An Evening of Poetry at CanD’s Kitchen
On 22 July 2026, CanD’s Kitchen was filled to capacity as poetry lovers gathered for a memorable evening hosted by the Ingrid Jonker Poetry Forum. Founded in 2008 by Catherine de Villiers, Ingrid Jonker’s niece, the forum keeps the poet’s legacy alive while creating a space for other poets to share their work. The annual event celebrates Ingrid Jonker’s life and poetry and continues to introduce her remarkable voice to new generations of readers.
The evening brought together readers, writers and admirers of one of South Africa’s most celebrated poets for a night dedicated to the enduring power of words.
Patricia Schonstein opened the programme with a warm welcome and beautifully selected poetry readings. Her passion for literature immediately created an atmosphere of warmth and anticipation, drawing guests into an evening of reflection, emotion and connection.
Catherine de Villiers then shared a moving selection of her aunt Ingrid Jonker’s poems. As she read, she also offered personal stories and insights into Ingrid’s life and the experiences that inspired some of her most treasured works. Her unique perspective gave the audience a deeper understanding of the woman behind the poetry and brought a very personal dimension to the evening.
The programme also featured Lara Kirsten, an accomplished poet in her own right. Her expressive readings resonated deeply with the audience, demonstrating once again how poetry can capture the beauty, complexity and vulnerability of the human experience.
Another special guest was poet Jacque Coetzee, whose debut anthology, An Illuminated Darkness, won the Ingrid Jonker Poetry Prize in 2022. His contribution added another important voice to an evening that honoured both Ingrid Jonker’s legacy and the poets who continue to be inspired by her work.
As the formal programme drew to a close, the microphone opened to the audience. The open mic session, expertly hosted by Dorian Haarhof, created a welcoming space for poets of all ages and levels of experience. Established writers and first-time readers stepped forward to share their words, making the evening as much about community and courage as it was about poetry.
Dorian Haarhof is also a writing workshop facilitator, and CanD’s Kitchen hopes to welcome him soon for one of his workshops—another opportunity for aspiring and established writers to explore their creativity in a supportive environment.
Adding to the literary experience, John from The Book Cottage curated a wonderful selection of books for guests to browse, including Ingrid Jonker: ’n Versamelde Werke. The collection gave visitors an opportunity to continue exploring Ingrid Jonker’s extraordinary literary legacy long after the final poem had been read.
The evening celebrated poetry, storytelling, memory and shared humanity. CanD’s Kitchen was honoured to provide a space where literature could bring people together, voices could be heard and stories could be shared.
A heartfelt thank you goes to Catherine de Villiers, Patricia Schonstein, Lara Kirsten, Jacque Coetzee, Dorian Haarhof, John from The Book Cottage and everyone who read, listened and supported this very special evening.
CanD’s Kitchen looks forward to hosting many more evenings where food, literature, creativity and community come together around the same table.ingrid jonker poetry forumingrid jonker poetry forumingrid jonker poetry forum
An Evening of Poetry at CanD’s Kitchen
On 22 July 2026, CanD’s Kitchen was filled to capacity as poetry lovers gathered for a memorable evening hosted by the Ingrid Jonker Poetry Forum. Founded in 2008 by Catherine de Villiers, Ingrid Jonker’s niece, the forum keeps the poet’s legacy alive while creating a space for other poets to share their work. The annual event celebrates Ingrid Jonker’s life and poetry and continues to introduce her remarkable voice to new generations of readers.
The evening brought together readers, writers and admirers of one of South Africa’s most celebrated poets for a night dedicated to the enduring power of words.
Patricia Schonstein opened the programme with a warm welcome and beautifully selected poetry readings. Her passion for literature immediately created an atmosphere of warmth and anticipation, drawing guests into an evening of reflection, emotion and connection.
Catherine de Villiers then shared a moving selection of her aunt Ingrid Jonker’s poems. As she read, she also offered personal stories and insights into Ingrid’s life and the experiences that inspired some of her most treasured works. Her unique perspective gave the audience a deeper understanding of the woman behind the poetry and brought a very personal dimension to the evening.
The programme also featured Lara Kirsten, an accomplished poet in her own right. Her expressive readings resonated deeply with the audience, demonstrating once again how poetry can capture the beauty, complexity and vulnerability of the human experience.
Another special guest was poet Jacque Coetzee, whose debut anthology, An Illuminated Darkness, won the Ingrid Jonker Poetry Prize in 2022. His contribution added another important voice to an evening that honoured both Ingrid Jonker’s legacy and the poets who continue to be inspired by her work.
As the formal programme drew to a close, the microphone opened to the audience. The open mic session, expertly hosted by Dorian Haarhof, created a welcoming space for poets of all ages and levels of experience. Established writers and first-time readers stepped forward to share their words, making the evening as much about community and courage as it was about poetry.
Dorian Haarhof is also a writing workshop facilitator, and CanD’s Kitchen hopes to welcome him soon for one of his workshops—another opportunity for aspiring and established writers to explore their creativity in a supportive environment.
Adding to the literary experience, John from The Book Cottage curated a wonderful selection of books for guests to browse, including Ingrid Jonker: ’n Versamelde Werke. The collection gave visitors an opportunity to continue exploring Ingrid Jonker’s extraordinary literary legacy long after the final poem had been read.
The evening celebrated poetry, storytelling, memory and shared humanity. CanD’s Kitchen was honoured to provide a space where literature could bring people together, voices could be heard and stories could be shared.
A heartfelt thank you goes to Catherine de Villiers, Patricia Schonstein, Lara Kirsten, Jacque Coetzee, Dorian Haarhof, John from The Book Cottage and everyone who read, listened and supported this very special evening.
CanD’s Kitchen looks forward to hosting many more evenings where food, literature, creativity and community come together around the same table.