Mission
Matwaala, South Asian Diaspora Poets’ Collective, is a community of poets whose origins go back to South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Afghanistan). Our mission is to promote South Asian poetry in the American literary landscape, and collaborate with other arts in North America through a festival, publications and mutual support.
Over 70 poets have read & participated in Matwaala readings, projects & programs.
Read about Matwaala at Poets and Writers:
https://www.pw.org/content/building_solidarity_through_poetry
https://www.pw.org/content/building_solidarity_through_poetry
MATWAALA POETRY FEST
2021-2023
Poets of Color: The Series
African American, Native American, Mexican, Asian American, Caribbean, South & Central American & Dalit
In 2020, George Floyd 's inhumane murder was not the first time African Americans and people of color have been victims of police brutality. Thousands took to the streets to protest the cold-blooded killing by police of Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and so many more.
Poets at Matwaala state our solidarity with our African-American brothers and sisters.
We support this brave struggle and fervently hope that every voice crying out for justice in this movement is heard. We join all people of color in creating change and paving the way for our institutions to treat all people in our democracy with respect, dignity, and non-violence.
Our 2021-'23 festival features poets of color. African American, Mexican, Native American, Caribbean, South & Central, Dalit & Asian American poets.
2021-2023
Poets of Color: The Series
African American, Native American, Mexican, Asian American, Caribbean, South & Central American & Dalit
In 2020, George Floyd 's inhumane murder was not the first time African Americans and people of color have been victims of police brutality. Thousands took to the streets to protest the cold-blooded killing by police of Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and so many more.
Poets at Matwaala state our solidarity with our African-American brothers and sisters.
We support this brave struggle and fervently hope that every voice crying out for justice in this movement is heard. We join all people of color in creating change and paving the way for our institutions to treat all people in our democracy with respect, dignity, and non-violence.
Our 2021-'23 festival features poets of color. African American, Mexican, Native American, Caribbean, South & Central, Dalit & Asian American poets.
JULY 8, 2022, 7 PM Eastern
Zoom link: https://ncc-zoom.zoom.us/j/93486825536?pwd=L2JHNTNWTHdvT0JZcVdKa1ZyVXh3UT09 Poets: Marianela Medrano, Danielle Legros Georges. Keisha-Gaye Anderson, and Bessy Reyna 
JULY 8, 2021, 8 PM Eastern
View the recording: https://ncc-zoom.zoom.us/rec/share/_QYNpVYj1fVWHgOLKQXkQjS8jH06ijjiRF5drE8xjMqKrnEZbJ2Vr7wA_tV9TSJC.4_3UiqpT_gQWClbH Poets: María Baranda, Ana Belen, Mariana Bernárdez, Fernando Carrera, Elsa Cross, Manuel Iris, Luis Armenta-Malpica, Jorge Ortega, and Natalia Toledo |
MARCH 3, 2022, 8 PM Eastern
Zoom link: https://ncc-zoom.zoom.us/j/93878918727?pwd=N2pBZjY4MU9BSXY0YmRGZEw3Vjc4QT09 Introduction by Kamala Platt Poets: Lyla June, Lucille Long Day & Andrina Smith. Art by Jeremy Dennis 
APRIL 22, 2021. 8 PM Eastern
To read poems at lucywritersplatform by the poets click here View the recording Passcode: ^lr06CR# Poets: Dorothy Randall Gray, Anastasia Tomkin, Cynthia Manick, Marsha Nelson, and Loretta Diane Walker |
Highlights
2023 Programs
1. Featuring poets from: They Rise Like a Wave; Anthology of Asian American Women Poets. Edt. by Christine Kitano & Alycia Pirmohamad - April 27, 2023
https://youtu.be/lc0kKBAoLhI
2. Memorial Reading for Saleem Peeradina - Poets from India & USA-April 28, 2023
https://youtu.be/CFLwd_gRT9c
3. Hum Aiseich Bolte, This is just how we say it, Celebrating Hyderabad with poetry - Akila Gopalkrishnan, Shikhandin, Kashiana Singh, Viswaprasad & Usha Akella -May 12, 2023. Art feature: Viswaprasad. Anchored by Kashiana Singh.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qK9EX0z6dLfzOQ22Hi9L7NKQ3RWd1NOj/view?usp=share_link
https://youtu.be/U95-oLBABiA
4. New-book reading - Megha Sood, Sophia Naz, Pramila Venkateswaran, Usha Akella, Indran Amirhanayagam, Anita Nahal, Zilka Joseph, Kashiana Singh, Afsar Mohammad, & Sara Garg (youth poet) - July 16, 2023
Poets of color series, 2023 contd...
1. Asian American poets: Sep 28th, 2023. Allison Albino (Philippines), Deedle Tomlinson (Philippines), Miho Nonaka: (Japan), Sun Young Shin (Korea), Joshua Nguyen (Vietnam), Frances Kai-Hwa Wang (China), & Bryan Thao Worra (Laos)
2. Dalit poets: Dec 2nd, 2023. Sukirtharani, Arangamallika, Gopika Jadeja, Chandramohan Satyanathan, & Geetha Sukumaran.
3. South/Central American TBA
Projects: Diaspora Poetry library at Delhi University
Matwaala is thrilled to initiate the building of a diaspora poetry collection of books (hard & soft copy) at Delhi University's English department to facilitate dialogue between both Indian and diaspora academic and creative communities. Interested poets are welcome to email us at reachmatwaala@gmail.com to learn more and send your work to DU.
Essays/Critical Work
Read Pramila Venkateswaran's critical essay on Saleem Peeradina's work:
https://indianwritinginenglish.uohyd.ac.in/saleem-peeradina-pramila-venkateswaran/
Highlights
Poetry Wall of 24 South Asian Diaspora Poets at Irving Museum and Archives, Dallas, 2021
Curated by Matwaala and ThinkIndia Foundation for the Smithsonian project Beyond Bollywood:
Highlights
Poetry Wall of 24 South Asian Diaspora Poets at Irving Museum and Archives, Dallas, 2021
Curated by Matwaala and ThinkIndia Foundation for the Smithsonian project Beyond Bollywood:
Articles on Matwaala
LucyWritersPlatform by Usha Akella
The Birth of South Asian Diaspora Festival by Pramila Venkateswaran
Matwaala; Birth of a South Asian Diaspora Poetry Festival and Collective- Journal of comparative literature- http://jcla.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/JCLA-44.2_Summer-2021_Usha-Akella.pdf
University of Cambridge
India Currents
The Birth of South Asian Diaspora Festival by Pramila Venkateswaran
Matwaala; Birth of a South Asian Diaspora Poetry Festival and Collective- Journal of comparative literature- http://jcla.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/JCLA-44.2_Summer-2021_Usha-Akella.pdf
University of Cambridge
India Currents
Matwaala Readings Hosted By:
Murray Edwards College at Cambridge University, UK
New York University
Stony Brook University
Hunter College
Nassau Community College
Austin Community College
AAWW, NYC
New York Writers Workshop, NYC
New York University
Stony Brook University
Hunter College
Nassau Community College
Austin Community College
AAWW, NYC
New York Writers Workshop, NYC
"Voices that dare to say the unsaid and hear the unheard… voices that break down barriers… voices that dare to be South Asian, American and simply human…"
MAPS: Matwaala Anthology
Click to view
Mugs
The Matwaala commemorative mug is our quirky salute to the poet of honor at each festival.
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Intoxicated by Poetry
Photo by Nomita Verma Pfaff
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Made possible by USCommunity brought together by poetry
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Photo by Nomita Verma Pfaff
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Thank you to the collective's poets who made the website possible, website designer Francisca, posters’ designer Anannya, and all our sponsors and partners.