Where were you - by a 14 year old Spoken Word Poet.

 He was 13 years old when he first stepped on stage at WORD UP Volume 2 and got a standing ovation for his Spoken Word Poetry performance.

Now, 14 years old and close to a year later, at WORD UP Volume 5, he thrilled us with his poetic lemonade of rhymes and reason and asked us, "WHERE WERE YOU???," Well, he got another standing ovation. 

His folks named him "Increase," and it seems he increases in wisdom, wits and rhymes as his age increases. He is definitely one for the future, and the sky is his launching pad.

Watch the video below and see if you answer the question, Where were you???

Increase doing a Spoken Word Piece titled, WHERE WERE YOU? at WORD UP Volume 5 (First Anniversary Edition) which held on August 17, 2013 in Lagos, Nigeria. 

WORD UP is the biggest Spoken Word Poetry event  in Nigeria. It features A-list Spoken Word Poets on the same stage.

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...!!!!

Letter to a tyrant.

by
Ephraim Nnawihe

You claim to be a boss to me 
And forcefully have your way in me 
I may be your assistant 
But please keep your distance 
I cant stand your uncivilized manner 
With all due respect sir''you are mad. 

You gain your way to the top 
But take away water from our cup 
Rendering people homeless gives you joy 
You can break or amend as though we are your toy 
With all due respect sir''you are wicked 

You know much well you cant earn our votes 
So you rig the polls and make us scapegoats 
You turn female graduates to prostitute 
You are a goodman that kills the truth 
With all due respect sir''you are a fraud 

I will bring transformation to our nation 
No nepotism,no discrimination 
But you loot our nation's treasures 
To satisfy your endless pleasures 
With all due respect sir''you are a thief. 

You claim to be a man of peace 
But kill our children,tear them piece by piece 
You spill our father's blood 
To prove..you are a lord 
With all due respect sir''you are an animal 

Time shall come when the earth shall speak 
Kill all those things that make you tick 
And then the trees shall ring the bells 
And birds of the earth your tale shall tell 
And the most feeble creature shall say to thee 
With all due respect sir''you are under arrest 



Source:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/ephraim-nnawihe/letter-to-a-tyrant/573091619414690

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. 

Organizing a poetry event? She will show how best it is done.

Olajumoke Olubunmi Alawode-James, has a Masters degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos, Nigeria and a first degree in Mass Communication from the same institution, producing two television Documentaries. In 2011, she completed her Masters in Events and Mass Communications from the University of Lagos.

In December 2001, her television programme, "Our Time" was nominated for the TV Programme of the Year by Youth Alive Foundation (YAF).

On November 27th, 2004, "Our Time" presented by ‘Jumoke was nominated for TV Production of the Year by The Nigerian Media Merit Awards held in Port-Harcourt. The next day, November 28th, 2004, ‘Jumoke co-anchored Miss Tourism Nigeria held at the Sheraton Hotels, Abuja delivering stellar performances in both events.

‘Jumoke has worked with the Big Brother Nigeria project and Pilot shoot of "Moments with Mo" managing event and media. She has Stage Managed many comedy shows and awards in Nigeria, as well as Concerts, Product Launches (Kia Quoris Launch), company anniversaries (Interswitch 10^th anniversary), St. Moritz Style Selection, St. Moritz Style Awards, MTN Y'ello Concert in Enugu, Jazz Nite with Al Jarreau & Kunle Ayo, Star Mega Jamz, Hip Hop World Awards, Soundcity television launch, African Movie Academy Awards 2007, Silverbird at 25, amongst many others.

‘Jumoke moved on to become Production Manager at Showbiz Network Services, a sister company to Edi Lawani & Associates, managing the company's projects. She is also Principal Partner of Smiles, an event packaging company that manages the Nigeria portfolio of Kunle Ayo (South African based Nigerian Jazz Guitarist) amongst others. Olajumoke is Advisor and Liason Nigerian Culture and General Issues Women, UNESCO since November 2008. A member of Nigerian Professionals since January 2004 and Associate Member of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, her company, Oluwaloninyo Limited (Media and Events), was registered in May 2009, to produce TV shows and manage events.

In August 2010, ‘Jumoke alongside her friends started FreedomHall; an open mic event to show-case the talents of many professionals who would not have had the opportunity to express themselves; in live music, spoken word, poetry, comedy, dance, etc. 3 years on, FreedomHall is now of international repute with several international stars gracing her stage. ‘Jumoke is currently a co-host of “Your View” every morning on TV Continental Lagos.

Come Saturday, September 14, 2013 from 2pm, she will be talking on Events Management/Poetry Events organisation at the seminar on The Business of Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria. 
The venue is Bogobiri House, No. 9 Maitama Sule Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria and attendance is FREE!!!!

 

Red Carpet thingz at WORD UP Volume 5

WORD UP Volume 5 has come and gone, but the memory lingers. 

The 5th edition of the event marked its one year anniversary.

The date was August 17, 2013 and venue was TerraKulture Hall, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. 

It featured some of the youngest and best Spoken Word Poets in Nigeria, and 2 wonderful soul singers, Lumynos and Aduke. 

The event was well attended and it was fun all the way for both the performers and the audience.

Check out some of the red carpet pixs at the Biggest Spoken Word Poetry Event in Nigeria, WORD UP!!!

 

 

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.

Word Up Volume 5 DVDs and Audio CDs are out.

The DVDs and Audio CDs of the first anniversary edition of WORD UP are out.

The event was tagged Word Up Volume 5, and it held on August 17, 2013 

at TerraKulture Hall, Victoria Island, Lagos.

It featured some of the best, young Spoken Word Poets in Nigeria. 

The DVDs and Audio CDs will be available at the venue of the seminar on "The Business of Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria."  The date is September 14, 2013, and venue is Bogobiri House, 

Maitama Sule Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. The time is from 2pm

Awesome Spoken Word Poetry duet at Word Up Volume 5

It is not everyday you get to see, hear and enjoy two amazing Spoken Word Poets perform together on stage. Atilola is one of Naija's top female Spoken Word Poet, and she trained and groomed Titilayo, who won the Season 1 of War Of Words (Slam Poetry Competition).

They performed together on stage at WORD UP Volume 5, and only one word fits the bill, AWESOME!!!!

Check out the video and you will know you need to buy the DVD.

Titi and Atilola performing together on stage at WORD UP Volume 5 (First Anniversary Edition) 
which held on August 17, 2013 in Lagos, Nigeria. 
WORD UP is the biggest Spoken Word Poetry event  in Nigeria. 
It features A-list Spoken Word Poets on the same stage.