Spoken word artists need recognition | wsusna

Nqontsonqa is a poet who hails from Grahamstown. He also performed at this year?s National Arts Festival.
Photographer: supplied

By Nwabisa Pondoyi
Poets face different challenges when it comes to expressing themselves through spoken word as some societies do not recognise this form of art.
Reciting poetry is an artistic performance that brings words to life in which stories or lyrics are spoken rather than sung, where artists get an opportunity to express their views on religion, gender, politics and sex.
Chris Gilili, 18, spoken word artist said: ?Most of the time we are misunderstood by our societies simply because we are stereotyped. People often have questions such as how can you make a living out of words and how do you think this will establish you. Then again often they don?t know what spoken word really is, where it comes from and what it really means to be an artist.?
According to the site: spokenwordparis.blogspot.com: ?Spoken word was first recognised in the late 1980s and early 1990s through the emergence of ?poetry slams? where spoken-word artists would square off in cabaret-style duels. Slam poetry is still the most popular form of spoken word especially for young people to express their views, experiences or information that is often taboo to society.?
Onako Gubula, 14, spoken word artist, said: ?Every time I meet people they look at me and think that I?m some maths genius but really the only thing I know are my words, to me its words before breakfast, they run in my blood.?
When the society does not support spoken word artists they can bear with it but when their own families do not support them it is then that they face their biggest challenge.
Loyiso Lindani, best known as Missunderstood by her fans, said: ?My journey as a spoken word artist has been an interesting one. I have met a lot of people who believe in me, because they have read my craft before. But with family it?s different they misunderstand me, being a spoken word artist doesn?t mean I can?t think properly, that I?m not focused. I know what I want, I do what I want and I love what I do.
?I had my own issues growing up, lost my parents, dropped out of school. After all the craziness there was silence. I discovered that what I am is an artist and spoken word is everything I believe in, the air I breathe, the water I drink; it?s my spirituality, everything in me, through it I?m most honest. Spoken word is my life,? said Missunderstood.
Nqontsonqa?s journey is a different one. He said: ?People and family have always been appreciative of my poetry and to me poetry evolved from so many things. It?s a tool for social matters and entertainment; it?s a communication skill, freedom of expression and portrayal of my thoughts.?
Any form of spoken word piece can be powerful with the right emotion backing it and the emphasis kept on the speaker. Spoken word is really a play of words. There?s only one rule: make the words alive. ? WSU-SNA

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Source: http://wsusna.wordpress.com/2012/07/25/spoken-word-artists-need-recognition/

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