Mustafa Stitou
(Morocco, 1974) grew up in Lelystad in the Netherlands. He lives and works in Amsterdam, where he studied philosophy at the University of Amsterdam. Stitou writes playful and quirky poetry that also makes an impact on the stage. The poems in his latest collection Tempel (Temple) are set in all parts of the worldfrom a hamlet in the former Soviet Union to an island in the ocean, from an Amsterdam courtyard to Mecca. Stitou gives voice to the most varied speakers; a mayor talks to troubled residents and a fly addresses a cow. The poet is always seeking out the borderline between holy and profane, human and inhuman, fantasy and reality. Stitou debuted in 1994 with the volume Mijn Vormen (My forms) and wrote Mijn gedichten (My Poems) in 1998. His collection Varkensroze ansichten (Pig-pink Postards, 2003) won the VSB Poetry Prize. During 2009 Stitou was poet laureate of the city of Amsterdam. He won the Awater Poetry Prize for Tempel.
(WU 15 GR)Share this page
Archive available for: Mustafa Stitou
-
Ode to Remco's Coat
The spotlight shines on the poetry of Remco Campert in this festive programme. Portuguese fado singer Cristina Branco set Campert's Ode aan mijn jas (Ode to My Coat) to music especially for this event. She is accompanied by João Paulo. Mustafa Stitou, Hanneke van Eijken, and three poets nominated for the VSB Poetry PrizeHester Knibbe, Alfred Schaffer, and Peter Verhelsteach dedicate a poem to Remco or write a poem inspired by his poetry. The Blue Moon choir concludes the programme with a song about a passage from Het leven is verrukkulluk (Life is Delightful). Hosted by Alma Mathijsen. A collaboration with Poetry International and the VSB Poetry Prize. In Dutch.
-
The Text of My Life: Mustafa Stitou
In the Filmhuis Studio the festival's guest writers present their favourite literary texts and explain why a particular poem, novel excerpt, or song lyric influenced their life and work. Which memory, what feeling does this text call up for them? A continuous interview programme, in which the audience also talks with the writers. Hosted by Arjan Peters and Nuweira Youskine. In Dutch.
-
VPRO De Avonden: The Seers - visions in poems
Four poets translated especially for Winternachtentheir visions into poetry. These are: the young performing poet Tjitske Janse, poet and performer Ramona Maranis, Mustafa Stitou and Erik Menkveld. Presentator Wim Brands talks during the festival with these four poets in a live radio broadcast from the VPRO De Avonden .
-
Jakarta and Yogyakarta
With: Gibi Bacilio, Loit Sôls, Mustafa Stitou, Surianto
Onder de titel 'Winternachten overzee' bracht het Haagse literatuurfestival Winternachten dichters uit Suriname, Zuid-Afrika, de Antillen en Nederland naar Indonesië. Vier dichters reisden van 24 april tot 1 mei 2001 naar Jakarta en Yogyakarta voor optredens in o.a. het festival JIPR (Jakarta International Poetry Reading). Het was voor het eerst dat het festival Winternachten zich buiten Nederland presenteerde. Het was op verzoek van de Javaanse schrijvers Goenawan Mohamad en Ayu Utami dat Winternachten zijn activiteiten uitbreidde naar Indonesië. Winternachten is het jaarlijkse ontmoetingspunt voor schrijvers uit Suriname, Zuid-Afrika, de Antillen, Indonesië en Nederland. Steeds vaker kreeg het festival het verzoek om die ontmoeting ook in de andere landen te laten plaatsvinden. Dat gebeurde nu voor het eerst in Indonesië; de voorbereidingen voor een soorgelijke evenementen in Zuid-Afrika en op Aruba en de Nederlandse Antillen zijn in gang. Winternachten maakte in overleg met de Indonesische partners de keus voor de dichters Mustafa Stitou (Nederland), Loit Sôls (Zuid-Afrika), Gibi Bacilio (Curaçao) en Surianto (Suriname). De optredens vonden plaats in het festival JIPR (26 t/m 28 april, Theater Utan Kayu, Jakarta), de Universitas Indonesia (26 april, Depok, Jakarta) en in Yogyakarta (30 april en 1 mei).
-
Performing Poets
Lasana M. Sekou is a poet from the Isle of St Maarten. He has a clear message on the history of slavery and forced migration. Together with Dutch performing poets Mustafa Stitou, Ruben van Gogh and Albertina Soepboer the theme of migration was further elaborated on. The South African poet Koos Kombuis put his poems to music. Swinging verse, combined with guitar music, performed in the theatre's foyer. In this same venue there was a performance of poet Jan Kees van de Werk. Hij read from his recent book De Vissenvrouw. The programme in this venue was presented by Basil Appollis. With his Capetonian coloured humour he also performed his own stand-up comedy.
