Spoken word artiste Cynthia Amoah on inspiration & passion

US-based Ghanaian spoken Word artist Cynthia Amoah talks to us about her journey, what inspires her, the desire to study Law sometime in the future amongst other issues.

What influenced the decision to be a spoken word artist?

Spoken word poetry, more specifically, aside from just poetry as an entity is what always resonated with me. There is something about the tune of one’s voice, the tone – its influxes and invasions until it arrives at one thought that always fascinated me.

There, in that moment is where I live. On the boundary between what I write on a page and how it sounds when I say it. It always means more.

And because I’ve always wanted to mean more to the causes that I find dear to me, I thought it best to speak on them so that they can mean more to people unaware of them. There, in that, lies the answer. My poetry is political. And I am its messenger.

Who introduced you to spoken word/when did the passion for this begin?

Recitation, for me, began in High School. I had always written poetry but, Mrs. Fitzgerald, my high school English teacher introduced me to “The National Recitation Project.” It was a national competition that I competed in twice and lost both times, but it was there that I learned the art of recitation and the true essence of the spoken word. It was also there that I learned defeat and how to overcome.

How many years have you been doing spoken word as professional?

I have been writing and performing on stages for the past 5 years. I performed all throughout my undergraduate career and now that I have graduated, have begun booking local gigs.

What are the topics/issues you address in your spoken word pieces?

I’d like to think of my poetry as political, at times, but also as spiritual pieces that come to life when I discuss topics that hit home for my audience. As a result, I’ve discussed anything from “Stop and Frisk” laws and rape in the Congo to young women who ought to believe in and respect themselves.

Which events have you performed at?

I’ve performed at several events from a candle vigil for the victims in Haiti hosted by my alma mater to my recent performance at West Virginia University’s African Students Association’s Africa Night to name a few.

Do you have any spoken word pieces out? Titles?

My most recent piece is a poem titled, “Honam,” that discusses the need for brown girls to love themselves especially with the recent success story of actress Lupita N’yongo. This poem raises an anthem and calls for us to love one another as well. Please visit my YouTube page at www.youtube.com/PoetessCity to watch “Honam” and for more poetry videos!

What do you do aside spoken word?

I currently work as a sales supervisor in retail and have learned many of my strengths in my short experience there. Everything I do in life, however, always comes back to poetry.

Which spoken Word artist inspires you?

Maya Angelou (May She rest in perfect peace), Lauryn Hill, Joshua Bennett, Saul Williams, just to mention a few.

Future plans?

God willing, I will attend law school sometime in the future. That is, if poetry, hasn’t gotten too big for me. It will never leave me. It will always be my source of strength and survival and always, always my first love.