The Barloworld Empowerment Foundation (BWEF), in partnership with Current State Presentations (CSP), has launched 18 Moyeng: Stories of the Vaal – a six-month poetry and prose internship that turns the lived realities of the Vaal Triangle into stories of cultural, social, and emotional transformation.
Running from January to June 2026, the programme invites poets aged 21–28 from the Vaal Triangle to apply for an immersive mentorship in research-based creative writing and performance storytelling.
Reimagining the Vaal Through Story
18 Moyeng explores how the Vaal remembers, resists, and redefines itself through three central storylines:
● The cultural pulse of 18 Moyeng, a phenomenon shaping local identity and expression.
● The potholes that scar both the landscape and the social fabric, symbolising neglect and resilience.
● The rise of Somali-owned tuck shops, revealing shifting economies and the texture of coexistence.
Each theme will be interpreted by six emerging poets under the mentorship of Vus’umuzi Phakathi, Mutle Mothibe, and Nomashenge Dlamini, three of South Africa’s most respected poetic voices. Together, they will transform research into art that lives on stage and on screen.
From Research to Performance
Over six months, poets will conduct field research, attend creative and business-in-the-arts workshops, and craft original work inspired by their findings. The programme will culminate in a live community showcase in Evaton and a digital performance series published in collaboration with Culture Review Magazine. Each poet will produce a final performance piece and an accompanying research paper — merging artistic intuition with social insight.
A Partnership Rooted in Possibility
In the spirit of BWEF’s Siyakhwezela philosophy, “we ignite the flame”, this collaboration embodies a shared commitment to nurturing creative leadership within communities.
Call for Applications
Applications are now open and close on November 30.
About Current State Presentations (CSP)
Current State Presentations (CSP) is a South African arts organisation using poetry and performance to explore identity, memory, and social transformation. Its flagship initiative, Current State of Poetry, has mentored and produced leading voices in contemporary poetry since 2015.
About Barloworld Empowerment Foundation (BWEF)
The Barloworld Empowerment Foundation (BWEF) is a platform for community-rooted transformation. Guided by its mission to ignite resilient and thriving communities, BWEF invests in storytelling, education, and enterprise to empower South Africans to see possibility where others see limitation.
