The PoeComSto Council Officially Launches: A New Voice for Poetry, Comedy, and Storytelling in South Africa

The Poetry, Comedy and Storytelling Council (PoeComSto Council) is proud to announce its official establishment as part of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s (DSAC) national drive to restructure and revitalise South Africa’s creative sector. PoeComSto is one of 17 newly formed Sector Cluster Councils developed through the August 2024 bosberaad consultation with artists and stakeholders across the country, and marks a critical step forward in empowering underrepresented voices in the arts.

“South Africa’s long-standing traditions of oral storytelling, poetic expression, and comedic social commentary are central to our culture. Yet, these disciplines have suffered from decades of underinvestment, lack of coordination, and limited platforms for meaningful growth. PoeComSto was created to close that gap, by building support systems, creating opportunities, and advocating and lobbying for the creatives behind the mic and the pen,” says MoAfrika Wa Mokgathi – PoeComSto’s chairperson.

The PoeComSto Council exists to nurture, develop, and elevate poetry, comedy, and storytelling as powerful art forms that reflect the soul of our nation, while contributing to social cohesion, heritage preservation, and the creative economy.

This council is more than an administrative body, it’s a community of artists, organisers, and cultural workers committed to rewriting the narrative for our sectors.

“Through our work, we aim to develop talent, create platforms, preserve our heritage and promote education in this sector, as well as boost creative economies by assisting artists in turning their craft into careers through professional development, touring support and market access,” further states wa Mokgathi.

The official launch of the PoeComSto Council will take place on 16 August 2025 in Johannesburg, where the program will be unpacked, followed by a first phase of a series of Provincial Workshops in five provinces These workshops will focus on skill-building in performance, writing, comedic timing/techniques, and storytelling, as well as exploring alternative revenue models and digital engagement strategies.

The Council further explained that, although the board's organisation is an interim one, it aims to build a strong, unified community of artists and advocates that can help reshape the landscape for generations of poets, comedians, and storytellers to come.

“Furthermore, we are honoured to be part of a national transformation led by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. This new model of sector coordination gives us what we've long lacked: shared resources, representative voices, proper infrastructure, and a seat at the table in shaping policy and funding priorities.

We acknowledge the frustration many artists have felt for years, and we share it. PoeComSto is here to do things differently, not to maintain a broken status quo. We are building from the ground up, with community input, integrity, and a commitment to real change.

We invite all South African poets, comedians, and storytellers to join us as we begin this new journey,” concludes MoAfrika.