Wednesday, April 29, 2009

SPOKEN WORD- A RISING CULTURE IN NIGERIA

If you reside in Nigeria especially Lagos then you must have heard spoken word atleast once unless you don't have a
TV-probably you have been crushed by economic recession for the last 3years or you are a deeper life member.Otherwise
you must have heard the signature oral rendition of poetry on Hip TV by sage.That is spoken word.
Like any other art
it is a vent for expression.Spoken word is like hiphop without beats(though attimes it is accompanied by mild sounds
from mostly the konga)with dense lyrics,conscious content layed out in rhymes and rythmes.It is spoken poetry!It
thrives on oratory prowess as the poem must be heard,rhymes felt and the rhythme with the help of the mastery of tone
-timing,stress,silence e.t.c deliver the intended impact on the listeners.Don't be puzzled you don't know spoken word.
It is not globally well known like it's counterparts hiphop and rap.It is chiefly alive amongst the african americans.
Talib Kweli,Tupac,The last poets e.t.c are tad examples of black american spoken word poets.there is just a thin line
between spoken word and hip hop(note,hip hop not rap).They are both a state of mind,employ poetry but the former is
deeper.In the 1960's,The Last Poets brought spoken word to limelight but it faded to obscurity years later.Then in the
1990's Michael Algonquin brought it back on the horizon and since then the sky has been its limit.The music business
mogul-Russell Simmons,holds an annual word slam competition for spoken word poets with thousand in attendance;a sort
of American Idol.But beyond the african american romance with spoken word,spoken word has been around since the
rudimentary ages of man when he wasn't civilised enough to write so poetry had to be done orally.
Like other afro american music cultures-Jazz,Rap,Hip hop e.t.c,Spoken word has also filtered down to Nigeria.In a
journalistic quest to probe this happening,I tried to overturned the Olumo rock all in a bid to make sure I left no
stone unturned but all to no avail.Spoken word shot out of obscurity in Nigeria with Sage's performance at the 2006
Hip Hop World Awards.It was electrifying.Lagos,Nigeria was watching.Spoken word became a city on a hill,it could no
longer be hidden in Nigeria.Spoken word became the lighted torch that gave light to a whole room and pulled flies and
insects to it's orbit.Nigeria saw something new and poetic and thirsty souls were won over.Trailing the growth of
spoken word in Nigeria in the last 3years is foggy but it has grown from the nurturing of institutions like Goethe
Institut,British Council,African Art Foundation e.t.c who organize workshops and/or randevous-word slam,Wapi,Writer's
Anonymous respectively for spoken word poets to learn,develop,compete and interact.Though spoken word in Nigeria is
still a baby,it has already birthed talented spoken word artistes in the likes of Beautiful Nubia,Storytellers,Sage
Hasson,Jumoke Fola Alade e.t.c who have all released a spoken word album.
Spoken word is a serious form of art and it is apt for expressions of emotions-fraustration,hope,faith e.t.c of the
Nigerian.Hopefully,it is here to stay.

13 comments:

Giagerry said...

lol...
I dint fart in God's presence ooo!
lol...hey u!

Geebee said...

Spoken word poetry definitely conveys a deeper meaning and hits harder than reading written poetry. Hearing a recital via spoken word leaves you on a peak where all that matters at that moment is what your ears are hearing and it definitely hits harder still when the spoken word poet is good at what he does. I've been to one or two recitations and tell you what, I always come out feeling like something strong just found its way into me. I do some poetry even though i've been pretty rusty of late. In Nigeria, poetry is indeed coming strong but there remains a lot of work to be done still and honestly, the bulk of the work lies with those of us who love poetry and wish to see the art thrive in Nigeria.

Rayo said...

spoken word, i much prefer to hear than read poetry. i remember hearing jumoke fola-alade recite years ago. she was so so good.

Buttercup said...

nice write up..u seem very passionate about spoken word..

Today's ranting said...

Sounds really interesting. I have heared some of sage's renditions.

Spesh said...

Well said......
thanks for stopping by ma blog.

Sisem E. Naidem said...

I still believe Spoken Word needs proper definition especially in the Nigerian context so it doesn't get abused in the way so called up and coming artistes are bastardizing Hip-hop nowadays.
I pray this refining is done on time before the rape of the Word begins with every "poet" trying to dabble where only the geniuses shine. Many are chosen but few speak the Word...

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, Spoken Word Poetry.....the love of my life. The next step is to get Corporate backing for it, and the sky will be a launching pad.

Lol, I'm commenting on an article that probably is forgotten, but personally, I can connect with it.

Unknown said...

Nice write bro, I could also connect with it, cos I'm a Spoken Word Poet, and even, I've got a proposal for Spoken Word Poetry Sponsorship in Nigeria. Holla if you interested.

Keep inking, Jah bless.

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