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.
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
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
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
Poetry Wall of 24 South Asian Diaspora Poets at Irving Museum and Archives, Dallas
Curated by Matwaala and ThinkIndia Foundation for the Smithsonian project Beyond Bollywood:
University of Cambridge and India Currents
University of Cambridge and India Currents
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
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
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
New York University
Stony Brook University
Hunter College
Nassau Community College
Austin Community College
"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…"
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 among poets.
MAPS: Matwaala Anthology
Click to view
2019 Mugs
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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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Matwaala directors say thank you to the collective's poets who made the website possible, website designer Francisca, posters’ designer Anannya and all sponsors and partners.