War Of Words (Slam Poetry Competition) Season 1 was fun-filled, exciting and thrilling all the way to the last performance on stage. I heard poetic pieces that made me smile, some poems made me sober, some were thrilling and a few were simply marvelous. But one poem stood out, why, you may ask. Well, it was short and crazy. The poet left everyone in the venue waiting eagerly for the next verse as he walked off the stage. Men, "Me likey likey plenty plenty"!!! Watch the video below and tell me what you think.
Seye La Poet performing at War Of Words - Slam Poetry Competition.
i2X Media, the conveners of Word Up (a quarterly Spoken Word Poetry Event), held the maiden edition of War Of Words (WOW) on June 30, 2013 in Bogobiri, Ikoyi, Lagos.
WOW is a spoken word poetry competition which was organized with the aim of discovering and showcasing young and up-coming spoken word poets.
War Of Words Season 2 will start off from September 2013.
If you can kiss words and make them dance, then this is your chance.
A Poetry Slam is a competitive event where poets
perform their own poetry on stage. Performances are judged on how much the poem
moves the audience.
During open slams, poets perform one piece of original work that
will be scored 1-10 by five different judges, dropping the lowest and highest
score. Before the first competing poet, there is a ‘sacrificial poet’, who
performs to warm up the judges scoring. After the first round, low scores are
eliminated and the top few poets slam again. Eventually, two poets are left in
the finals.
Slam poets pour their hearts and souls on stage while
communicating their deepest thoughts. Some slams are powerful enough to change
perspectives and they never fail to include a line or two that gives you
goosebumps.
There are many styles of slam poets ranging from “ranting
hipsters, freestyle rappers, bohemian drifters, proto-comedians, mystical
shamans to gothy punks” as described by Slam master, Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz.
You never hear the same poem twice or the same side of an issue.
So, what does it take to be a slam poet? One thing and one thing
only: honest expression. Express your emotions, express your thoughts, and
express the glimpses of your life your willing to share.
Helpful Slam Tips
·You don’t need to rhyme words as much. In a slam poetry the
pauses and pronunciations of your words create the rhythm and that rhythm
creates poetry.
·Be fully honest with yourself. Get down to the core of your
emotions, even the little things you might not want to except. Poetry is a
strong catalyst for self-awareness.
·Some slams are more like raps while others are more like
speeches; it’s all how you feel and what your mind, heart, and body is artfully
expressing.
A Slam Poem
A poet leaks part of his soul into a book, words brimming with
life,
Vibrant and alive,
Trying to speak but sealed between pages never to depart
But still waiting to arrive
Waiting to be told , because every time we write these words
we hear how they want to be spoken,
And when we speak them,
They create a symphony of expression
Our souls compose and ours lyrics are our lessons
See when you slam,
Your mind becomes a storyteller,
Your body a dancer,
And your heart a jazz musician,
All trying to communicate the messages of your soul
Sharing
that symphony with someone is something to behold.
She is 15 years old, and in order to win her first ever Slam Poetry Competition, all she did was show up. Titilayo Mabogunje came with guns blazing on Sunday June 30th 2013 at War Of Words Slam Poetry, "she no even look Uche face" and took no prisoners. From the 1st round to the 3rd and last round, she had the highest score. She practically had the judges eating from her palms. Personally, I am not too shocked she won. Ok, a little shocked, but not too much. You know why? Well, she is Atilola Moronfolu's protege. If you know Atilola, then you will know Titi had no choice but to win, and win she did. Just in case you are wondering what Titi said, did, performed or maybe did not say, that made her win. Well, check out the video below and get wowed!!!
He came all the way from Calabar State with nothing but words. His style is unique, funny and a joy to behold. I dare say, he is worthy of being called a maestro of Pidgin Spoken Word Poetry His name is D-Ray, and he used his words to shine a light right into our hearts.
Though he did not win the maiden edition of War Of Words- Slam Poetry Competition (he is the 1st runner up), he sure did win us over to his side. Because when he said "fall in love with poet," well, we fell in love with him.
"Should I go eat on the roof to be fed up?" One of the many lines Uzbek spewed at War Of Words - Slam Poetry Competition on Sunday, June 30, 2013. He had so much to say, he was hard hitting, no holds barred, take no prisoners, murder them all,...... kind of poet. Omo, no be small thing o! Though he came in 2nd runner up, but he sure made the show something to watch and enjoy.
Her teacher told her he was entering for a poetry competition with a theme "It to win it." 30 minutes later, she had written a poem on the theme. That was pretty impressive, but when I now watched the video, I tripped!!! Omo, see the swag, and she is just 10 year old. You don't believe me, well, watch the video below.
ITEOLUWA AKINSUNMADE: #WarOfWords - In it to win
She is a 10 year old girl and is surely one for the future.
Name: Romanus Itima Pen-Name: D-Ray (Word gives Light, Light is abstract, it's Ray is potent) D.O.B: 13 September 1988 BA in History/Int'l Studies,University Of Calabar Sculptor and coordinator of the Creative Circle, Calabar State. Running from myself to find the real me. Gazing at the sun to see the moon. Mirrors says I'm-boy, mindset speaks man, my pen bleeds light Blinded by its rays, I see no flaws. Like my grandma's stool, a sit of wisdom.
Mission::: To re-create value to stray and everyday words, giving them well deserved freedom of speech to the listening pleasures of itching ears.
Who better to judge a poet than an Emcee, who is also a free styling poet that runs his own weekly shows in Lagos and Abuja? Who better to judge a poet than the first lady to start an open mic poetry event and has organised over a 100 of such shows? Who better to judge a poet than a master poet who runs a monthly open mic poetry show and has 3 recorded singles and videos? We present to you our judges for War Of Words (Slam Poetry Competition):
Tope Sadiq aka Torpdeo Mascaw is an IT consultant during the day and a poet by night,having worked for a mobile telecommunications company for a number of years, he decided to follow his passion and the Freedom group was born. The Freedom Group consists of:
Freedom Studios: a kitchen where great alternative Music, Film and Poetry are produced.
Freedom Hall: a platform where talent is discovered ,nurtured and exposed on a national stage. The event currently runs in Lagos and Abuja on a weekly basis.
Freedom Records: a music and film distribution channel via online and mobile.
FreedomHall Arts Foundation: is an NGO through which we can help the less privileged in our Midst and in other Nations.
Tope Sadiq is currently Director of Content for e-Scape Technology as well as Executive Producer FreedomHall.
His hobbies are Fishing, Chess, Cooking and Swimming
Lydia Idakula Sobogun is the CEO of Gbagyichild Entertainment and convenes 'Taruwa', a monthly performing arts event in Lagos, Nigeria.
She also convenes the yearly 'Taruwa Festival of Performing Arts' and publishes the Taruwa Magazine. A quarterly arts and culture publication.
She has organised over 100 events including photography Exhibits, movie premieres and book launches
She lives in Lagos, Nigeria with her husband and four year old daughter.
Jeffery Jaiyeola aka Plumbline is a Poet, Songwriter, Political Blogger (rantingsofthetalakawa.blogspot.com) and Hip Hop Rap/Spoken Word artist.
Plumblinewas born in Lagos Nigeria, in his Lagos Island hometown. Growing up, he was influenced by Local Poets like the late Mamman Vatsa and later on caught up with the works of the Late Ken Saro Wiwa.
His defining moment was when he heard Kurtis Blow's "Basketball" and "If I ruled the World" in the Early/Mid Eighties. Having been on Michael Jackson's pop and Boney M's Discotheque, this was to him a paradigm shift. By the time he was in high school, he started writing his own rhymes but did not go into active recording till 2006, the time he concluded his Masters Degree in Applied Geophysics.
Some temporary setbacks, including losing his recordings at the time his then Producer got robbed; Laptop, Backup and all did not deter him.
He started and runs a monthly Spoken Word Poetry event called Chill and Relax. He is a Regular Spoken Word performer at Taruwa and Anthill. Hewas also one of the Poets at Rhyme and Reasons for Jos, a gathering of Artists and Comedians to decry the Jos violence. He is one of the main act at WORD UP events.
He has since teamed up with BigFoot (Micworx), Kraft (Kraftmatiks), and Steady of STOMProductions on an ambitious Hiphop/Spoken Word project.
Plumbline's Alter Ego, Plumbtifex Rantimus has a forthcoming EP, a Seven Track in 7 Days Project with Kraftmatiks of which two singles: Beautiful and Not Jos a Song has been released.
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