Pictures of the Seminar on the Business of Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria.

The seminar on the Business of Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria held on Saturday September 14, 2013 in Ikoyi, Lagos, and it was well attended. The event was a delightful success as all the speakers came with unique and highly customized presentations that gave the audience deep insights into the various spheres of the Business of Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria. The audience enjoyed it all and left with new and powerful ideas on how to start and improve their Spoken Word Poetry career.

Here are some of the highlights of the event:

Olulu giving the opening address 

Emcees of the day, Don Fabrino and Delectable Duvy

Olakumoke Alawode-James, one of the speakers at the event

Increase, the 14 year Old Poet, opened the event with a wonderful performance

  

Donna, the Poet, spoke on 
The art of Spoken Word Poetry (from Page to Stage).

Olakumoke Alawode-James, speaking on Event management/ organizing of Poetry Events

Mr. Kelvin  Orifa of MTN Nigeria (on the left) giving us insights on How to brand Spoken Word Poetry events and Mr Shina Atilola of Sterling Bank (on the right) telling us why and how to Brand ourselves as Spoken Word Poets.

Plumbline (on the left) giving us some poetic punchlines.

RezthaPoet (on the left) showing how Spoken Word Poetry should be done.

Some of the people at the event

 Donna testing one of the participant of the seminar on what he has gained from her talk/lecture.

The 15 finalists for War Of Words (Slam Poetry Competition).

For this maiden edition of War Of Words, we had a total of 23 video entries/ submission from Spoken Word Poets in different parts of Nigeria using the theme "In it to win."  

We even had entries from 10 and 16 year old females poets. However, only 15 poets can be selected to compete on stage at the main event on Sunday June 30, 2013. 

So after plenty argument and disagreement, our in-house judges finally reached a consensus.  Though we must mention that picking the 15 finalists was no easy task. We know and appreciate the efforts put into all the video submissions. 

We know each poet is unique in his or her own right and trying to say a poet is better than the other can be perceived as an injustice to creativity. Thus, we say a big THANK YOU to the poets who entered for the competition. But the rules of the competition limits us to 15 poets, so we have to choose, and this we did.

The 15 finalists for the maiden War Of Words -Slam Poetry Competition in no particular order, are as follows:

1. K-Mex
2. Alexandra Zion 
3. Titilayo Mabogunje
4. D Ray
5. Felix D Great
6. Seye La Poet
7. Osowe Olugbenga
8. Clementina
9. Neofloetry
10. Bionic
11. Uzbek
12. Emeka Otoba
13. Kemistry
14. Dare Dan
15. Saint Rhymes

Wild Cards (in case one of the chosen 15 poets does not show up). To be chosen as listed:

1. Momodu Ehiz 
2. El-Karis
3. Mac Dave

Thank you all, and you are cordially invited to  "War Of Words.” 

Venue is Bogobiri House, No. 9, Maitama Sule Street, off Awolowo Road, South West Ikoyi, Lagos.

Date is Sunday June 30th 2013

Time is 3 pm.

Gate is Free (but do buy a WORD UP DVD at the gate to support us, and buy yourself a drink when inside).