HemelBesem
(South Africa) os the stage name/nom de plume of rapper, writer, poet, actor and activist Simon Witbooi. He grew up impoverished in Capetown, where rap and hiphop became his outlet for the social inequality he saw all around. Although he began in English, Afrikaans quickly took over as his chosen langauge. HemelBesem (Heaven's Broom) calls himself an edutainer or educator because he wants to build bridges between communities and address African social issues. In his 2017 book God praat Afrikaans (God Speaks Afrikaans), he passionately defends the Afrikaans language. He is an ambassador for the Afrikaans Language and Culture Society (ATKV) and visits schools on a yearly basis in collaboration with the University of Stellenbosch for the Woorde Open Wêrelde (WOW) project. He is a descendant of Hendrik Witbooi, one of the greatest 19th-century resistance heroes during the genocide by the German colonizers in Southwestern Africa, now Namibia.
Past events
Who Wants to Live Forever?
Seven authors read their visions on the future.
Spot On Young Poets
High-school students of De Vrije School, ISW Hoogeland and Edith Stein College reciting their poetry, result of workshops given by the Hague Poets Guild. Also appearing poets Derek Otte, HemelBesem from South Africa, and Sumai Yahya.
Spot On Young Poets
High-school students from Dalton Den Haag, Edith Stein College and Chr. College De Populier recited their own poetry, the result of workshops and poetry lessons given at the schools by members of the Hague Poets Guild. Appearing with them are poets Radna Fabias and HemelBesem from South Africa, and the young student-poet Sumai Yahya.
