approach the end of the year, let's find renewed strength to finish even stronger and better than when we first began. We also offer this in solidarity with our brothers and sisters recently struck by disaster in Morocco. Our thoughts and prayers remain with you. We hope you enjoy this issue and we look forward to reading your haiku submissions for our next edition.

Download the new Mamba Issue here:https://africahaikunetwork.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/mamba-issue-14-1.pdf

18/07/2023

Call for Submissions

https://www.artsinfinitypress.com/km100nz-haikucompetition

07/07/2023

Exciting News. One of our very own, Emmanuel Jessie Kalusian drops his first ever haiku colection, Map of Nowhere. Find details of the book and link below.

We hope you enjoy this treat from one of Africa's recognizable voices in haiku who also is the co-founder of our cherished Society of African haijins.

REVIEW OF OPENING PIECE IN THE BOOK 'MAP OF NOWHERE.'

plane ticket...
the drizzle becomes
a downpour

Haiku is a magical poem, deceptively simple and short with layers of meanings. In this piece, featured in MAP OF NOWHERE, we see the start of a journey; so much expectation for what the journey holds until nature steps in and what was a drizzle turned into a downpour!

The poet's persona unable to continue his journey: depicts how life steps in the way to interrupt our beautiful plans. A child has a dream of becoming a doctor, but loses both parents at an early age in a ghastly accident...

However, there's is hope, a beckoning glimpse of fresh light at the tail end of life's tunnel. Everyday is an opportunity to start that journey, to get another 'plane ticket' to your 'destination'. Today might be sunny but how would one know except they try again!

Grab a digital copy of this thrilling book using the link below:

THE MAP OF NOWHERE is a compelling title. Why nowhere? Where is nowhere? How do we get there? Will I find out by reading the work within? The first haiku sets the scene, as the opening line shows the excitement of a journey which is then tempered with a disappointing change in the weather...

24/05/2023

WE ARE EXCITED TO BE BACK !!!

After a long break, we are overjoyed to present the 13th issue of the Mamba, Journal of Africa Haiku Network. We have received numerous enquiries during our hiatus, and while it was disappointing not to fulfil your expectations, we are comforted by the fact that you have kept us in your thoughts which shows how highly you regard the Mamba. We appreciate your continued support through reading, sharing and submitting your outstanding haiku. This support has made everything possible to be back again. As with previous issues, this one features a collection of incredible experiences shared through the lens of haiku. You will also find a sterling review of Adjei Agyei-Baah's new haiku collection Scaring Crow written by Keith Simmonds. We are confident that you will relish this edition. Thank you for your patience and let us celebrate this new chapter together.

Click on the link to download our journal.

https://africahaikunetwork.files.wordpress.com/2023/05/the-mamba-13.pdf

14/05/2023

A reminder that submission for issue 2 of Haiku Zoo Journal is open to poets 20 years old or younger until 30 June 2023. Spread the word!

Zoe and I would love to see submissions from all over the world in English and whichever other language with English translation. Do encourage young people around you to write haiku and other short form poetry.

We are especially excited to see collaborations between young poets in rengay and haiga, or Japanese short form poetry book reviews written by the young ones!

You can read the current issue (issue one) online at www.haikuzoojournal.wordpress.com and young poets can submit up to 3 poems in each submission period to haikuzoojournal(at)gmail(dot)com

Limited amount of paperback edition will be printed in NZ by June 2023 and hopefully later also available internationally on demand through Amazon!