PoetryIsMusicIsPoetry this Sunday November 17, 2013

PoetryIsMusicIsPoetry is part of the series of events marking the 15th edition of the Lagos Book & Art Festival. It will explore the relationship between poetry and music, through performance.

You will meet the finest ensemble of poets, who will make words sing, and musicians, who will employ language and tell stories over instrumentals.


Poets

Sage Hasson

Considered by many as Nigeria's premier spoken word poet, Sage has featured in over 400 events, both small and big, across the country. He has done about a 100 brand poems written specifically for certain organisations and products including MTN, Coca Cola, Harp, Satzenbrau, Gulder, and Unilever. He has performed at different shows including Hip Hop World Awards in 2006 and 2010, Big Brother Nigeria, Arts Alive in South Africa. Sage has recorded and released two spoken word poetry albums and written a book, Dream Maker, a fable that combines prose and poetry to interrogate the prevailing notions of success and fulfillment.

Efe Paul Azino

Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s leading spoken word poets, Efe Paul has been a headline performer at many of the nation’s premier performance poetry venues. Efe Paul is known for holding audiences spell-bound with his cutting edge socio-economic commentary. His collection of poetry, When the Revolution Spoke, is due out in 2014.


Wana Udobang

Wana Wana as she is popular called is a broadcaster,blogger, writer, poet, culture fanatic, 40/50s pin up obsessed, chiffon lover and truth seeker. Her audio collection of poetry, Dirty Laundry is due out in 2013.

The Poets that will be on parade at WORD UP Volume 5.

  This is the First Anniversary edition of 

the biggest Spoken Word Poetry Event in Nigeria, WORD UP.

This edition tagged, WORD UP Volume 5 will feature the

 Best Spoken Word Poets in Nigeria,

such as 

Plumbline, Efe Paul, Atilola, Obii, Dolapo. 

Arch Angel, Mayowa, Increase (14 year Old Poet), 

Titilayo, D Ray, Uzbek and many more.

The Celebrity Poet of the day, Toni Payne.

We also have Sensational Soul Singers, Lumynos and Aduke, to spice up the event.

  

Emcees are: Delectable Duvy and Don Fabrino

The first 50 people will get a free DVD from any of the past WORD UP editions and/or War Of Words Season 1 DVD.

Atilola

Obii

Mayowa

Dolapo

Mayowa and Arch Angel                                                               Increase

Plumbline                                                                                                                                       Efe Paul Azino

 

D Ray

Uzbek

Titilayo

You are invited to WORD UP Volume 3 aka Da Love Thang...!!!!

i2X Media

organizers of

WORD UP 

(the biggest Spoken Word Poetry event in Nigeria)

presents

WORD UP Volume 3

aka

Da Love Thang

This edition 

our celebrity poets are:

Toni Payne

and

Fatima Ibrahim of Smooth FM 98.1

We will also have A-List Spoken Word Poets live on stage, 

such as

Efe Paul Azino (the Number 1 Spoken Word Poet in Nigeria).

Plumbline (the master of punchlines).

Olulu, (the King not from Zulu),

Donna K (the lady with words so deep and so profound)

Dolapo (the poetic Diva)

Ivori (the African Poet),

Increase (the 13 year poet)

Atilola (the poetic word slinger)

Onimisi (the wordsmith from Abuja)

Erica (the poet from America)

and many others.

 Soul Music by: D Tone, Lumynos.

Emcees are Duvy and Don Fabrino

Venue is Lecture Theatre, UNILAG Guest House, Akoka, Lagos

Date is Saturday the16th of February 2013

Time is 3pm to 6pm

Gate fee: Student with i.d card N500

Regular 1k,

VIP 5k

Media Partner: Smooth FM 98.1

Powered by First Bank and Airtel

Supported by: Indulge, Vang Tee shirts, Magic Fingers Entertainment, 

Naija Tickets, dehouseofmartin, XT Delites, Asun Chef and many more.

Official Dee Jay: DJ Swaggz Maximus

Photographer: Mc Atte Photography

Get your tickets online at Naija tickets  

http://www.naijaticketshop.com/details.php?id=750

Watch the preview here http://youtu.be/t-zthQWWeqY

Branding and Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

Don’t miss this event, It will be a day of wonderful and undiluted poetic delight in words and sounds.

Justice Has Been Kidnapped in my Country (Spoken Word Poetry) by Efe Paul

Justice has been kidnapped in my country and nobody’s willing to pay her ransom

She was absent at the tribunal when the verdict was given,

So the marauders were declared winners, 

even though we know the votes were phantom.

Chaos convulses the land, 

we’re on the verge of catastrophe, 

the tranquility’s been shattered,

We can’t even piece together the peace,

Justice has been kidnapped somebody please call the police!

But my friends mock my naiveté

Poets that they are, 

they blaspheme,

Claiming the patriotic men in uniform are part of the conspiracy.

Justice has been kidnapped in my country and nobody’s willing to pay her ransom

When was she last seen? Errrr, I can’t remember.

She was missing in the years of IBB when Dele Giwa was blown to pieces,

She was absent when Abacha reigned and Justice Auta hit the gavel, Saro Wiwa was hung,

To hell with the critics.

Justice has been missing in my country for so long,

The 4th republic gave us a made-up version of her

But she was promiscuous and so wrong,

Worst of all she could see.

Distinguishing between foes and friends of the government ,

Working through the hands of the EFCC.

Which reminds me,

Nuhu Ribadu was acclaimed her champion, that dispensation’s faithful man.

Until wiki leaked, and we heard him sing like a canary,

Humming a different tune before the Americans.

In fact, Justice has missing since the 1st republic when Awo was thrown in prison for treason,

Since the soil in Oloibiri bled oil,

And the windfall from the boom accentuated our division.

Believe now

Justice has been lost since Nigeria was found.

A friend said he saw her at Mile 12, lately

When a pick pocket was mobbed and set ablaze, maybe

That was Justice, but I’m still not sure,

Cos I see sticky fingered politicians and officials roaming free, even on TV,

sitting in the assembly were they make laws.

Justice come home we miss you,

Justice come back we need you,

Justice we weep for everyday,

Even the Church can’t remember what you look like

Though for you they fast and pray.

Activists and youths

Tweet, blog, even march on the streets in protest for you,

But I don’t trust them, cos while their leaders get famous

I still don’t see Justice free amongst us.

I wrote a poem for you Justice,

But I fear that’s the best I’m willing to do. I guess I’m just as guilty.

Just as complicit as the politicians and Judges, the police and all of civil society,

Who speak like they love you, but won’t dare to bleed

To see you freed.

Justice has been kidnapped in my country

And for her freedom we’re not willing to pay the cost

But until she’s found

We, my people, will be lost

Justice has been kidnapped in my country

And nobody, not even you, is willing to pay her ransom

Efe Paul performing "Justice has been kidnapped in my country." 

at 

Chill and Relax - The March Invasion edition of 2012. 

Chill and Relax is an open mic Performance Poetry, Spoken Word and Soul Music event in Gbagada, Lagos. It holds every 2nd Sunday of the month.

WORD UP (the biggest Spoken Word Poetry Event in Nigeria) #WordUpVol2

Did you miss WORD UP Volume 2, 

the biggest Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria?

Well, you are in luck. 

The DVD is out.

Watch Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria 

like you have never ever seen before.

Spoken Word Poets & Soul Singers that rocked #WordUpVol2 November 17, 2012

Oyinkansola wowing us with her sonorous voice

The hottest poets in Naija, from left to right: Ivori, Efe Paul, Holyblaze, Donna K and Torpedo

Ivori - the African Poet, making our "minds go loco."

Bob Ekat, the energetic poet 

The U.K based Spoken Word Poet, Princeps

 

D Tone Martins the ever wonderful soul singer

Plumbline with his ever witty punchline
 - I'm not supposed to say this, but  I know how Richard Branson lost his virginity 

Torpedo Mascaw, best freestyle poet in Naija

Efe Paul  Azino - one of Naija's foremost Spoken Word Poet

Ndukwe Onuoha,
"you see, change may come somehow, or change may come someway,
or change may come someday, but that day,
is not Today!!!"

Lumynos, the fast rising soul singer, he got skills...!!!

Chinelo Renee, da diva and da poet

Soonest I Nathaniel, doing a poem titled, these children

Nini Efem, the designer and the poet
on the red carpet

The Spoken Word Poetry Movement in Nigeria by Ajibola Adeoya

“Justice has been kidnapped in my country and nobody is willing to pay her ransom, she was absent at the tribunal when the verdict was given, so the marauders were declared winners even though the votes were phantom…”

That is a snippet from a poetry rendition by Efe Paul, one of the leading voices in the Spoken Word Poetry movement, at Read It Loud (a literary forum organised by the public affairs section of the US embassy in Lagos, Nigeria). 

Spoken Word Poetry movement in Nigeria has evolved from small cells to having a capacity filled audience, it is safe to say a new generation of youths are rising but certain sections of the society are yet to catch this bug, so It became imperative to inform members of the public on what exactly this movement is about.

Spoken Word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose, or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary, it’s a form of poetry intended for onstage performance rather than print because it’s beauty lies in its delivery, the poet assumes the position of a prophet or sage reflecting on issues affecting his society; usually a product of deep meditation, views of the artist encompasses frank and sometimes satirical comments on politics, religion, gender, sexuality and other social behaviours; It often contain references to current events and issues relevant to a contemporary audience; using clever punch lines, witty remarks, poignant allusions, and sarcasm. The Spoken Word Poet echoes the yearnings of his society, offering scintillating performances in from of a dramatic monologue, which are not mere reverberations or tintinnabulations but are the very pulse of a generation.

It’s important to note that Spoken Word originated from blues music and the Harlem renaissance in America. The modern poetry as its known today became popular as far back as 1960 in African American community with the last poets, a political and music group borne out the American civil rights movement.

Spoken Word Poetry is at its peak in the western world with poets making a living out of their talent. However the same can’t be said of Nigeria as the Industry is experiencing snail paced growth, this could be due to fact that it started out as an elitist movement, with open mic sessions held mainly on the Island. The Industry received a boost recently when international spot light fell on Chiedu Ifeozo, he was featured on CNN inside Africa, and another plus for the industry was the visit of Bassey Ikpi to Nigeria to host and headline a couple of Spoken Word Poetry shows. Bassey Ikpi is a Nigerian based in America, who became a regular feature on Russell Simmons Def Jam poetry.

Several poets however have emerged on the Nigerian scene, they include Sage Hasson, Plumbline, Efe Paul, Atilola, Olulu, Torpedo, Nini Efem, Ivori, Donna K, Increase (a 13 year old poet), Dark Poet, Wana Wana, Bob Ekat, and the list goes on, and with the right corporate back up, another blooming industry is set to emerge.

Spoken Word is an outlet for people, especially the younger generation to express their views outside academic & institutional domains of university and colleges. Apart from its surface aesthetic value, which is live entertainment; Spoken Word is an educational tool, which is intellectually engaging, for a generation of youths that have been lost to a pop culture with eroding influences. It can be used to instruct, inform and reshape ideologies, enabling its audience make better informed decision, as it makes them aware of certain aspect pertaining to human life. Spoken Word also has been found to be very therapeutic both to the artist and the listener, as topics discussed are often things the society shy away from confronting. The advantages can’t be overemphasized as it’s high time we raise socially conscious youths who will mount the mantle of leadership.

Spoken Word Poetry is us telling our own story our own way. For a generation where popular pop culture is shifting attention, deregulating morals, objectifying women, Spoken Word offers succour.

I will conclude this with William Wordsworth words, “Poetry is the first and last of all knowledge, It’s immortal as the heart of man.”

Ajibola Adeoya is a singer/song writer/ instrumentalist/ writer/ poet. He is a graduate of Industrial Chemistry from the University of Ibadan,  and he is the convener of SPIN Africa.