The world of spoken word

Spoken word has been around for a long time, but not as long as music. It just happened that the oral art burst into the limelight pretty late and boy have people basked in its glory since then.

For starters, spoken word is performance art that is word based. It is poetry intended for onstage performance, rather than exclusively designed for the page. Here is the catch: it’s not just poetry, it is rhythmic poetry, performed enthusiastically sometimes with the aid of music and music instruments. From a pedestrian understanding, spoken word is word spoken in a melodious way.

It has been a magical tool for self-expression. Most artists often cover sensitive subjects such as politics, socio-economic issues such as racism and at times lighter subjects that border on laughter, creating comedy. Spoken word is the 21stcentury way of tackling compressing issues tucked in rhythmic words and said in an interesting way often to a seated audience.

THE KENYAN SPOKEN WORD SCENE

In Kenya, spoken word events include ‘Arteast hub’, an all-round art event taking place on the 1st Saturday of the month showcasing music; poetry and spoken word ‘Kwani?’, a monthly open mic session an street poetry event; and ‘Poetry Slam Africa’, a spoken word slam competition that has churned out able artists such as Mufasa the poet.

Other notable spoken word artists on the scene are Mark Joshua Ouma (alias Teardrops); Raya Wambui, the 39th Slam Africa Queen who also writes poetry; and Oscar Onyango (better known as Gufy Dox) a performing artist of the Misimu Zangu album.

If you thought spoken word only gets you to next-door events, you are wrong.

Spoken word artists have graced the TED talk stage. Emtithal Mahmoud is one of them, he of the A young poet tell the story of Darfur. For this piece, we feature three upcoming spoken word artists.

Oscar Nyagah (alias Oskkah Romeo) is a 21 year old student, poet and event organiser at the Usanii Festival. He came to know about the art in 2012.

“I knew spoken word through listening to Juliani and King Kaka and admiring their art,” he says. The talented artist reveals that nobody taught him,

“I learned everything by myself by practicing what am good at and it worked.”

DIVERSITY OF THE CRAFT

As an artist, he writes the words himself as this helps him to put a story in his own perspective, thus making it easy to express. In a judgmental world, spoken word artists are judged by the words they say, at times, how they say it. Oscar has a different take.

“An artist is judged by both because a spoken word artist has to create amazing vocabulary that will make the art stand out while having an appealing tone.”

What makes a spoken word artist different from a poet?

“It is our diversity of being able to perform and incorporate it with music,” he explains. For him, his choice of message comes from inspiration, what is happening around him, what his friends are going through or imagination. He busts your bubble.

“Spoken word requires a lot of talent, not just words. You have the words but you have to appeal to the audience too.”

He looks up to musicians, Juliani and King Kaka from Kenya and Stormzy from UK. He earns from it acknowledging there are events all over.

On an average month, he takes home a minimum of sh.18000. He has a mission too,

“To be able to tell a story that is happening when others are unable to do so.”

He is not a one-trick pony as he reveals his plans to release a song, as well as up his game as an event organiser for Usanii Festival.

“One needs to be creative and passionate about the art, put a lot of effort and most importantly, patience and prayer.”

Amos Kariuki, 21, is a Corporate Communication student, juggling spoken word and dance. It all started in 2014.

“I started writing and had to find a way to share my writings, which best came through spoken word.” Same as Oscar, no one taught him, but he attributes it to nature because all he write about is life and his thoughts.

INSIPIRING AS WELL AS ENTERTAINING

From his own understanding, spoken word is word that is spoken. However shallow that may be, he says, “What keeps the world going is language which is achieved through words which can be written or drawn.”

On drawing a line between the words and performance, Amos reiterates that the response depends on the audience but “most people judge it to the extent of how you present it. You must do something captivating and at the same time have the right words.”

He doesn’t earn from the art but what keeps him going on is his resolve to inspire.

“I love the art and I don’t do it for money but for the sole purpose of serving humankind. Speaking what you feel is missing in the society,” he doesn’t miscalculate his words, like all spoken word artists.

22-year-old Peter Chege is a self-employed high school graduate who took up the act to “speak for those with no voices; the less fortunate and disadvantaged in the society.” Interestingly, Peter says he came to know about the poetry act during his childhood years but became active as a teenager, “I learnt about in when I was young out of the love of art.”

“Spoken word is judged by both words and the art of conveying it,” he says while acknowledging that talent is an extra tool when it comes to spoken word. He doesn’t get a penny from performing but he hopes one day he will.

“I look forward to opening an art studio with theatre for young talented artists.”

He has big dreams even as he spends his free time as a welder to survive at the moment.

“Spoken word isn’t quite promising, you’ve got to have a side hustle,” Peter speaks of his experience.

All three spoken word artists agree that people love and appreciate spoken word poetry. It is worth noting that the 'recited aloud poetry' has become popular among the urban Kenyans and they are not being left out.