I didn't choose poetry,poetry chose me*
PROJECT 2007 : see http://www.sowetoconnection.centerall.all
Born 1936 in St. Niklaas. Masters Degree in Dramatic Arts & Theatre History from the Conservatory of Fine Arts in Antwerp.
Worked a few years as comedian with the Radio Play Company of Studio Antwerp.
Published six books of poetry- worked as a journalist for several magazines in Belgium and abroad. Poetry was published in magazines in the U.S.A and in Ghana.
On line there is poetry to be found on several websites such as: Poetry.com- The Poet’s Corner –Creative Women- Mr. Africa’s Poetry Lounge- TimBookTu-Quiet Mountain Essays(U.S.A)- Meander, Poetry Alive amongst many others ( The Netherlands)
She was a very active member of the Peace Movement, the anti-fascist & anti-racist movement, the anti-apartheid movement and feminist movement.
She was co-founder and director of a small theatre company in the late seventies and eighties ‘ Theater Vlakaf’ that was touring the country with, amongst others, a program with anti-apartheid poetry ‘Mayibuye’.
Worked for six years as cultural coordinator for the Cultural Centre ‘De Groene Waterman-CultuurKelder’ in Antwerp.
Is giving workshops ‘Media Training & Image Building’ – ‘Creative Writing & Story Telling’ –‘Writing on top of the Rainbow’ a voyage around the world by the works of female writers and poets.
Lectures about :’ The artist and commitment: a choice!’-‘ Blues and all that jazz: an introduction to African-American Literature’-
Featured as guest-poet at ‘Tien uur poezie’ in Nijmegen (The Netherlands), poetry-slam in Eindhoven (The Netherlands), Poetry Festival ‘De Vurige Tongen’-Ruigoord-Amsterdam-(The Netherlands)-‘ De nacht van de boze dichters’ St. Niklaas, (B)-‘Het Eilandje’ Hamme, (B)-‘ Espacios Cruzados’ Barcelona (april 2002) Spain, ‘Poetische Aperitieven’ in Antwerp and C.I.C. (International Centre) Brussels- Huis der Nederlanden- Cape Town-South Africa (2004) and The Bus Factory-Johannesburg on Women’s Day 2004- South Africa.
Published in 2003 ‘Stemmen met littekens’ a book with non-fiction stories of women in South Africa , poetry and illustrations by four young female artists from Soweto ( all working within The Artist Proof Studio, directed by Kim Berman in Johannesburg) and a spoken word CD ‘ Voices with Scars’ with the poetry of the book in English translation and with the musical support of Nigerian friend and musician Olumide Toyinbo.
Just finished the publication of a new book of poetry ‘Trage Tranen’ and a first book of poetry in English ‘The Universal Woman’ published by Cyberwit Publishers in India.
Member of the International Honorary Committee ‘2004 Pablo Neruda 100’ that prepared the Celebration of the 100th birthday of the famous Chilean poet.
At het Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the March to the Union Buildings in Pretoria by thousands of women protesting the 'pasjeswet' Frieda was horoured by the Embassy of South-Africa in Brussels for her contribution to the struggle of women in September 2006.
Just returned from a 3 month's stay in Johannesburg where she worked on a new project with almost 70 fine arts students from The Artist Proof Studio in Johannesburg, directed by Kim Berman, giving workshops communication skills and realizing a book project 'Climbing the Rainbow of our Dreams' in which students talk about their dreams and expectations for the future in stories, poetry and illustrations. We hope to have the book published by the end of the year.
Contact :
email : frieda.groffy@pandora.be or frieda_africa@yahoo.com
New : The Universal Woman
This book can be ordered at :
www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com
the Publisher : www.Cyberwit.net
www.authorsden.com
or with the author