Colour Blind (A Spoken Word Poem)...!!!

After the recent hullabaloo about racism in my favourite league (i.e. the EPL), here is a little poem put together to raise people's spirit. 

Colour Blind 

(A Spoken Word Poem)

I am everything and nothing, I am colour.

I steal individuality, I distort the reality,

I struggle to fit in, I can’t help but stand out,

All who see me find their minds filled with doubt.

I have caused countless deaths, lands have been ravaged in my name,

And still the understanding of my unimportance remains the same.

I am prejudice, I am segregation, I am distrust.

I am colour.

Some might say the picture I have painted is far too black and white,

That for many years now humanity has done its best to unite,

Of course matters are improving, that I can’t deny,

But to say nothing remains to be done, would be a terrible lie.

It’s true we have a black president,

but the racial divide remains evident,

Young black males are still 28% more likely to be stopped while the whites walk free,

Why don’t we just go back to the good old times of DWB?

I long for acceptance, I yearn for respect,

Alas, I know this world of mine isn’t quite ready yet,

I wish to be invisible because that would allow my bodies to be free,

Free to be themselves and free from just being me.

I am everything and nothing, I am colour.

But let’s keep it real now,

And I’ll tell you what burns me to my core,

It’s when any white friend of mine says he can’t take it any more,

When he’s in a room full of blacks,

Shying away from an imaginary skin dominated attack.

 Now I know it’s all about what you’re used to,

But if we can adapt to being the odd one’s out, they should too.

I am everything and nothing, I am colour.

If you see me, then you have failed to truly see.

by Anonymous 

Count down to WORD UP Volume 2 starts now...........!!!!!

The 

Volume 2

holds on the

17th of November 2012 

 at

Lecture Theatre, UNILAG Guest House, Akoka, Lagos

Time is 3pm

We will be having all the A-List Poets in Naija, 

the likes of Sage Hasson, Efe Paul Azino, Plumbline, Olulu, 

Bob Ekat, Chiedu Ifeozo, Ivori, Atilola, Nini Efem, 

Enigmatic Olumide, Ndukwe Onuoha, Tofarati, 

Torpedo Mascaw, Soonest, Donna K, Holyblaze, Rez thapoet, Soonest, Increase 

and 

many others.

Soul Music by: 

D Tone, Lumynos, Oyinkansola, Ajibola Adeoya, and Oyinkansola.

We will also have Celebrities such as 

Wana Wana of Inspiration FM, 

Yemisi Jaco

bs of Nigezie, 

IGOS of Wazobia FM, 

Aderonke of Smooth FM 

and 

many more celebs who will perform poetry on stage.

It promises to be a chance to see words being kissed and made to dance.

One of Naija's best Spoken Word Poet...............!!!!

Passion? He has got it.

Words? He has it in abundance.

Wisdom? He is blessed with it.

Craftsmanship? This is second nature to him.

He was the second Spoken Word Poet I saw live on stage in 2010 before I decided to become a Spoken Word Poet. 

He is the promoter of UNCHAINED VOICES, the TV recording of Spoken Word Poets live on stage.

He is a seeker of knowledge.

His performances take Spoken Word to a whole new level.

He is a skilled Spoken Word Poet, 

and 

his name is Efe Paul Azino,

Efe Paul Azino 

doing Spoken Word Poetry 

at  

Chill and Relax 

(September to Remember) 

on 

September 9, 2012 in Gbagada, Lagos. 

Chill and Relax is a monthly Performance Poetry and Spoken Word Event.

Don't hate me cos I am poet (a Spoken Word Poem)

Don't hate me cos I am poet,

cos its one of the oldest profession on earth, after all,

it is written, "in the beginning was the word,

and the word was wih God, and the word was God."

So I can use my words like a sword,

sometimes I can hit out with it like an iron rod,

or use it to soothe and caress your soul,

and make u feel whole.

Don't hate me cos I am a poet,

For you might believe I am merely wasting my time,

but have you not read that, "a man's gift will create room for him and bring him before great men."

Did you not hear that, "a man diligent in his works will stand before Kings and not before ordinary people."

Though I do not mean to call you ordinary people,

but its a priviledge for you to read and see me perform for free;

what kings, Queens and all forms of Royalty pay me a huge fee.

Don't hate me cos I am a poet,

For this is the best way for me to express myself,

after all, the shortest  verse in the bible, John 11:35 said "Jesus wept."

This shows there is no shame in crying for a loved one who died.

So be not alarmed if you see me on stage with tears in my eyes,

I am merely expressing myself,

and I feel no shame for my tears.

Don't hate me cos I am a poet

For I use this means to talk about my Nation,

whose face is being perpetually rubbed in the semen of bribery and corruption.

Cos our leaders  continue to loot the treasury,

rape our sense of morality,

defy our cries for sanity

and make being honest and accountable equal to insanity.

  

Don't hate me cos I am a poet

For I can thrill your hearts with words,

words that strike your heart cords.

I can use words to do intellectual love making,

with no heart breaking,

no tears falling,

and no orgasm faking.

Just words that satisfy your heart cravings,

yet keep your body always wanting.

  

So, don't hate me cos I am a poet, cos it is what God has destined me to be,

and if you hate me, you hate God.

by Olulu, the King not from Zulu

What if ??? ok, why don't you love me??? (Spoken Word Poetry Video) by Torpedo Mascaw aka Number 1

His Name is Torpedo Mascaw.

He says he is the 

Number One,

We say he is the 

King of Free Style Poetry.

cos 

he is ever blazing.........!!!

Torpedo doing Spoken Word Poetry at

WORD UP 

(Spoken Word Poetry and Soul Music Event) 

that held on 

August 18, 2012

in Unilag, Akoka, Lagos.

I will be okay ...........!!!!

I heard that you've found a girl 

that you re married now 
that you've settled down 
and all your dream came true. 
Old friend, I liked you a whole alot 
but it turns out 
that you found life where I am not. 
All that is left of us 
are the memories made from our glory day. 
I had hoped you remember my face and be reminded of me 
or should i say its over? 
Now sorry is all you can say 
but never mind I will find someone not you. 
Though I wish nothing but d best for you 
but do forget me, I beg 
for it will only hurt me if you don't. 


I remember when there was no-one you wanted more 
you held me tight so you dont let go 
clinging unto me like your life-support 
and wishing we could have our own world. 
You were the one who loved me more 
over looking all my flaws 
and catching me before a fall. 
No matter the distance between us 
our love was instanteous 
and not bothered about how far it could take us.


But I should have known how bitter-sweet this would taste 

For now I sit back nd watch this moments pass by 

like watching a video without the sound.
Too bad for we could have taken what we had 

and turned it around. 

Though I feel that this love can be saved 

yet i cannot question this change 

Oh how hurting it feels to make things clear but i know when to face the truth and 

I know that the moment is here 
For after all said and done, I beg to take a bow. 

by Da Poetick Rhema 

Puff Puff Pass........(a Spoken Word Poetry Piece) by Ndukwe Onuoha

Puff Puff Pass, 

Puff Puff Pass,

the pain don't last as long as we got this grass.

Ndukwe Onuoha puffing and passing the poetic ish at 
Chill and Relax (September to Remember) 
Spoken Word and Performance Poetry open mic event
that held on September 9, 2012
in Gbagada, Lagos.

MAKE LOVE TO ME

Make love to me

crave me

need me

make me the star

of your secret reverie.

Make love to me

hold me

fold me

and cuddle me

curb me

rob me

and fondle me

have me

love me

make me feel

most comfortable.

Make love to me

come have fun with me

come off this reverie

I am real

I can feel

every molecule

of every follicle

in your pores

as they twitch

I am real

I can feel

your impulse

your vibes

the urge

the bulge 

and your eyes searching me in sensual scrutiny.

Make love me

till you come off on me

satisfy your lust

your thirst

till you're tipsy off me

squeeze me

whisk me

till you spur me

cease me

kiss me

till you rapture me

grip me

and don't leave me

till your reverie spurt

like a volcanic rush

right inside of us.

Just make love to me.

by Samuel Isong

What is Spoken Word?

Spoken word is an art form that has long been present in human society. Oral traditions in cultures predate the written word, and poems, or a type of spoken singing or stories, sometimes accompanied by music, held captive many an audience far before the first book was ever written. Even when books became available, troubadours and balladeers often spoke stories of adventure, romance, tragedy and comedy to wide audiences, since reading was not a common accomplishment.

Today, spoken word refers to two separate art forms. One is entirely based on recorded spoken word, such as the reading of novels or the recitation of poetry that supplies us with the modern “books on tape.” The art form in its second definition refers to those events when poets, and sometimes comedians or social commentators recite or invent on the spot poems, commentary, jokes, and the like as a performance piece intended for an audience. The latter type arises from the oral traditions long held in numerous cultures.

Songs did replace speaking stories or poems, but in the Beat Poetry movement, interest in performing poetry and other writings held sway over poetry fans. Typically beat poets, not necessarily the famous ones, would recite their poems with music playing in the background. Emphasis however was more on the words than the music, though the poet might time phrasing to coincide with certain parts of musical performance. Music could be live or recorded depending upon the poet.

This tradition led to a little mockery, and some contend participants and fans took it too seriously. Certainly as with all genres of poetry, there were some bad poems written and performed. There were also some very valuable ones, and poets that grew out of the Beat Generation, include Mayo Angelou, who critics cite as being one of the most skilled at reciting her work, since her rich voice and phrasing lend resonance and depth to her work.

Spoken word had few adherents by the mid 1970s, but interest in the form reemerged in the 1980s. Part of this was caused by the variant of spoken word performance in hip-hop and rap. Much of what rap artists did was perform poetry with a musical background, and with specific types of phrasing and resonance. Music fans and literary analysts alike evaluated and continue to evaluate the poetry of many rap artists, and call a number of these artists intensely important contributors to the world of poetry.

The beat type spoken word, often set to jazz instead, and sometimes including other performance aspects like slides or pictures, reemerged as a popular form along with rap. Another outgrowth of spoken word was slam poetry, where poets competed against each other, often extemporaneously. Slam poetry has its roots in Japanese contests of this type, such as the beginning and end of waka, a poetic form that existed in the 10th century.

In another sense though, spoken word doesn’t necessarily involve poetry, and has never gone out of style. It can be the recitation of stories, a solo comedic act, or the performance of a storyteller. There are no hard and fast rules for the art form, which is why you will find many different names associated with the form. 

culled from  http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-spoken-word.htm

When words make love...............!!!!!

Poetry is like love making

where the ink and paper engage in deep kissing,

the mind goes back and forth thrusting

and fingers hold the paper lovingly and like its caressing.

Can I use words to caress,

with no regrets?

Can I pierce u with words,

sharp like the tip of a samurai’s sword?

I wonder if I can use words to do a little intellectual love making

with no heart breaking

no tears falling

and no orgasm faking.

I wonder if I can tease and please with words

words that strike hearts’ chords,

that makes the robe come untied,

the mind becomes unbind,

and as the room is cosy,

bodies start to get busy.

Words are as cool and sweet like honey,

capable of making u feel, warm, comfortable and funny.

I can use words to make love with your mind,

put ur mind in a bind,

make u concentrate and appreciate,

ready and willing to come close and demonstrate.

Words,

that’s all I have

and its all I need.



By Olulu, (the King not from Zulu)

Videos of recent editions of CHILL and RELAX ( A Performance Poetry and Spoken Word Event)

Videos of recent editions of 

CHILL and RELAX 

(A Performance Poetry and Spoken Word Event)

Soonest I Nathaniel doing "Breasts wey don fall...."

Plumbline with his poetic punchlines......!!!!

Olulu doing Rich and Famous....!!!!

Chill and Relax : 
September to remember

A Performance Poetry and Spoken Word open mic event 
holds on 

September 9, 2012 
(2nd Sunday of the month)

Time is 3pm

Venue is 16,  Abeni close,  ASA Estate, off Ayodele Okeowo street, after Deeper Life church, Soluyi Gbagada, Lagos

Featuring Naija Finest Poets.

WHY ORGANISATIONS SHOULD SPONSOR SPOKEN WORD POETRY EVENTS IN NIGERIA

We are very passionate about Performance Poetry and Spoken Word as a genre of entertainment, tool to increase literacy level, and as a means of communication, education and information.

We would like to point out how Performance Poetry and Spoken Word would fit into an organisation's CSR and the list of events to sponsor, and this is as follows:

1. The dream is to create a Performance Poetry and Spoken Word industry (just like the Comedy industry in Nigeria) where people can earn a decent living as Perfromance Poets.

2. We have so many talented youths in our Nation, unfortunately, we have more unemployed youths than the employed and like the saying goes, "the idle mind is the devil's workshop." Thus, having a "Performance Poetry and Spoken Word" show would give them something to focus their time and energy on and in a way provide employment for them as awareness and sponsorship of the art form increases.

3. The more the increased awarenes of the art form, the more the attraction towards it, especially among the youths, children and the young at heart. And in order to be a very good poet, you need to be well read and also be a good writer. Thus, this art form can help improve literacy level in Universities and Secondary Schools, and generally amongst the populace.

 4. For your organisation sponsoring "Performance Poetry and Spoken Word" shows will increase the brand awareness as a youthful brand and also enable the organisation to capture as customer, youths who are art inclined. For as the awareness of the organisation's brand grows, the more products and services that are aligned towards this art form can be developed to further increase the bottom line of the organisation.

5. Being different, is uniqueness itself. Thus, while every other corporate organisations are going after the actors, musicians and the likes as brand ambassadors. The organisation can choose to use poets as its own brand ambassadors, and poems (both written and performed) can be done in respect of the organisation and further increase the brand.

I hope with the few points above, you can see the immense potential inherent Performance Poetry and Spoken Word as an art form, CSR activity, employment opportunity, education and literacy tool, Brand awareness, product and services development, and profit generating mechanism.

Thank you for your time.

Kind Regards,

Olumide Holloway

MD/CEO, i2X Media Company Limited

+2348038315055

+2348025070892

olulu4ever@gmail.com

Christopher Eleri at WORD UP (a Spoken Word Poetry and Soul Music Event)

 

Christopher Eleri 

at

WORD UP 

(a Spoken Word Poetry and Soul Music Event) 

August 18, 2012 

at 

UNILAG Guest House Lecture Theatre

Akoka,

Lagos