Festivals

Usha Akella founded Matwaala, literally in her living room in 2015, and has directed it since with Pramila Venkateswaran, the New York based poet. It's a sisterhood that is a synergy that tends to work quietly in harmony, without fanfare, emerging with nuggets to fan dialogue, and build bridges through poetry. The duo has served the mission of increasing the visibility of South Asian poets with an unceasing commitment, (reflected in the ten years of work with no monetary benefit or personal gain). For an initiative that is not even a nonprofit, the partnership has yielded an astounding bounty of work marked by its inclusivity. Kashiana Singh’s unflagging energy, work and positive spirit since 2024 has propelled Matwaala's programs in new directions.

2015-2025 Recap

2025:
Tenth anniversary celebration with 14 events.
2024:
New books showcase.
2023. April:
New books showcase; Memorial Reading for Saleem Peeradina; Reading for anthology poets, They rise like a wave. Edt. By Christine Kitano & Alycia Pirmohamad; Hum Aiseich Bolte, Anthology reading.
2023:
Poets of color series: Asian American, Dalit
2022:
Poets of color series: Caribbean, Native American.
2021:
Poets of color series: African American & Mexican panels.
2020:
Curator- Poetry Wall of 24 South Asian diaspora poets & poetry reading in collaboration with thinkIndia Foundation, Dallas at India a la Art exhibit at the Irving Archives and Museum, which complemented the museum's exhibit of the Smithsonian's Beyond Bollywood; Women’s Fest featuring five women poets at Stony Brook University and NCC. Replaced by video recordings due to Covid; Matwaala poetry readings in collaboration with India Currents
2019:
Matwaala Poetry Fest 2019. With UK diaspora. Readings at NYU, NCC, Hunter College, New York Writers Workshop at The Red Room & Murray Edwards College, Cambridge University.
2018:
Matwaala Poetry Fest 2018. Asian American Writers Center, NYC.
2017:
Matwaala Poetry Fest 2018. Long Island Community College and various venues in NYC.
2015:
Matwaala Poetry Founding Fest 2015 in Austin. Readings at festival venue. Austin Community College, Turkish Center etc.,

Matwaala’s Big Read

Matwaala’s Big Read: AAWW first collaborated with Matwaala in 2017 to successfully launch the first Matwaala Big Read. MBR opens its doors to established, upcoming and youth readers. A number of poets including Vijay Seshadri, Meena Alexander and Saleem Peeradina participated, keenly feeling an urge to respond to the political climate in the USA.
The 2019 Big Read is a memorial reading for Meena Alexander at Hunter College.

Poet-of-Honor:

A poet-of-honor is chosen at every edition not just for achievements, stature or seniority but awarded to a poet who is invested in promoting and nurturing other poets.