Ehalakasa Slam poetry competition begins in Kumasi

EHALAKASA has been at the forefront of promoting, developing and sustaining the growth of performance poetry in Ghana since 2007.

This platform of creative minds, which allows free, uninhibited self-expression, has applied poetry as a potent medium through which to share ideas and express thoughts and feelings.

A release signed by Benedict Kojo Quaye and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the inception of Ehalakasa slam in 2014 was to raise the bar of spoken word poetry in Ghana.

It said we had a movement that was no longer growing but rather ‘groaning‘.

The release said many would attest to the fact that in the past used to continually experience performers with same poems almost every time one attends poetry events.

It said at the same time, we had several poetry events sprouting up having these same poets appearing and doing the same pieces, whilst the organisers also hold on to a similar formats of running such events.

The release said the Ehalakasa team decided to raise the bar and challenge the scene to a new and different experience in order to help poets create new pieces and works, hence, the Ehalakasa Slam.

It said the Ehalakasa Slam has been a facelift to the spoken word poetry scene in the country.

The release said we have old poets who are now reviving themselves, creating and producing new and fresh pieces for slamming and new and fresh poets are also challenging the ongoing slam scene with their unique take on performance poetry.

It said this has brought a whole new dimension to the slam scene, where everyone look forward to the next slam winner and the national slam champion.

The release said we have been able to use the slam scene to create an idea of surprise and uncertainty and this brings some level of excitement to our audience”.

It said last year’s Ehalakasa Slam Champion Paul Forjoe Jr. aka 100% is expected to travel to Kenya as special guest poet to perform at the Slam Africa stage, to be funded by Gallery GM in partnership with Ehalakasa.

The release said this is part of a Cultural Crossing initiative project launched in Accra last February.

“It is basically to enable African artists travel on the continent and share relevant experiences,” said Sarah Gusten-Marr, Director of Gallery GM.

The release said this year’s preliminaries will take place in three different regions, starting from Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to fish out three finalists who will join six other poets in Accra to battle with words in the ultimate slam poetry encounter at the National Theatre come November 2016.

The release invited poets and spoken word artists, in and around Kumasi, to get registered (rate GHC 5); grab the microphone and express yourself.

It said three minutes and three rounds is all it takes for the poet to prove their worth at the event slated for Africa Hall JCR, KNUST-Kumasi on Saturday, 23rd April.

The release said judges would be picked at random from the audience to decide the fate of the performer.

It said, “Who will win? Which poem will be remembered? What performances should be expected?” are questions yet to be answered as the audience experience an unforgettable lyrical delicacy while sipping palm wine to a life changing performances.