Poetry Africa is an annual international poetry festival, which is held in Durban. The annual week long festival hosts more than twenty poets, mainly coming from South Africa and various other African countries. The international poetry festival is based mostly in Durban, and is held during the final quarter of the year, boasting an extensive programme which includes various theatrical performances and poetry readings, as well as music and book launches with a festival finale taking place at Durban's BAT Centre, near the harbour. Daytime activities include free seminars and workshops, open mic opportunities, and school visits.

The Poetry Africa festival is organized by the Centre for Creative Arts, which is a multi-disciplinary arts organization falling under the Faculty of Human Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The festival reflects artistic integrity, and is professionally produced, receiving excellent media coverage. All activities featured in the festival have important development components, which reach into communities that do not have access to skilled art practitioners such as those participating in the festival. Schools and tertiary institutions are a particular focus; as are grass roots community arts organizations. Poetry Africa festival has also been supported by the South African Department of Arts and Culture, HIVOS (Humanist Institute for Development Co-operation), Royal Netherlands Embassy, Stichting Doen, National Arts Council, French Institute of South Africa, Pro-Helvetia Arts Council of Switzerland, African Synergy Book Cafe and the City of Durban.