NGN and Spoken Soul in Uganda

Artists from the Northern griots Network and the Spoken Soul Collective traveled to Uganda in December 2022 to perform and participate in workshops and dialogue circles for the 20th annual B-Global hip Hop Gathering. This momentous event featured poets from several Ugandan artist groups, as well as visual artists, podcasters, bloggers, musicians, singers, MCs, and community activists. The organizers were the Bavubuka Foundation, and our main host was the inimitable Babaluku, legendary MC from the Bataka Squad and progenitor of Indigenous rap aka the Luga Flow.

BACK TO THE SOURCE

From the ackee & saltfish flavoured lens of Jamaican-Canadain hip hop producer, MC and videographer extraordinaire, Tough Dumpling, this short video helps chronicle our journey Back to the Source, as our group vibes with Ugandan artists in Kampala and traveled to the source of the Nile River where it flows form the Great Lake Nalubaale (aka ‘Victoria’). With thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts for the support, and to our gracious hosts Babaluku, Bavubuka Foundation, and all the Ugandan artists and community members who were so welcoming and made our trip such a great learning experience.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=5Kx0HvSi_i8%3Fsi%3DbGAMreeQoGJ7zUiA

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.

PHOTOS – NGN & SPOKEN SOUL POETS IN UGANDA

Here are a few photos from our trip, courtesy of the brilliant photographer, Gilbert, of Bwette Photography.

VISUALI17E OTTAWA at HOUSE OF PAINT

The NGN, in collaboration with the House of PainT Festival, is thrilled to announces a special VISUAL17E OTTAWA showcase on August 26, 2017 at Brewer’s Park, Bronson Avenue. Admission is FREE!

Features Poets include Roua Aljied, ApolloTheChild, and King Kimbit. They will be performing at 3:00, 5:00 and 7:00 PM, at the House of Paint Main Event, under the Dunbar Bridge.

VISUAL17E OTTAWA is a powerful fusion of spoken word poetry, street art and live music, this showcase series will transform a visually underused space in the city into a vibrant art installation. The poets performing at the showcase are three of the top young talents in Ottawa’s booming spoken word scene, and have been selected to create the mural/poetry collaboration with high calibre muralists like Mique Michelle and Kalkidan Asseffa, and brilliant visual artists Jason Gullo and Komi Olaf.

For more info on House of PainT 2017: http://houseofpaint.ca/
And stay tuned for more details coming at the Northern Griots Network main website

As one of the fourteen dynamic and varied experiences offered to residents and visitors next year as part of Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations in the nation’s capital, VISUAL17E Ottawa is generously supported by the Ottawa 2017 Arts, Culture and Heritage Investment Program. The Program will highlight Ottawa’s diverse arts, culture and heritage offerings during Canada’s sesquicentennial celebrations.

Planning Session Report

The Northern Griots Network, at the South-North Griots Summit held in Toronto, May 28-31, hosted a planning session with Summit participants to discuss initiatives in advancing national and international development of culturally diverse spoken word poetry, particularly with reference to artists of African heritage. The session was made up of established spoken word artists and presenters from across Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean.

The Report is now available on the NGN site at the following page:
Summit Planning Session Report

The NGN has already begun to initiate some of the recommendations, for example, by creating an online collection of resource on African Canadian spoken word poetry. This set of materials encourages critical awareness and discourse on how Black artists in Canada have developed and established a strong spoken word movement in this country, centred in an aesthetic that draws from our African heritage.

Another initiative well underway is the development of international touring opportunities for African Canadian spoken word artists, through partnerships, for example, with Trinidad’s Cascadoo Festival, and the Jamaican Poetry Festival.

We will post more news on these developments. In the meantime, please feel free to reach us at the following email griotsnetwork@gmail.com.

The Origin of the Djele: Taalam Acey

Spoken Word Artists Taalam Acey was one of the feature presenters at the South-North Griots Summit in Toronto, May 28-31, 2015. Taalam has kindly made text from his presentation available on his blog, “Until 6 AM or Whenever You Leave.” Love that title! And if you have ever seen Taalam’s Cover art for one of his spoken word LPs, you will understand the scope and uniqueness of this man’s imagination!

To read Taalam’s insights on how to understand Spoken Word in the context of the origins of the Djele, you can click the link below:

Spoken Word: The Origin and Evolution of the Djele 

You can check Taalam’s website at taalam-acey.squarespace.com

And to get an idea of Taalam on the mic, check this Youtube sample from Da Poetry Lounge in LA:
All Def Poetry

Telling Our Story

At the South-North griots Summit in May 2015, the wrap up session included a presentation of an NGN perspective on the evolution of contemporary African Canadian spoken word poetry.

To download a PDF of the presentation, click the following link:
TELLING OUR STORY PDF

Resources

Just now getting some links for strong examples of critical discourse on Canadian spoken word poetry, including the following by Karen Flynn and Evelyn Marrast in Wadabagei A Journal of the Caribbean and Its Diasporas, entitled Spoken Word from the North: Contesting Nation, Politics, and Identity.

The NGN celebrates and promotes awareness of the the many Canadian talented spoken word artists of African, Caribbean, and other culturally diverse heritage, as well as the work of our international sisters and brothers. We will also share info about upcoming Northern Griot Network initiatives and events, including the SOUTH NORTH GRIOTS SUMMIT scheduled for May 28-31 2015 at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. The NGN, in collaboration  with the Nia Centre for the Arts, is proud to announce that the South-North Griots Summit is a community partner of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am / Parapan Am Games.  The Program for the South-North Griots Summit is about to be announced in March. Check the SNGS site for updates.

AND FOR THE INSPIRATION, CHECK THE ORIGINS