The finalists for War Of Words Season 2 are.....!!!

For this 2nd edition of War Of Words, we had a total of 22 video entries/ submission from Spoken Word Poets in different parts of Nigeria using the theme "Be The Change You Seek."  

 However, only 16 poets can be selected to compete on stage at the main event on Sunday December 15, 2013. 

So after plenty argument and disagreement, our in-house judges finally reached a consensus.  Though we must mention that picking the 16 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 all the poets who entered for the competition. 

But the rules of the competition limits us to 15 poets, but we decided to pick 16 poets (we no try??). 

The 16 finalists for the Season 2 of War Of Words -Slam Poetry Competition in no particular order, are as follows:

1. Slimzy
2. Kruseaphix
3. Mac Dave
4. Shegzrhym
5. I am Rage
6. Chika Jones aka Scribblelirian 
7. Thinkingpen
8. Prestige d WordSmith
9. Olaide Afolabi aka PoetStreet
10. High On Word
11. Atilola Ajayi
12. Yetunde George
13. Foursyte Bogani
14. J-Quill
15. Osigwe Benjamin
16. Ehiz d poet

Wild Cards (in case one of the chosen 16 poets does not show up and to be chosen as listed):

1. Chiemezie Ibe
2. Moses Ukam aka Youngflashy

(The Wild Cards will replace any of the 16 poets who don't show up 
on the day of the Slam Poetry Competition on December 15, 2013)

Thank you all.

You are cordially invited to  "War Of Words Season 2.” 

Date is Sunday December 15, 2013

Venue is The Prince of Anthony Hotel 27 Oyedele Ogunniyi St, Anthony Village, Lagos.

Time is from 2.30 pm.

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

#WarOf Words2 BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK by Poetstreet

BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK by Poetstreet

I want to be the perfection to the flaws of our government
Put an end to the suffering of the masses and end their predicament
I want to be the light shining at the end of their tunnel
Fill them with oil of hope even if they have no funnel
Break myself into three, taken as a three-square meal
Cos to me, feeding Nigerians remains a big deal
I want to run, not for elections but in public taps, bathrooms and toilets
I want to be the Naira, not Pounds or Dollars bouncing in your wallets
I want to be the constant electricity running in your homes
Light up the streets of Nigeria, beautify it like Rome
I want to be the affordable fuel you queue to buy at filling stations
They removed subsidy, play us like Nintendo and Playstation
I want to be the freest and fairest election like we had in '93
So Nigerians can have something to celebrate at 53
I want to be the sanity and morality in the minds of our youths
They lost these to civilization and abandon their root
I want to be the integrity we once had in WAEC, JAMB and NECO
I represent the Nigerian student, their pains I echo
I want to be the end to senseless ASUU strikes
Elevate our tertiary education, make the standard so high
I want to be to be the ban on the importation of generators
Revive the power sector sabotaged by these predators
I want to be a religion that preaches Jesus Christ and Mohammed
And tell their worshippers that both prophets are sacred
I want to be a voice that shouts Allahu Akbar and Halleluyah
Put an end to senseless killings as if we want to make suya
I want to be the first book that contains both Quran and Bible
Connecting the two religions like a USB cable
I want to be the world cup trophy for the Super Eagles
And let the world see the glory of African struggles
I want to be the much-anticipated cure for HIV/AIDS
And be administered to infected people for free without getting paid
I want to be a good job for those graduates on the street
Who are searching for any job just to make their ends meet
I want to be a home for the homeless sleeping under the bridge
So they can have a home, while I preserve them like a fridge
I may not be Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa or Zik
But Lord, help me be the change that I seek


NON-ENGLISH WORDS USED & THEIR MEANINGS

Allahu Akbar-God is great
Halleluyah-Praise ye the Lord
Suya-Grill
WAEC-West African Examinations Council
NECO-National Examinations Council
JAMB-Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board
ASUU-Academic Staff Union of Universities

Check out the video via this link

#WarOf Words2 BE THE CHANGE YOU SEEK

http://youtu.be/lW8wWPCVpDA

MUSHIN...!!!

Mushin in my blood, it is where I was born

The lifestyle, the culture like a shirt I’ve worn

As a kid I was exposed to violence and porn

Fearless and desperate, taking the bull by the horn

Densely populated, dominated by thugs

Here, we chop knuckles we don’t give hugs.

Prostitutes half-naked, parading our streets

As a kid, I would watch lick my lips without a sweet

Few churches, few mosques, more hotels and bars

Street-fighting, bottle-breaking, boys are kept behind bars

Many streets untarred, full of retards

Children treat adults with no regards

Street-hawking, child-labour haunt the little minds

Parents want to survive so they never mind.

Gun-shots every night, we all live in fear

Police pose with armour-tanks with enough gas to tear

Every junction, every corner, boys are smoking weed

Teenage girls warming beds just to meet their need

On sanitations, we play football on the streets

No jerseys, no boots we tackle hard with our feet

2Face from  Festac, 9ice from Bariga

We are proud of our own Alabi Pasuma

Now the change has come, guys are back to school

Violence has disappeared, everywhere is cool

Teenage girls quit flirting, they keep their pride

They are getting married, guys make them their bride

Being born here is a blessing and not a curse

I’m proud of my hood, I don’t know about yours

                                                                                                                        

by Olaide aka Poetstreet (inspired from the street).