Our website is now up and running...!!!!!

Hallos, 

Our website is now up and running at 

http://wordup411ng.com/

Word Up 411 is the first entertainment website with core focus on Poetry. 

So if you have literary and poetry event(s) you would want showcased to the world, then holla us and we will make sure the world sees it.

Does that mean we will close down the blog??? 

Nah, we will operate them both. 

But all the major information and articles you need would be on the website, while the blog will point you in the direction to go as well as providing ancillary services.

You are in for exciting times as we are set to take Spoken Word Poetry to the zenith in Nigeria and beyond. Are you ready?

Then go to http://wordup411ng.com/ like, comment and share and lets make Spoken Word Poetry a vibrant industry in Nigeria and beyond. That's our dream and we fully intend to live it.

Stop the Violence by Nomar Knight

Save the children of the street,
Tripping over graves under their feet.
Older people run in fear.
Pendulum of death swings so near.

Terrifying games are being played.
Hour by hour new graves are made.
Echoes of cries that will never fade.
Vivid memories of death and hate.
Ignorant youths challenge their fate.
Oppressed people flailing in vain.
Lads see a future with nothing but pain.
Everyone looking out for number one.
Never believing one day they'll be done.
Cries for help go undaunted.
Electric streets, forever haunted.

© Copyright Nomar Knight 2008. Reprint. All rights reserved.

Source:

http://knightchills.blogspot.com/2010/11/stop-violence-by-nomar-knight.html

Dis lines no calm at all...!!!

Dis lines no calm at all
Cos my mind dey voke, 
Invoking wailings of unheard cries buried.
and my blurry eyes dey scary to even look at.
My dairies and memories of swallowed grudges,
grudges of pains and stains of blood on sheets.
No mistake am for virginity but in-sanitized mutilation, 
frustration and humiliation wey dem take hammer,
dem wey 'we' call 'men.'
Cos true talk na women nuture 'we' 'men'
So dem no be prey,
abeg shun violence.

You wey say sound of her cry,
Dey make you high,
When your conji high,
Na her thigh you rely on.
Lie for same bed lie give her say na,
Culture palle pickin secret,
you no need fly to call you winch (witch).
Palle like you na your daughter,
you dey burst so,
She no be prey,
abeg shun violence.

How much be sorry for market,
Or the cost of care for Ariaria?
How much be smiles for your face?
Or the cost of affection for your heart?
How much eee even cost for your to pay attention to this?
We call men to true talk,
women no be prey
My people, 
abeg shun violence

By 
D-Ray

Life and Business lessons I learnt from Steven Gerard and Stephen Keshi.

Life and business lessons I learnt from Steven Gerard and Stephen Keshi. 

I am not a fan of Liverpool, but I am a fan of Steven Gerard.

The Champions League final of 2004/05 (Liverpool versus AC Milan) is for me, one of the greatest match ever. Gerard started as a "4", then moved to play "8", and then played "2," all in one match. 

In life and in business, you sometimes have to be a utility player.

You need to be able to plug any hole (square, round or triangle),

at anytime whether you have prior knowledge or not.

Its not about being an expert in every field,

its about being ready to do whatever it takes to get results. 

Stephen Keshi, the present coach of Nigerian Super Eagles, is someone I really respect and admire, (kai, the guy take style stubborn, lol).

During the last Nations Cup in January 2013, he won the tournament without the services of some of Nigeria's experienced and/or best strikers (Osaze, Obafemi etc). 

In life and business, you don't "always" need "star players" to get things done right. You need committed players, people who believe in you and in your dream and are willing to do what to takes to make it happen.

Now don't get me wrong on this, I am not saying "Star Players" are not good or are unnecessary, but they need to believe in the dream and be willing to put in their shift which equates to commitment. Without commitment, a plan and a common objective, a gathering of "Stars" is like a candle in the wind,

....now you see it, now you don't.

by 

Olumide Holloway

CYCLE OF VIOLENCE by Osowe Gbenga

I was thinking about Domestic Violence and how it continues in a cycle (men who grew up to see their fathers beat their mothers are less likely to see anything wrong in beating women etc) and the thoughts brought this poem titled CYCLE.

CYCLE OF VIOLENCE

I have chosen to speak

to lend the world my words 

and let my voice be heard

loud and clear

Against the violence of silence

perpetrated against the ones we ought to hold so dear

causing them so much bodily and mental harm.

I sound the alarm, 

that the cycles might be strengthened no longer

that our females may suffer no more

and that our wives and daughters may weep no more.

I choose to speak,

at the plight of children who witness their mothers being beaten and battered,

watching as her cloth is shred into tatters.

As she  is stripped of her dignity and humanity

By the same man who once claimed to love her,

swearing an oath to honour and protect her.

But,

Now, his fist is her face's unworthy yet willing companion daily.

She sheds tears, 

losing blood

not for man's ransom nor eucharistic communion.

She shed her blood, 

her life,

dying in bits,

cowering and pleading, 

while he beats her.

and she stays silent.

A victim,

and a  perpetrator of the violence of silence

She stays,

keeping mute and enduring

for the sake of her 

Son,

who now believes that  the answer 

to every female's daring questions and smart retort is a punch

and a kick.

Daily, his fragile human mind is being transformed

to that of a savage,

who thinks that the body of a woman is meant to be ravaged.

A victim of the vicious cycle

So for him I speak, 

and for the sake of his younger sister,

in whose mind is etched the imagery of her father's savagery.

She hates men with a passion,

her life a lesson in delusions.

The words of her mother fill her ears,

"Men are bad,

they are the spawns of the devil

and in them is the seed of evil."

She knows not, 

that not all men are brutes. 

Even if to many you dare not ascribe the word cute.

She is a victim,

caught in the cycle strengthened by our silence.

And so for her I speak

against RAPE, domestic abuse and sexual harassment.

And I say

break this cycle

and STOP THE VIOLENCE NOW!

by 

Osowe Gbenga

The Glo number you just dialled..!!! #WordUpVol6

Arch Angel on stage at WORD UP Volume 5 (First Anniversary Edition) 

which held on August 17, 2013 in Lagos, Nigeria.

The poem he performed is a classic. Please watch and enjoy.

Word Up, the biggest Spoken Word Poetry Platform in Nigeria comes to town again this November 2013. This edition tagged,WORD UP Volume 6 is scheduled for November 23, 2013 at Terra Kulture, V/Island, Lagos, with the theme, "Stop the violence." 

My heart, my joy, my love by Dupe Holloway

My heart, my joy, my love

It feels good to know that I am yours

Finally I know what it is to see the world through rose coloured glasses

My master the glasses are off

You knocked it off last night with a slap

But I have on my LV shades to cover the black eye you left

My abuser, I said no this morning yet you forced yourself on me

You never asked why I said no even though I never refused you before

I hope u are satisfied because I have reached the end of my rope

My darling, my light you decreed today would be our last day as man and wife

How right you are, I have served the last food I would prepare for you

Because today I become a widow for I made your egusi with Aconitum.

by Dupe Holloway

Stop the Violence...!!!!

The phrase violence against women is a technical term used to collectively refer to violent acts that are primarily or exclusively committed against women. Similar to a hate crime, which it is sometimes considered this type of violence targets a specific group with the victim's gender as a primary motive.

The United Nations General Assembly defines "violence against women" as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life." The 1993 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women noted that this violence could be perpetrated by assailants of either gender, family members and even the "State" itself.

Worldwide governments and organizations actively work to combat violence against women through a variety of programs. A UN resolution designated 25 November as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Poem written by Seye La Poet, Olulu, Kemistry, Arch Angel, Atilola and Titilayo.

Poem was compiled/ synchronized by Atilola

Executive Producers:  Stephen Oshilaja Media Production and i2X Media Company Limited.

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.

How to Get Started with Spoken Word Poetry.

Some Background Information

People spoke poetry long before they began to write it. Audiences have judged the poet’s performance for just as long. Spoken word poetry competitions have taken many forms in many places across the world for thousands of years. Today spoken word poetry is most commonly experienced in competitions call Poetry Slams. The first Poetry Slamwas held in 1986 in Chicago. Since then these competitions have spread throughout the world. Although spoken word poetry is performed and enjoyed in noncompetitive venues, the Slams have had a large effect on the way spoken word poetry is written and performed.

Slam poems must be performed in 3 minutes or less and the performer must read a poem he or she has written. Today, most spoken word poetry conforms to these standards. The other Slam rule is that no props or costumes may be used. This rule is not always followed outside of Slams. While some poets feel costumes and props distract from the poetry others feel they enhance the poetry and use them in performances that are strictly for entertainment purposes. Likewise, outside of Poetry Slams background music and sound effects are sometimes employed.

Do Your Research

If you haven’t experienced much spoken word poetry, you should begin with some research. Watch YouTube videos of spoken word performances, read published spoken word poems, and most importantly find spoken word performances in your area and attend them. The National Poetry Slam website (www.PoetrySlam.com) has a search feature for finding poetry slams but Google works just as well for finding poetry events in your area. Many universities host spoken word performances and spoken word poets often perform in local bars and coffee houses on open mic nights. Watch the poets. Meet the poets. Talk to the poets. The best way to learn about spoken word is to experience it.

Practice! Practice! Practice!

Think of spoken word poetry as a two part project: the writing and the performance. These parts are equally important and although you might be more drawn to one than the other neither should be ignored. There is no limit on the number of poems you can write or the number of times you can perform them, so get started early and practice regularly. Information can only take you so far, skill must be built through practice. The following sections consist of tips for beginning spoken word poets to keep in mind as they start practicing.