Word UP Volume 6: The Preview...!!!!!

#WarOfWords2 Winds Of Change by Yetunde George

Winds Of Change by Yetunde George

Hear us,
We are the frustration and the hunger,
The pinch in your shoe size,
The lies that you don't buy,
And the things that you can't try.
Like bloodhounds the fresh scent of blood burning flesh excites us...
The tribes of wailing distress invites us...
We are the raging fire of sea and ice...
We consume what we see for a price...
We are the vultures of men!

But My constipated mind won't let go,
Won't let loose,
These ideas of mine,
Coming slow...
Of history,
Of times,
Come and gone...

The time is near,
The hour is at hand...
And as I put my pen to paper
The ink of my tears bear me witness.
Of wars lost and won,
Of things seen and gone...
Of time and space...
Of name and grace...
To find a balance...
To find a face...

But I feel the earth shifting,
A new generation drifting,
Away from our tales of woe,
To times of old.

So the fat, rich and famous should get lost or get bossed out of the positions they held with impunity!
A new age has come and what we need is unity!
Why are you still sitting down there listening to this eulogy?!

Don't just sit there, stare and  act like you don't care,
Because I know your innermost fears!
Awaken the spirit of consciousness!
Rekindle the hope of "Nigerianness!"
For we are what we are because of who we are!
We are where we are because of how we do it!
We are the Wind of Change!

Check out the video via this link

#WarOfWords2 Winds Of Change by Yetunde George

http://youtu.be/8zXyJpndbm4

#WarOfWords2 Emancipation by Foursyte Bogani

Emancipation by Foursyte Bogani

The evil wind came, ranting as darkness began to reign/

Pages of my life flew like birds up the sky/

Dangling in friendly canticle of nature/

Humiliating my indolent eyes/

Hot and breathless i sat/

judging every moment/

Watching every moment/

now,i remember what the old old man said/

in a crackling tattered voice/

my pikin, suffry, suffry catch monkey/

Person wey sleep for planting season go surely hungry when harvest time come/

I kiss this gift of wisdom with passion/

bury ashes of fear/

Sacrifice a lamb beholding salvation/

Mr. jailer how long will u keep me/

my dreams can not be manacled/

take your bread is forbiden/

hunger is nothing i have seen her nakedness/

let this pain eat up my flesh/

Bury my bones in the world of strangeness/

our fate will never change/

Chain and unchain i see mortals lying in the corridors of change/

is amazing God's blessings rest on all age/

i speak to those who care to dream/

the child that never sleep,battling reality all for a dream/

in the eyes of penury,confusion,misery,segregation,genocide,mutiny,grief/

no one knows when life will be no longer/

Walk with time,earth is home/

We are all strangers/

Rise above disbelief be the change you seek/

Check out the video via this link

Emancipation by Foursyte Bogani #WarOfWords2

http://youtu.be/6ju92ZtYhV0

#WarOfWords2 THE NIGERIAN EQUATION by Scriblerian

THE NIGERIAN EQUATION by Scriblerian

Listen,
Listen closely to this conversation,
Between a father and a son,
In Africa's most populous nation,

Father,
Father please resolve for me this equation,
For I donot understand how,
Oil, mineral resources, and fifteen million people,
Can equal: hunger, poverty and a dry nipple,
For when I added the bloggers and tweeters,
A million critics on facebook and newspapers,
I still got the same answer,
So I deducted the pastors and imams,
Reverends and bishops,
For their piety ends in bustops,
But still no change,
Hunger, poverty and a dying people,
So I looked down in frustration at the steps,
I've followed to this answer,
And they echo the erratic steps of an insane dancer,
So I have brought you this equation,
For there has to be a change to the status quo,
An ebb to this mad flow,
Well son,
The final solution, is quite the revelation,
I shall tell it with no disclaimer,
So in order for me to be safer,
I suggest you put away the pen and paper,
See,
You have to subtract the bloggers and the tweeters,
For while their words the internet litters,
Back in Aluu when the four were killed,
All they were, were screamers,
You have to deduct the poets and the writers,
Who pen and speak change,
Then go back home to wives and sisters,
Till olulu arranges the next stage,
For,
How long shall we craft rhymes of woes?
When shall we start selecting our hoes?
Stare blindly in the mirrors,
And not see the correction to our errors,
How long,
Shall we claim the tags of victims,
And not get on with the necessary business of healing?
For,
Our biggest problem is not leadership,
For a second,
Our biggest problem is followership,
Leadership is second,
Let's stop this meaningless prayers,
And pry off corrupt layers,
Start looking inward not upward,
Forward not backward,
We are the disease,
We are the cure,
Stand up from that chair of criticism, son,
Stare closely in the mirror without cynicism,
What you see,
Is the change you seek,
Now pick up that pen and paper son,
Make all necessary subtractions,
Take hard work, integrity and honesty as additions,
Add to it, diligence, creativity and dedication,
Now divide your final answer,
By holy, pure, true religion,
What do you see?
Father,
I see change, yes I see change,
So we have to stop speaking change and start being change.

Check out the video via the link below

THE NIGERIAN EQUATION

http://youtu.be/zkbJUELUjEQ

War of Words Season 2 begins.........!!!!!

Are you a Spoken Word Poet?

Can you kiss words and make them dance?

Can you flip and throw words like a lance?

Can you use words to tease and to please?

and can your words make minds go loco?

i2X Media 

(organizers of WORD UP, the biggest Spoken Word Event in Nigeria)

Presents 

War Of Words Season 2

(A Slam Poetry Competition)

Up for grabs:

1. $500 for the winner 

2. The top three poets get to perform at the next edition of WORD UP in February 2014 alongside the best Spoken Word Poets in Naija.

The competition is only open to Poets that have never performed at any WORD UP event.

Do you have what it takes? Here is all you have to do  

1. The theme of the video entry for the Slam Poetry Competition is Be the change you seek . Any entry not in line with the theme will be invalid for final selection.
2. Submit an original poem that is in English, pidgin English or a combination of both. Please note that all non-English words used in the poem must be explained in the information box of the video.
3. Ensure The title of your poem  contains the official hashtag #WarOfWords2, else your entry is not valid.
4.  Ensure  your name/ stage name, email address and wordings of the video are in the information box of the video. If the information box cannot contain the wordings of the poem, send it to wordup4one1@gmail.com stating your name and title of the poem with the hashtag in the subject box of the mail.
5. Ensure your  video submission is not be more than 3 minutes long and remember it must be uploaded on your Youtube channel. If you don’t have a Youtube channel, please open one.
6. The submitted video must be one camera, one poet and recorded specifically for the competition. No live performance videos, no music, no props and no special effects. Please note that all poets are limited to one submission ONLY.
7. You will be required to post the link of the Youtube Video in the comment section of  any posts  on  http://wordup411.blogspot.com and www.wordup411ng.com,   to render your entry as valid.
8. You will also be required to tweet the video link with the official hashtag #WarOfWords2 to @WORDUP411.
9. Video submission starts 12am September 14 2013 till Midnight of October 13, 2013 !!!!!!

A total of 15 poets will be chosen from the video entries for the competition. 
The first ten will be chosen by our in-house judges. 
The last five will be chosen based on most viewed, most liked  
and the videos with the most comments.

Stay tuned to 

http://wordup411.blogspot.com/    and  http://www.wordup411ng.com

Follow us on Twitter:          @WORDUP411 ,  
Like our facebook page    https://www.facebook.com/wordup411

Do you have what it takes?

Ready to WOW us?

Let the 2nd WORD WAR begin, 

and may the best poet win...!!!!

Want to brand your Poetry event? He is an expert on how to do that.

Kelvin Orifa is a consummate brand management and Integrated Marketing Communication Professional.  He has over 10 years of professional  experience in strategic brand and business management functions demonstrating strength in business strategy, market and competitive intelligence, customer segmentation, value proposition development and Go –To- Market leveraging on multi-media channels.

He has been exposed to several conferences and executive education programs focused on reaching today's digi-savvy youths, strategic marketing management, project management, advanced business simulation, strategic intuition at Hay Marketing UK, Lagos Business School, Phillips Learning Academy, Columbia Business School (NY) and has had the opportunity to share his brand activated thoughts at branding conferences and seminars. 

Kelvin believes that "brand building is a process "and "to think out of the box, look into other boxes". 

At MTN, Kelvin has worked as Asst marketing Manager, SME, Manager young professionals, Manager Youth segment and now Manager High Value segment. 

Why should Spoken Word Poets brand themselves? He will tell you why.....

Education: Masters in Business Administration [ObafemiAwolowo University] - 2006; Professional Diploma in Public Relations - 2002; B.Sc. (Hons.) with First Class in International Relations [ObafemiAwolowo University] – 1995.

Career: 

ECOBANK Nigeria Plc - [Jan. 1998 – June 1999]; Fountain Trust Bank Plc (Enterprise Bank)- [July 1999 -  July 2004]; Guardian Express Bank Plc (Enterprise Bank) - [July 2004 –Dec 2005]; Spring Bank  (Enterprise Bank) - [Jan 2006 –  May 2007];First Bank Nigeria Plc[June 2007 – Dec 2008];Sterling Bank Plc, [January 2009 – To Date]

Current position: Group Head, Strategy and Communications Department, Sterling Bank Plc

Commentary:

Born June 26, 1971, and having served in various positions up to the level of Assistant General Manager, Shina has had a rather unique Banking career. He has been privileged to work in two Banks that have gone through mergers and transitions and has been opportuned to be present during some of them.

Asides a ‘healthy’ banking career, Shina is also an Associate Member of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (ANIPR) as well as the Institute of Public Relations (AMIPR) UK

Married with a kid, Shina can be described as a person with good interpersonal, communication and motivational skills and a lover of sports as well as the arts.

On September 14, 2013, she will talk on, The Art of Spoken Word Poetry.

On September 14, 2013 

at the seminar on 

The Business of Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria, 

she will be speaking on the "Art of Spoken Word Poetry (from Page to Stage)." 

Who is she?

The Poet, Donna

Donna is Nigerian - and proud of it.

She is a Senior Associate in Nigeria’s leading internationally recognized law firm, “Adepetun, Caxton-Martins, Agbor & Segun” (www.acas-law.com). She is a legal/regulatory specialist with over 11 years of experience in extensive research and practice in Oil & Gas, Corporate Commercial, Labour, Property and Environmental law sectors. She is a high ranking member of the Energy and Project Finance Group of the Firm.

HER POETRY:

Donna, since childhood, has had an unwavering love for the arts, winning prizes in literature and fine arts in her secondary school, Atlantic Hall Co-Educational Secondary School. She started writing her thoughts at the young age of 13 and has not stopped since then.

Donna’s style of writing invokes a lot of imagery as she takes her audience on a vocal and imaginative journey through every poem she recites. She is often invited to recite poems written by other artistes who have favoured and enjoyed her creative style of delivery.

Her vision is to deploy words into the conscious self of every human being; cause them to pause, reflect and adjust the decisions they make which impact on their lives and on the lives of the people around them. She believes that change comes within the individual and that if thoughts and decisions are deployed effectively, then the resultant actions would eventually permeate the moral and social fiber of a community and the world at large – one individual, one thought, one decision at a time.

So Be It.

Seminar on The Business Of Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria holds this September 2013.

i2X Media, 

organizers of WORD UP 

in conjunction with Tajin Taire

Presents

"The Business Of Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria."

Topics to be discussed

1. The art of Spoken Word Poetry (from Page to Stage).

2. Events Management/Poetry Events organisation

3. Branding yourself 

4. Branding your event 

Our Speakers:  

Shina Atilola 

(Group Head, Strategy and Communications, Sterling Bank)

Kelvin Orifa 

(Manager, Youth Market at MTN Nigeria)

Chiedu Ifeozo 

(Published Writer and Spoken Word Poet) 

Donna K 

(Top Female Spoken Word Poet in Nigeria) 

Olajumoke Alawode- James

  (co-organizer, FreedomHall Open Mic Poetry & Music event)

Date is September 14, 2013.

Venue is Bogobiri House, No. 9 Maitama Sule Street, 

off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos  

Time is from 2pm.

Attendance is FREE!!!!

Wetin Poets dey do sef? - random rambling of a poetic mind

Wetin Poets dey do sef?

If we are indeed going to make Spoken Word Poetry an Industry in Nigeria we need to be more professional in all we do, cos Talent is not enough. So, would you be interested in a seminar on the "Business of Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria?" Lets talk about you, us, the events, the business, the industry and the Nation. Are you interested? Holla back if you are.

Wetin Poets dey do sef?

The seminar on "The Business of Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria" will hold on September 14, 2013. We will be having different speakers and I can assure you, they will blow your mind. Stay tuned for more details.

Wetin Poets dey do sef?

#BusinessOfSpokenWordPoetryInNigeria. For over 3 years, they've been organizing a weekly open mic poetry and music show and have had different celebrities grace their stage. They will be at the Seminar on Sept. 14 to tell u how, but first, can u guess who?

Wetin Poets dey do sef?

#BusinessOfSpokenWordPoetryInNigeria She is one of the top female Spoken Word Poet in Nigeria. Her words are very deep they pierce thick skulls and prick stony hearts, causing people to pause and meditate on what they "wear," oops, on what they heard. She will be around on September 14 at the seminar to talk on "From Page to Stage," aka the art of Spoken Word Poetry. Can you guess who she is?

P.S. I am one of her greatest fans, dunno if she knows this.

Stay tuned for more updates.

The Preview of WORD UP Volume 5 holding on August 17, 2013.

WORD UP Volume 5 Preview

i2X Media

Presents

WORD UP Volume 5

The first anniversary edition of the biggest Spoken Word Poetry Event in Nigeria

It will feature the

Best of the best Spoken Word Poets in Naija,

Sensational Soul Singers

and

Celebrity Poet of the day, Toni Payne.

Emcees are: Delectable Duvy and Don Fabrino

 Date is August 17, 2013

Venue is Terra Kulture Hall,

Plot 1376, Tiamuyi Savage,

off Ahamdu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Doors Open from 2pm

Gate Fee:

Regular N1,000

VIP N5,000

Stay tuned for more details on 

http://wordup411.blogspot.com/

www.f-factormagazine.com

For sponsorship, partnership and advert inquiries, 

Please call 08025070892, 08038315055, 08157268001, 08053001608

or send us a mail at word4one1@gmail.com, olulu4ever@gmail.com,i2xmedia@gmail.com

The Business of Spoken Word Poetry by Shihan Van Clief

Shihan Van Clief (an Internationally renowned Spoken Word Poet from USA) was in Nigeria in May 2013 for Word Up Volume 4. Prior to the event, he was at a workshop (organised by i2X Media), to talk on "The Business of Spoken Word Poetry."

Shihan has, for over 17 years, been living solely on income from Poetry Performances and Poetry related activities. He has an exclusive Sponsorship deal with Sports Giant, Adidas and is the current voice for The Sprite Street Mix, a radio program broadcasted in over 13 countries in Africa. He has been featured on various media outlets including 7 appearances on 6 seasons of Def Poetry, and on commercial adverts of Nike, Reebok and the NBA.

Who is better to talk about the Business of Spoken Word Poetry than someone who is into it full time 24 7?

Below are video clips of the workshop and his adverts for Adidas. Enjoy and learn.........!!!!

Word War aka War Of Words (Slam Poetry Competition) holds on June 30, 2013 from 3pm

You are cordially invited to our maiden Slam Poetry Competition tagged "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).

War Of Words (Slam Poetry Competition) is an event to discover and bring to limelight new, exciting and talented Spoken Word Poets based in Nigeria. It is an avenue to view and promote the performances of new poets and also, a selection process of new poets that will get to step up and perform at the biggest Spoken Word Poetry event in Nigeria, WORD UP.

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 will be selected by our in-house panel to compete on stage at the main event on Sunday June 30, 2013. 

Below are links to some of the video entries  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5h6osUUTuc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caJv_XZfcnI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BligQSD94i4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb6jWPK65jU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccvjovEUk6A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_BmyK92dsk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9uTzyDpEJ0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsNn5OpcI0s

For all the video entries and the "words" of the poems, check out our previous posts. 

Come and be part of history as we slowly but surely create an industry for Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria.

Video entries for "War Of Words" is now on......!!!!!

i2X Media 

(organizers of WORD UP, the biggest Spoken Word Event in Nigeria)

Presents 

War Of Words 

(A Spoken Word Poetry Competition)

 This June, Spoken Word Poets will grace the stage like never before to kiss words and make them dance.

Up for grabs

• $300 for the winner and
• The top three poets get to perform at the next edition of WORD UP on August 17, 2013 alongside popular international  Def Poet – Black ICE.

 Do you have what it takes? Here is all you have to do  

1. Submit an original poem that is in English, pidgin English or a combination of both. Please note that All non-english words used in the poem must be explained in the information box of the video.
2. Ensure The title of your poem  contains the official hashtag #WarOfWords, else your entry is not valid.
3.  Ensure  your name/ stage name, email address and wordings of the video are in the information box of the video. If the information box cannot contain the wordings of the poem, send it to wordup4one1@gmail.com stating your name and title of the poem with the hashtag in the subject box of the mail.
4. Ensure your  video submission is not be more than 3 minutes long and remember it must be uploaded on your Youtube channel. If you don’t have a Youtube channel, please open one.
5. The submitted video must be one camera, one poet and recorded specifically for the competition. No live performance videos and no special effects. Please note that all poets are limited to one submission ONLY.
6. You will be required to post the link of the Youtube Video in the comment section of  any posts  on  http://wordup411.blogspot.com,  to render your entry as valid.
7. You will also be required to tweet the video link with the official hashtag #WarOfWords to @WORDUP411
8. The theme of the video entry is, “In it to win.” 

Ready to WOW us?

Video submission starts NOW till Midnight of June 14, 2013 !!!!!!

Follow us all on Twitter: @WORDUP411 , @Olulu4ever , @talk2duvy , @DonFabrino , @ikekhuahdan 

Like us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/wordup411

The Actual date, venue and time of the competition will be communicated once we have our finalists.

A total of 15 poets will be chosen from the entries for the competition. The first ten will be chosen by our in-house judges. The last five will be chosen based on most viewed, most liked  and the videos with the most comments.

Thus, if you are a Spoken Word Artist, Performance Poet, or a Wordsmith, 

then you should not miss this one chance, to  kiss words and make them dance.