Thursday, December 10, 2009

V oices from WordSlam 0|4 - JEFFREY JAIYEOLA


Before the Bronx
Ijala intro…

Hip hop came before the Bronx
Didn’t have a name but it had a form
Ijala and ewi over the talking drum
Will leave you all craving, begging for more
When hunters battle rapped, Ijala was born
Ewi the epic rhyme had you chanting along
Deep within our hearts there was a longing for God
We felt He was too far Edumare was pawned
For the deities and demons that were baying for blood
Cattle were sacrificed, we were playing along
They weren’t satisfied, thy demanded our sons
Art form, transformed by bad blood
Became the platform that fuelled the backdrop
Of the horror and the torture from inter-tribe wars
They sold us as slaves but we went with our song
Padlocked our lips but we still had a voice

Malu to re Jandon, Malu to re Yankee
O fi dun si ni, o di corned beef o!

Who said they taught us democracy?
We had it way back since the Oyo-mesi
Hmmmn…Oro Pesi
The Ayan was the DJ and his talking drums the MC
Along with seven councilors regulating autocracies
Oba to ba buru won ma nsi’gba fun ko lo ku
An empty calabash given as present to tyrants
Implied suicide, the king became his hangman
We also had our own three-tiers of government
The Oba, Olori-Ile, and in the middle the Baale
In Berlin they shared us in absentia
Deliberated our destinies but we were not there
Turned us to colonies, well God forgive them
Superior hominids, the way we view them
Don’t be fooled Sir, all men are equal
Put a cut on any man, what’s d colour of his serum?
The songs of our fathers always had a meaning
Regardless of the side that the crowd was leaning
With our art and our craft, we desired to see Him
We had the ileke in the place of bling-bling
Our forebears break-danced to the beats of bata
But now all we know is “shake it like that”
Whatever in the world happened to our psyche?
Break dance was banned by Raji-Rasaki
They tried to stop a movement in its rapid advances
Hip-hop had re-awakened in the 70’s Bronx
In our boarding school in the ‘80s, the news came to us
Dancing and flashing torches we scratched lockers with coins
To that African generation hip-hop was returned
African hip-hop is restating the obvious
It started from here, throw away your assumptions!

Author's Profile

JEFFREY JAIYEOLA aka PLUMLINE

Plumbline (Jaiyeola Jeffrey) is an uncanny blend. Geo scientist, Poet, Songwriter, Author and Hip Hop Rap/Spoken Word artist.... he was born in Lagos Nigeria,in his Lagos Island hometown (he will vehemently oppose you if you declare Lagos a 'No man's land').

As a kid, he was influenced by Local Poets like the late Mamman Vatsa and later on caught up with the works of the Late Ken Saro Wiwa. he also read almost anything he could lay his hands upon, including Yoruba poetry. Shakespare and a host of other poets would later make their mark on his mind. By the time he was in high school, he started writing his own rhymes and short stories which continued till the University. He had a career to pursue, and since no one would understand a Scientist with a passion for the arts, his pieces were only performed during his stints as Comedian/Musical Programme Anchorman.

A long hiatus followed, during which time he obtained a first degree as a Geologist and a Masters in Applied Geophysics.He would later pick up his pen with a passion to make his mark and contribute his own quota.

He performed at the Open Mic session of the last Wordslam 3 and Performs regularly at Spoken Word Events like Anthill 2.0, Chill and Relax, Taruwa and of recent, Bespoke Poetry.

Plumbline was involved in the Poetry For Charity Vol 1 and 2 Project along with other poets, which was compiled by Chiedu Ifeozo. He currently runs a blog called RANTINGS OF THE TALAKAWA, which he describes as Tantrums of the disenchanted.

Voices from WordSlam 0|4 - REZthapoet


MY BLUFF

The other time when I was out,
my bluff called to ask after me
checking to see if my self esteem is as he desired,
low like my hard-earned salary
because it pays bluff to see me maintain that status quo
my physical took (down) the message,
pending my return as I was gone in search of soul
this bluff, dictates
this bluff, indicates
what attitude is right,
at what magnitude is right
and at what angle they can be put up in the face
this bluff, ushers my caravan of wishful regrets
haunts me like a broke heart, who can’t (even) pay love back in debt
my bluff, is the child of the intercourse
between these winds and my cautions
born of extortions, a cheat
because he, has learnt making me calls on toll-free
so if you think (that) talk is cheap,
pick a phone and call my bluff

my bluff - tough, rough,
because, he is a bully
he, lives in my conscience,
as that voice of evil that pricks me in goodies
if actions were drums, then he’ll come in the form, of repercussions
his discussions’ excursions beyond boundaries of boredom
manifests like the sounds of fears from deep inside my nightmares
I dare, think before leaps
writing wrong scripts is relative,
he knows yet he’s trying to act a nemesis
trying to act, a genesis
of this fear
of that fear
of all that is and not fair
so please, if he calls back, tell him I am not here
tell him I sleep and slumber
I am of flesh and perfection only lies of yonder
that I’m putting him to defeat,
beneath my carpet, he will forever live
under.

and let it be known that my mind is switching lines
and I’ll be fine because, he’ll never be able to call me again by these numbers

Meet the Author

REZthapoet

Abdulrazaq Adebola Afolabi is a young spoken word poet also popularly known as REZthapoet (the penname by which he writes most times) with REZ being the shortened form of rezolution (resolution). He studied computer science at the University of Ilorin where he graduated in 2006. He has been writing poetry as a hobby for about 12 years now but did not start performance until 2007. He is presently recording his poetry CD collection and also compiling his poetry collection for publishing. He performs spoken word poetry weekly at different poetry events around Lagos metropolis, the notable ones being Konscious Poetry lounge, Taruwa, Poetry potter, the Anthill 2.0, Chill and Relax, at private Occasions (like weddings and birthdays) and also at some other poetry events. He is very active online on different poetry platforms like the http://www.africanhiphop.com (poetry portal) and he also has a large following on http://www.facebook.com that predominantly make up a larger proportion of his online reading audience.

Voices from WordSlam 0|4 - Edaoto


Osaaa mo pe Yoruba nimi
mo je adulawo Ife sa lorirunmi
Osaa mo pe omo Awoyokun nimi oo
Lagos nigeria Ife sa na ti danran mi oo
Omo to so le nu o sapo ya ko ni
emi oni fowo osi juwe le iba mi
omo to so lenu osa po ya ko ni
emi oni fowo osi juwe le iyee mi

adulawo ni mi
osa gbooko mi
adulawo ni
osaa rawo mi
adulawo nimi
osaa gbo npa asa mi
adulawonimi
oosaa gbohun enu mi oo

Our names tell stories
Our names tell stories
Our place get histories
Our place get histories
Dont let us forget our histories
cos in it lies our victories
Blackman dont let us forget our histories
cos in it lies our victories

Adulawo nimi etc

Our names tell stories
Our names tell stories
Our place get histories
Our place get histories
Dont let us forget our histories
cos in it lies our victories
Blackman dont let us forget our histories
cos in it lies our victories

Korus
Adulawo nimi etc

toba je adulawo nie
ko ye ko gbagbe asa re
toba je adulawo nie
ko ye ko gbagbe itan re
toba je adulawo nie
koye ko gbagbe esin re
to ba je adulawo niee
koye ko gbagbe oro agba awon adugbo re oo.

Voices from WordSlam 0|4 - CornerStone



'crazy world'
i looked though d window
i saw d widow
she cried bitterly ooh my child
bullet in d loin of d only begotten son as

he laid help silly in d pool of his blood does

who has to protested us have b hurting us

whata brutality in our city.

Chorus
i don't wanna be here again
i don't wanna feel it again
i don't wanna see it again crazy world.

drop your arms
kill no your brodaman
peace is d chief thing we need in d world,

why nuclear weapons, why intimidation, why religious war,

why are destroying mankind
all fingers are not equal d same blood flows into dare veins if dare is love let it flow.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

V oices from WordSlam 0|4 - Unche Nwadinachi

MY EBONY GODDESS

My ebony goddess
Idol of my heart
How come thou
So cursed with beauty

Dark luxuriant hair
Black shinny eyes
Well- shaped nose
Juicy red lips

Pointed lemons
Hot made hips
Oily spot free skin
Smooth straight legs

My black queen
Even Satan will fall
For you
And quench his hell
Just to woo you

My ebony goddess
Adorned with oil of “Elaku”
Your skin glows
With a dark ochre-coloured tinge
Sparkling like a stream
Glistening of a million stars at night
Your succulent thigh is the idol
Of eight hundred “foam factories
Only the artistic shape
Of your demarcated lips
Can inspire the sights of blind sculptors
The closeness of your cloaked nipples
Can incite the hunger
Of renowned lawyers for breast milk
Even infatuation for you
Do purify my canal addition
The vanity of your charming beauty
To me is a treasure of eternity
Every particle of your form
Bears a unique article of fulfillment
My ebony goddess


Meet the AUTHOR


UCHE UWADINACHI, born on the 3rd of march 1977 in lagos to christain parent Mr and Mrs Abel Evangeline Uwadinachi.

His early school education was at Jimoh Ojora Primary School Lagos and Sari Igaumu high school Lagos. Lagos State University Ojo was were he had his University education and did his National Youth Service in Nassarawa State.

Uche, a performance poet, hail from Imo state in Obowu Local Govement. He was the winner of ANA Lagos(Association of Nigerian Authors) Poetry Festival Prize 2006 and Pakistan June-poetrycraze online contest 2009. The author of 'SCAR in the HEART of pain' a poetry collection(2009) and a Former Editor of AJ city Express Newspaper.

He is a music artist of a two man band-kamazaiah(May and Flame), with an album in the market titled 'lifted'a gospel compilation under the sound factory label-music company of 'Nija lowa' by Omotola Jolade.

Also, he is a movie actor, featured in top Nigerian Movies such as; Real love(doctor), Love of my life(supervisor), Adam and Eve(detective), Missing Angel(ticket boy), You broke my heart(police officer), Haunted love(police officer), Vicious tunnel(police officer), Who kill dele(witness), Superstory(armrobber)and many others.

He was the President of Tourism Club Wamba (NYSC2007/2008) Nasarawa state, where he won a recommendation award in Nasarawa state for constructing an Ultra Modern Toilet and making of 60 sign posts in Government Science School Wamba, Nasarawa state.

Uche was the Cordinator of Miss Nigeria Entertainment 2007/2008. And directed in Isaiahfaces-a model agency. He is a music video creative who has worked with artistes like: Ucheboy, Image, Davina(Igo make am), Presh, Praise, Julius Agwu(Christmas), Xproject(Mobaomolo), Kunle Omoalaafin Orun,Azadus etc

He presently working as an Independent Researcher and TV Presenter in a music- documentary programme titled KONTO MUSIC.

AUTHOR'S Contact:

Blog: http://www.flames777.blogspot.com
Email: ucheuwadinachi777@gmail.com

Mobile: +234(0)703 383 7733, +234(0)809 676 1410

Monday, December 7, 2009

WORD EXPLOSION BY THE LAGOON


ADE Bantu




Aye-Ola Mabiaku

Pictures from WordSlam IV

The fourth edition of the poetry slam was organized by Goethe-Institut Nigeria and Culture Advocates Caucus on November 28, 2009 at Goethe-Institut Nigeria in Victoria Island / Lagos. The evening, compèred by Yinka Davies and Yemi Oyewo, started with school kids reciting poems which they had developed in a workshop with German-Nigerian singer Adé Bantu. Afterwards, several notable spoken word artists seized the stage, including Papa English, Awoko, Edaoto and others. The “Open Mic” session gave upcoming artists a chance to perform in front of the audience. As the sun came down, the literature programme turned into an afrofunk concert when famous German-Nigerian singer Adé Bantu and his band went on stage.

WordSlam IV Poetry Slam

The success story of the poetry slam organized by Goethe-Institut Nigeria in collaboration with Culture Advocates Caucus continued: several notable poets showed the audience the true qualities of the art of the spoken word in Nigeria. The featured poets of “WordSlam IV” were: Uche Uwadinachi, Cornerstone, Ayodeji Akinpelu, Papa English, Funmi Aluko, Ayeola Mabiaku, Awoko, Edaoto and Muri Amulegbajo. The “Open Mind & Mic” session was, like in previous editions of “WordSlam”, giving members of the audience the chance to perform a short poem as well.

WordSlam IV Bantu Concert

The fourth edition of “WordSlam” culminated in a concert by famous German-Nigerian singer Adé Bantu and his band. Adé Bantu’s vibes – a mixture of hip-hop, reggae and afrofunk which he calls “the sound of fufu” – turned what started as a poetry performance into an exciting live concert in the evening. Bantu was raised in Lagos (Nigeria) and Cologne (Germany) and currently resides in both cities. This musician sees himself as an Afropean who is constantly inspired by both continents.

WordSlam IV School Outreach Programme

The “School Outreach Programme” gave poetry-interested school kids from Ajegunle and Ikoyi the opportunity to train their writing and performing skills with a great conductor: Adé Bantu. He was also featured in the fourth edition of “WordSlam”. Bantu showed the kids how to use rhythm and rhyme, how to act on a stage and how to capture an audience. The results of the workshop were displayed along the other performances on the “WordSlam” stage on November 28.



German-Nigerian afrofunk musician Adé Bantu, he played until late that night.

Poet Ayodeji Akinpelu on stage.

Children from Ireti Grammar School performing.

Singer Yinka Davies was one of the two compères for the evening.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

WordSlam IV... Poetry Goes To School




Inspiring Students to Speak Out
By Bayo Olupohunda

(Culled from The Guardian on Sunday, December 6, 2009)

ROBERT Frost's comment that "poetry is a way of taking life by the throat" perhaps best reflects the intentions of Goethe Institut Nigeria and Culture Advocates Caucus (CAC), organisers of the maiden edition of WordSlam IV School Outreach Programme.
Under the tag Schools' Spoken Word-Poetry Workshop, a major focus for the fourth in the Wordslam series is to work with students and teenagers in Nigerian schools on performance poetry with the future plan being that "Spoken word" and "poetry slams" will become popular tools for "building up the creative expression and opening up the minds and heads of the youth towards mobilising them to become active citizens in the democratic process", according to the CAC.
Thus, when I was asked to coordinate the School Outreach Programme, which was facilitated by the Nigerian-German international performing artiste Ade Adekoya aka Bantu, I became instantly excited given my professional understanding -- as an educator -- of the immense benefit the programme holds for students' academic training and the boost the programme will give schools' curricula.
A week earlier, the first leg of the workshop for schools had been held in the Ajegunle part of the state with students from about five schools located in the Tolu Schools Complex, Olodi Apapa, where Ade Bantu and the Poet-activist, Dagga Tollar had held some rewarding spoken word-poetry writing sessions with participating students on various thematic concerns. The Lagos Island project with Ireti Grammar School Falomo students was the second leg, and was no less engaging.
My experience with schools has shown that most teachers are ill-equipped to teach spoken word-poetry. Literature teachers most times regurgitate the works of known poets in a boring and mechanical manner without teaching students how to express themselves poetically; this has contributed to the lull in poetry writing and performance among these age groups, a gap the organisers of the WordSlam School Outreach Programme hope to now bridge with the promised yearly programme in Nigerian schools.



...Why Students Need Spoken Word-Poetry

The entry point for today's youth has been hip-hop music. Using the rhythm of this musical style, youth have been encouraged to start writing and performing poetry. This is a relatively short jump for many teenagers, who have grown up on hip hop, but a huge leap from what they had always thought poetry was limited to. Through poetry and spoken word, participating students in the WordSlam sessions, were encouraged to view their daily lives as an inspiration and material for their work.

They were also made to realize that throughout history, poetry has been expressed in many ways, and not just the cold, boring ways that they had become familiar with the literary genre in school.

This new cultural phenomenon among teenagers, helped by the success of the WordSlam IV School Outreach Programme attempted to give a voice to young people who have found much of the literature and the poetry they encounter, especially in school, to be irrelevant to their lives, and sometimes an insult to their cultural and ethnic identity.

This type of poetry appeals to students because it allows them to express themselves in their own language, and gives them the chance to address issues that they find important. The workshop provided a good opportunity for self-expression.

Poetry necessitated scratching below the surface, plumbing emotions students are often afraid to share with their peers. The students revealed long-hidden troubles they'd been otherwise reluctant to divulge. I noticed a closer sense of community forming in a classroom, where students regularly share their own poetry.

Through the medium of poetry and given their social background, the students more easily understood and identified with their classmates' sadness, fear, loneliness, rage, excitement, awe and pleasure. Poetry also helped the students define who they are. Poetry is a much freer form than prose writing.

Even students with limited language skills can excel in poetry. The workshops promoted individuality and creativity; it allows students to expand their understanding of what they are writing. The environment established for the poetry workshop valued and appreciated students' different ideas and allowed them to express original thinking.

Some students as seen from Tolu school were allowed to write several poems, while others only wrote one as found among the Ireti Grammar school students. Throughout the poetry writing, a wide variety of art supplies were provided. The students were allowed to use these materials both during poetry writing and vignette creating. The materials afforded the class with the means to fully express their own feelings and ideas in the poetry.

At the workshop, students felt more comfortable undertaking a topic that might otherwise be intimidating. In addition, publishing the students' work validates their role as both a writer and an artist, roles with which many of them did not identify prior to the workshop. This new role helped the students to recognize that what they do in school is important and affects their lives.
The students were given the opportunity to share their writing at the end of the workshop and performed them at Goethe Institut during the Wordslam event on Saturday. Students who ordinarily pass on the chance to share their work read their poems. Each student was applauded for his or her writing and many offered compliments.

The responses of the audience as the students presented their poems allowed them to understand their work is important and they are capable of producing art that others appreciate.

This lesson was exciting and enjoyable for both students to experience and Ade Bantu to teach. I knew it would be an engaging lesson and the students could feel the enthusiasm and as it spread. He was able to watch the class generate good ideas, express those ideas on paper in various forms of poetry and compile them into a variety of unique experience.

The Wordslam School Outreach Programme will ultimately encourage students to write about and discuss issues relevant to their lives. It will give them writing prompts that seek to develop their own voice and urge them to confront modern-day social issues head-on. It will also help in harnessing the potentials of students-poets, which will form the bulk of generation next spoken word- poets. The revolution has begun.

Ade Bantu: Portrait of the Artist as a Teacher


Ade Bantu the Nigeria-Germany born international artiste, who facilitated the two workshops for students in both schools, had a firm grasp of the subject and the activities in the classroom. He took the students through the various stages of spoken word-poetry writing, yet letting them express their minds freely. The result was later seen at the Wordslam IV show at Goethe Institut on Saturday November, 28 where students made passionate spoken word-poetry presentations with various themes to the delight of the audience.

He demonstrated an understanding of the limitations of the students in grasping concept taught. His performance at the workshop showed an artiste, who is at home with the teaching of spoken word poetry to students incorporating various concepts of poetry writing in form, content, rhymes etc.


Olupohunda educator and writer, coordinated the Ikoyi leg of the Wordslam IV School Outreach Project.