The year so far has been filled with engaging and positively energised interactions with poets of all age, with spoken word performances and reading poetry in all its shapes and forms.

We began with sharing spaces with Poetry in session, revived by Roshan Karmali, its founder, a spoken word artist, performer, poet and writer herself. Other poets from Kampala performed their hearts out in stories and passionate anecdotes.

There were poetry readings in informal settings. The talent is mind-blowing across the continent. In Nairobi, there are a number of corporate spaces that are willing to share part of their evenings with the musicality of poetry.

When we continue to lend our voices across the globe, as poets and creators, something positive happens in the atmosphere.

2024: Poetry and People

It was a pleasure for the Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation to be asked to train students from Kampala International School Uganda for their poetry slam. What a high energy, creativity packed, mind-blowing poetry filled day.

Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva Photo by KISU

From learning about passion, theme, audience connection, stage presence, body language, tonal variety and enunciation, it was a day worth every second.

KISU will hold its poetry slam on Friday 8 December 2023 and there will be an entire universe of extraordinary talent.

Students exchanging their poems with peers. Photo by KISU

What is important is to always receive feedback and peer review is one of the most crucial ways to know how well you are communicating, how effective your body language is and also to gauge your pace.

Zoey the Storyteller-co-facilitator

Important topics were understanding the theme , connecting with audiences, body language, tonal variety, effective use of silence amongst others. All of these are vital in appreciating the power of poetry and the spoken word. From the page to the stage, the differences, similarities and how to interweave them.