The newly established Poetry, Comedy and Storytelling Council (PoeComSto Council) has officially launched as part of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s (DSAC) national drive to revitalise South Africa’s creative sector.
The council is one of 17 newly formed Sector Cluster Councils developed after the August 2024 bosberaad consultations with artists and stakeholders nationwide. It aims to close long-standing gaps in support, resources and representation for creatives working in poetry, comedy and storytelling.
“South Africa’s traditions of oral storytelling, poetic expression and comedic social commentary are central to our culture, yet they have suffered from decades of underinvestment and limited platforms for growth,” said MoAfrika Wa Mokgathi, chairperson of PoeComSto.
Empowering artists and preserving heritage
Mokgathi said the council exists to nurture, develop and elevate these disciplines as powerful art forms that contribute to social cohesion, heritage preservation and the creative economy.
“We aim to develop talent, create platforms, preserve heritage and promote education, while assisting artists to turn their craft into careers through professional development, touring support and market access,” she said.
The PoeComSto Council will also work to rewrite the narrative of the sector by boosting creative economies and advocating for artists’ rights.
Provincial workshops to follow
The official launch event is scheduled for 16 August 2025 in Johannesburg and will be followed by the first of a series of provincial workshops in five provinces. These workshops will focus on building skills in performance, writing, comedic timing, storytelling and exploring alternative revenue models.
Mokgathi emphasised that although the council is in its early stages, it is committed to building a unified community of artists and advocates to reshape the landscape for generations of poets, comedians and storytellers.
National drive for lasting change
The PoeComSto Council is part of a broader strategy by DSAC to address gaps in infrastructure, representation and policy in the creative sector.
“We are not here to maintain the status quo but to drive meaningful change. We invite all poets, comedians and storytellers to join us as we begin this new journey,” Mokgathi concluded.
Artists interested in participating can follow PoeComSto Council on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or email nonomA21@gmail.com for more information.
