Cover, Edition 174, March 1-7, 2009

Marlon Jackson...My Mission to Badagry

BY MARCEL MBAMALU
AFTER nine days of touring the country to consolidate arrangements for his proposed tourism project on the Badagry slave ground, musician and elder brother to Michael Jackson, Marlon Jackson was recently sighted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos boarding a flight back to the US, where he shed light on the project and the controversy around it

Controversy seems to be trailing your proposal to build a theme park at the Badagry slave ground…
Let me correct that impression. It is not a theme park. The slave ground is a sacred ground. The objective is to capture black history so that people all over the world, blacks and non-blacks, will understand what really took place on the ground. What people know is that they captured slaves. When we came, here we realised that people could walk on the ground when they wanted to, without really knowing what really took place. We think this is a sacred ground that we need to preserve so that millions of people will understand the black history. It is not theme park; it is not a theme park at all.
What name will you give the project when it is completed?
It is Badagry Park.
I understand you have been around to make consultations and fine-tune arrangements for the project. Is this your first time in Nigeria?
This is my second trip back to Nigeria. And in this trip, I spent about nine days moving around the country.
How successful is this trip, in terms of getting the necessary approvals for your project?
We held discussions with the local government of Badagry, Lagos State Government; and then we met with the Federal government. They all understand, support and love the project. There is no place in the world that the local, state and federal governments will agree to give you the right to the use of land to develop a project if they don’t practically understand and agree to it. It is not a theme park.
I don’t understand how people could use my name without calling me, without talking to me to know what is really taking place. If they really wanted to know, they would have done a due diligence to understand what is really happening.
Our history, to me is important. It is what we should transfer to our young kids and generations to come about what really took place in black history, because they really don’t know.
What economic promises does this project hold out for Nigeria and Nigerians?
What the government seems to understand is that Nigeria cannot survive by depending on a revenue stream from petrol. They have to develop tourism. Tourism is one of the biggest businesses in the world, and Nigeria has a lot to offer when it comes to tourism. They can now develop their tourism.
Not only that, people will begin to come from all parts of the globe to visit Nigeria; about more than 250,000 tourists annually. When that takes place, government will create jobs for the indigenous people. So, everything is built around the economic growth of Nigeria.
What is the actual cost of the project and how is it going to be financed?
Right now, we are looking at it and I would not want to mention a figure.
What kind of partnership do you have with the government on the project?
We are already in partnership with the government but we are working on the final details on giving us the land to get things done, to start the project.
At what point did you realise that the Badagry project was necessary?
This is a Unity Park for the unification of our people. We intend to bring our people from all corners of the globe to this one destination so that they will understand what took place with regards to black history.
Let me say that there is no Nigerian that does not like this project. The indigenous people of Badagry will like to see their culture promoted and that is exactly what we will do. It’s just that somebody does not like to see me do this and he says it it’s a theme park. It is not a theme back. Badagry is a sacred ground.

You seem to have quit the music scene, after the Jackson Five experience…
I did not quit the music scene. Music will always be part of me. I and my brothers may decide to come together again to do another record.
How would you describe your professional relationship with your other brothers, especially Michael?
I have a vibrant relationship with all my brothers. As you get older, you have your own family. So, I do my own thing and they do their own thing. But as brothers, we have a relationship.

As an African American, what does President Obama’s victory mean to you?
With President Obama’ victory, I saw with my own eyes, the unification of the globe, and we are beginning to see peace around the world.

In whom music and poetry are well pleased

BY CHUKS NWANNE
The traffic on Ikoyi, Lagos, was really bad that scorching afternoon, to the extent that it took Diana Bada extra minutes to put her car to a final stop; luckily, I got a space to squeeze mine, hoping that LASTMA boys won’t do their worse –– tow the car of course!
“I tried,” she quizzed the security officer, who actually directed the multi-skilled artiste to the parking slot, but instead, the guy replied with broad smiles. Truly, Diana did her best.
In company of her mum, Diana led the way into the hangout, where she had opted we should meet.
“I think it’s better we stay outside,” she suggested.
“Yes, its fine here,” her mum said in approval. For me, I had no option so far as we get down to the business of the day.
Even in the porch, the atmosphere was still hot and the industrial fans provided to comfort us the section, was blowing the opposite direction, while the second one was just a piece of decor.
“Let me turn it,” Dina said, as she turned the fan towards our direction. Obviously, the breeze was much; even Diana’s mum complained.
Diana tried adjusting it; myself too, but it seemed the knob had gone bad.
“Don’t worry, one of them will come to fix it,” Diana’s mum advised. At that point, one of the waiters stepped in and got the second fan working.
With our drinks on the table, we got into a conversation that lasted for minutes. About the time we started, a call came in…
“That’s Bantu; we scheduled to meet at Jazzhole, but I think I should ask him to come this way,” she explained. She soon directed the German-based Nigeria-born artiste to our location.

MY name is Diana Bada; they call me DEE. I grew up in Lagos,” she introduced herself. “I’m a musician, composer, songwriter and poet. I’ve been into professional music for 10 years now. Right now, I’m working on my album.”
As if she knew I was wondering the kind of music she plays, Diana came on again: “My style of music is a fusion of Hip-hop, Soul music, a bit of Jazz, Afro hip-hop, and reggae.”
Diana’s decision to play music was not accidental; it’s something she had always loved doing as a kid.
“I’ve always had music around me,” she recalled. “My father had a big collection of music and my mum… her parents have always been musicians as well. So, as I was growing up, I always like to sing.”
In school, Diana would do everything within her reach to be part of every music group.
“I like to always be part of either the band or choir. In my secondary school days, I took part in all the entertainment events. So, as I grew older, I started composing songs. Along the line, I became more in tune with my musical side; I started studying it.”
You studied music in school?
“In secondary school, I did music and when I finished my Business degree in Hungary, I went to the MUSON Centre, Lagos to study music.”
Even as a business student, where there’s music is where you find the pretty, light skinned singer.
“After class, I always find myself in the studio, hanging out with a lot of Deejays and emcees and going for live events. I actually moved into the studio when I was in the university,” she informed. “I used to sleep there, and watch how the whole build-up of a stage takes place. I also used to perform during Open Mic Night in my school; I used to freestyle a lot. That was when I realised I had a freestyle ability as well.”
In the university, Diana also raps.
“I became deeper in my raps because I was actually going through a lot of things at that time.” She continued: “For instance, it’s not my country; I don’t have any tie with the country, and I don’t speak their language; it’s so far away from home; so, when you are there, you start noticing a lot of problems we are facing back home. Sometimes, when you are here, you might not be aware of what is going on than when you are far away. You start realizing the values of what you have.”
You’ve spent a better part of your life in Nigeria?
“I did my secondary and primary school here. I came back here after university in Hungary.”
Why not study music?

YOU know how it is here; sometimes people like to get a degree that is recognised; this was back in the days,” she observed. “But now, people are more open. In those days, everyone wants you to study Medicine, Law or Business. But I think it’s a blessing that I studied Business because it has helped me in my music career. For instance, I’ve been able to handle my proposals and talking to sponsors, promoting my shows… basically, it’s been of great importance to me.”
Your mum is a Russian?
“Yes, I was born in Moscow, but we moved down here when I was about five, and have started speaking Russia, which is like my first language. But I had my nursery, primary and secondary school education here in Nigeria.”
Though not the kind of musician you see at major gigs in town, Diana has been giggling for long with her band, Expressions.
“It’s a jazz band,” she quipped. “Basically, we do mostly private gigs, but I also collaborate with other bands; I collaborated with Tee Mac’s band. In Nigeria, I see myself as a freelancer, so, basically whenever I see an opportunity in terms of portraying live culture, I always like to take it,” she said.

AFTER years of fine-tuning her music, she is now poised to release her first album; confidently expecting a bang.
“This is going to be my first album and you will be hearing me in all forms. It’s going to be a fusion of everything; it’s going to be something new and something different as well,” she enthused, eyeing her mum, who sat directly opposite.
Though she describes herself as a poet and musician, Diana gave a clear distinction between the two.
“The thing is that you meet musicians, who are not poet; they just compose melodies and sing. And you meet poets, who have nothing to do with music; they just write their feelings down; it could be experiences or from the environment. Sometimes, I write down my feelings; it doesn’t have to be a melody, it doesn’t have to be music, it’s just a piece of poetry. But I also compose melodies, and raps at the same time.”
You sometimes put those feelings into music?
“Most definitely.”
That means you sing about yourself?
“I sing about what goes on around me and I believe that’s what I experience, a lot of people can connect with it because it’s something that happens to us on a daily basis,” she noted. “It could be about your first love or maybe, somebody is saying ‘oh, you can’t do it.’ But if you believe in it and put your efforts in it, you will achieve.”
With the level of success recorded at her first live show in Lagos last year, Diana plans to stage another this year as part of the official unveiling of her debut album.
“I tried getting other musicians involved as well, I also brought in comedians, just trying to make it lively, and it turned out to be quite interesting. I want to have another concert once I release the album; so, it’s like me doing my album live with my full band.”
For Diana, music is not complete without a live performance.
“I will define myself as a live musician. There are some hip-hop artistes, who do just CD and most of them are studio artistes; they are always in the studio trying to create beats. But I find myself more on stage; I feel more comfortable when I’m on stage, hearing live sounds coming from the speakers. I also record in the studio as well, so that people can play my music at their convenient time,” she said amidst smiles.
Any collaboration in the album?
“Yes, I do have collaborations in my album, but I’m not going to tell you until you get the album. But I’ve done a couple of collaborations with some Nigerian artistes such as Olu Maintain’s Jedijedi; I did the audio, but I was not in the video. I did a track with Konga, I did another one with Shank, but the album is not out. I also did a song with Orits Wiliki; unfortunately, I wasn’t there when they shot the video.”
You are always on the move?
“I move around a lot; when there’s a project somewhere for me, I always like to participate in it if I can”
You spend a lot of time rehearsing?
“Yes, I do. I spend a lot of time rehearsing with my band.”
That must be stressful?
“Rehearsal has been a better part of my schedule,” she informed. “Whatever you want to do, you have to practice to get a better result. As an artiste, you must always practice; I see it as something very important, I don’t play with it because it helps you as an artiste.”
Though light skinned like her mum, everything about Diana is African –– her dreadlocks, the beads… in fact, her personality; friendly and easygoing.
“I’m African; this is where I come from; this is my country, this is my place,” she sang.
But others tend to go their mother’s side?
“My mum is from Russia, I agree with that, but at the end of the day, I still call Nigeria my home. I have Russian blood flowing in me, but at the end of the day, this is my home; I can’t call any other place home.”
How come the dreadlocks?
“The dreads?”
Yes.
“It’s my hair and it’s something I wanted to do for a while.”
How long have you had it?
“I’ve had them for about three years now.” At that point, her mum signaled in disagreement.
“Okay, over three years,” she said with laughter. “I always wanted to have them because I like the looks and all the things attached with dreadlocks. I’m so happy I have them.”
People must have reacted the first time you had it?
“A lot of people had some funny reactions because they didn’t understand,” she said with a prolonged laughter. “Today, I see a lot of people with dreadlocks; in fact, people come to me to help them lock their hair. So, people accept it more now, but then, people were like, ‘is she crazy? Is she a man person?’ but today, they’ve come to accept it as part of me.”
You know dreadlocks are always associated with reggae artistes?
“I love reggae music. Sometimes, I try to use the rave in my music. I also do reggae music,” she noted.

DIANA believes the country’s music industry is still growing, which she said could be challenging.
“Sometimes things are slower than you expect them to be, and they’ve not really set the standards; you get to do a lot of things yourself and you even find out that it’s easier than relying on record labels. Even the record labels… they’ve not really organised themselves. I’m not trying to ‘downcast’ any record label, but I’m speaking from my own experience,” she said. ‘Sometimes, it’s better to work out things yourself, rather than waiting for a label that would put you on hold for like a year or more; whereas you are there, yearning to be heard.”
Aside her music, getting her poems published is one things Diana would love to achieve in no distant time.
“I will be happy to achieve that. I will also love to have my own studio, where people can come and rehearse and record music. I see myself basically trying to make good music, even if not my own, I will also want to involve the next generation.”
That’s the business side of you?
“Yes,” she responded amidst laughter.
It seems you are very close to your mum?
“Yes, it’s a good thing.”
Not every lady moves around with her mum?
“Yes, you are right. I love my mum very much; she’s number one to me.”
“Her number one fan,” Diana’s mum declared.
“She has always been supporting me, because she knows the challenges I’m facing as a musician. She has always been there for me; giving me her hundred percent attention; that’s the connection,” she said.
Just as we ended, Bantu stepped in, and the issue of dreadlocks took the centre-stage; Bantu wears longer dreads.
“When she first did the dreads, she called me from school to say, ‘mum, I’m sorry. Don’t be angry when I come home, there’s something.’ So, when I got to the airport to pick Diana, I saw her with the dreads. At first, I started crying, but later on, I started liking it; it actually looks good,” Diana’s mum narrated.

Urban rhythms

BY BIMPE ADEBAMBO
LAST Sunday, in the Expo Centre of Oceanview Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos, Vlisco Hollandais Veritable Dutch Wax staged a unique fashion event that will be talked about for a very long time.
Eminent personalities, fashion cognoscenti, glamouristas, actors, musicians, the media and others graced the Vlisco Urban Beat Fashion Event, which showcased the talents of seven finalists drawn from a nationwide search. In fact, 4,000 entries were submitted, 20 designers were shortlisted and seven made the final spot.
Finalists were Chineze Araka, Chisom Ogundu, Doro Ukey, Ifeanyi Ejimadu, Jemima Otagadah, Zainab Hamza and; wait for this… this writer; who actually came third in the competition.
Other top notch Lagos designers such as Lanre Da-Silva Ajayi, Tiffany Amber, Jewel by Lisa and Odio Mimonet showcased a collection using the Vlisco (Urban beat) Textiles.

THE Managing Director, Vlisco Nigeria, Mrs Elsie Hartsema, told the audience about the 163-year old House of Vlisco and why they are promoting fashion in Nigeria.
The head of design at Vlisco in Holland came down from the land of windmills and dykes for this event and was one of the judges.
The host for the evening was the TV personality Adesuwa Onyenokwe. Timi Dakolo thrilled the audience with his musical performances. The event was produced and directed by Omoyemi Akerele, whose ‘beautiful bump’ didn’t seem to get in the way at all.
Creative Direction was by Fauzi Fahm; Zara Okpara and Bola Baiye were the project coordinator and administrator respectively while make-up, hair and models were provided by Sleek headed by Mrs Natalie Bennet. Andie Ogbechi did the choreography.

The Apostle of Style

BY TUNDE OYEDOYIN
STYLE icon, Shola Jeremy has modelled for global brands such as Hugo Boss and Joop, among others. Till date, designers like Gucci readily invite him to wear their suits for promotional purposes. Naturally, he knows how to walk like a star that he is. But there’s more to this Itshekiri-born London based fashion icon than suits and shoes.
How did you become a model?
It was something I found quite interesting and love to do, but I never put all my eggs in one basket. I was also running my own business — and still run some-while modelling.
Can anyone be a model?
Yeah, it’s a career that anyone can aim for, but the most important thing is that you must do whatever makes you happy. Don’t just do it for the sake of doing it or because of the money and the glamour.
What qualities must a prospective model have?
You have to have the confidence and put your mind in it. I didn’t start out to be a model, though. From my childhood, I’ve always loved to dress well and people have always admired it. So, at a point in my life, people started saying there’s something about me, and that was how I got into advert. As they say, the rest is history.
You seem to have a lot of admiration for the United States’ President, Barrack Obama. Do we have an Obama in Nigeria?
Look, we have a lot of Obamas in Nigeria, but we need to appreciate them when they come on the scene. The likes of Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, Donald Duke, Emmanuel Uduaghan are some examples. Leaders like that should be celebrated. Apart from my state governor, Uduaghan, Fashola is doing well and we need to encourage people like that I’m of the view that we shouldn’t be cursing our leaders. Yes, the leaders have faults like everyone of us, because they are human. They’re not perfect people, but they will get it right because Nigeria’s heading in the right direction. Those of us shuttling between here and Nigeria want to see Nigeria get better because it’s a country we’re all passionate about. Nigeria will always be home and we want the best for the country.
What impact can Nigerians in the Diaspora make in the country?
Those in the Diaspora are very passionate about their country and can make a lot of positive impact. They have too much love for the country and many want to go back. Things are even better now that they can vote. Most of Nigerians abroad are going back home because they’re finding comfort at home. Look at my state, with the Delta State masterplan, it shows that the state is going in the right direction.
Don’t you think our politicians still have a long way to go?
Politics should be practiced the way (governor) Rotimi Amaechi and Tonye Princewill (Action Congress governorship candidate in 2007) of Rivers state have done it. There’s future in the Niger Delta because of the way Princewill has conducted himself. This is a man that could cause problems because he lost the elections, but I believe he imbibed the type of politics that he saw while living here. He knew that causing trouble won’t get anyone anywhere and that’s the type of politics that should be practiced.
What has impressed you about Facial?
He has done fantastically well and its because the man has a vision. Anyone with a vision can do anything. I don’t think h went into politics because he wanted to make money. That’s a man who can do eight years. As I said, there’s no point calling our leaders thieves, because if you keep calling them thieves, they will just act it out. I believe that we actually need to encourage them and not run them down. The past is the past and we have to leave it behind and move forward. The only way to move forward is see what is ahead, rather than what we’ve left behind.
Can Nigeria become God’s own country?
Yeah, we’re aiming in the right direction and I’ll plead with Nigerians not to run our President down because God makes leaders. There’s no country where they run down their president outside, so Nigerians should emulate that from other nationals. This man — Umaru Musa Yar’Adua — has a vision and it takes time for a vision to become reality — it’s a process. We can’t achieve everything in a day.
Do you have any plans to go into politics?
Not at all. I’m just a businessman.
Do you have to be a politician to influence the society?
We don’t all have to be politicians to move the country forward. What we need are honest people who will give honest advice to their politician friends. I have some of them as friends-many governors inclusive - and they listen. So when you see a governor going in the wrong direction, check his circle of friends. Leadership is not just about one person. There’re people that surround them and these leaders also have mutual friends who they can listen to. A good friend should be able to correct a governor heading in the wrong direction.
You’ve quit modelling, but what’s this Gucci business?
My suits are all Gucci suits and before the public sale comes on, I’m one of those privilege customers, who are called in for preference sales. They use me for promotional sales.
Do you think there’s style in the Nigerian ruling class?
But style is something you either have or you don’t. You can’t buy confidence and charisma either. Of course, you can buy the most expensive designer suits in the world, but it’s not about how much a suit costs. You must be confident in what you wear and it doesn’t matter if it’s just a £50 suit or shoe.
How can our governors and leaders be more stylish?
It’s inbuilt. People need to take care of themselves and also love themselves. If you don’t love yourself, it will show.
Won’t style distract our leaders?
Noooh, noooh. Look at Obama for instance, he’s not the same Obama that you knew during the campaign period. He doesn’t wear sagging suits anymore.

‘For me, it’s the conservative congressman stuff’

Olodun Ade is a bespoke tailor and the chief operating officer of Habana Connoisseur, which specialises in making of suits and shirts. The designer, who is a certified secretary, mass communicator, writer and economist tells DAMILOLA ADEKOYA what fashion means to him.

Definition of fashion 
Fashion is a prevailing style or custom. It is an art. To others, it is almost a religion, but for most people, it is a method of utilising clothing, accessories and hair to show or hide something about you. It announces or interprets language, costume, culture, seasons, moods or times, in which we are.
Style of dressing
The conservative congressman look, with a spark of redefinition.
Signature scents
Narcissimo Rodriguez.... Maybe because I just don’t get it anywhere.
Favourite designers
There is a huge gulf between designers and tailors. But for me, Oswald is not a bad guy, he synergises the two.
Most expensive item
My deluxe three piece ‘Habana Connoisseur’ suit.
What you won’t be caught dead wearing
High collared shirts... They hurt my neck
Turn on
Good sense of humour and intelligence.
Turn off
Laziness.
Favourite food
To be honest, anything fast and balanced.
Favourite colour
Red; it’s the colour of love (bounded by blood). 
What do you do at your leisure time?
I swim to relax.
Favourite spots
My bedroom...
Hobbies
I read and write.
How was growing up like
Growing up for me was fun. I grew up like a Gypsy... exposed to different and intriguing customs, culture and style.
Role model(s)
Segun Adelaja, Ben Bruce, S.O Folahan, Seal, John legend, Doherty Babatunde and Giorgio Armani.
Most cherished moment
It was our first round of sale in London. We were patronised by the elite (West Enders).
Most cherished possessions
My Nigerian passport, Bible and measurement tape. 
Most stylish icon(s)
Barrack Obama, Sarkozy, Frank Edoho, RMD and Putin for now
Inspirations
What inspires is the artistry of a ‘Living Portrait’ strutting in well fitting clothes (which you might experience watching a James Bond movie). People who inspire me are always the collectors (Clients) whose faces shine with satisfaction after detailed scrutiny of their clothes.
How have you been able to manage your careers (designing and writing)?
These has been an effortless blend... Designing is my passion while writing is a rejuvenating hobby for me. These are my expressive part of an artist.
How has life as a bespoke tailor been?
This very interest instills excellence, patience with pro-activity. These are the characters developed.
How has life as a writer been?
Writing to me is like red wine, because it never loses its value after some couple of months or years. You will always have an advanced knowledge of the subject matter to modify or to conform.
Projection into the future?
Increase our ‘ready to wear’ line. Expand over Africa and Europe.
Unfulfilled dream
Being a lawyer; no regrets though.
Latest and next projects
Habana Connoisseur is to exhibit summer collections in Houston, Texas.
Who would you like to work with in the fashion industry?
Giorgio Armani and Oswald Boateng.
Describe yourself in three words
Professional, Godly and conservative.
If you were given an opportunity to change something in Nigeria, what would it be?
In the educational sector, I will reduce to three years from four, the years needed for a first degree of any kind apart from Medicine in our struggling and ailing universities.
Philosophy of life
  There is always a boss... don’t fool yourself, Seek first the Kingdom of God and everything will be added.

WordSlam 3: Poetic flights by the lagoon

BY BAYO OLUPOHUNDA
A NEW experience in poetry presentation is manifesting in the ‘Wordslam series’ initiated by the Culture Advocates Caucus (CAC). It is a distinctive form of performance art that in principle unites the various literary and popular forms of art; and if sustained may take the arts, culture and entertainment to another level of artistic experience.
Just as jazz, R&B, hip hop and other black musical idioms and forms entered mainstream culture earlier in the century, ‘Wordslam’ characterised by intense musical performance blended with spoken word and poetry, fashioned in beats, chants, raps and dance, has emerged as one of the most distinctive performance art since it was born in July 2008.
Supported by Goethe Institut Nigeria, Culture Advocates Caucus (CAC) has scored a first for bringing poetry, the western variant of it into a marriage with traditional and literary forms of esa, ewi, chant, ijala and their equivalent in other cultures or ethnic tongues — live on the theatrical stage.
This much was seen on Saturday, February 21 at the Goethe Insitut, Lagoon front garden in Victoria Island, where the third edition of the show held.
The third reincarnation of the programme confirms the fact that this new genre of literary expression has come to stay.
It also further cements the fact that the regular acts in the previous WordSlam were no flukes after all; as they laced the evening with new performances that went late into the night. An amazing thing that comes with every of the ‘wordslam’ outing is the emergence of new voices who must have been waiting eagerly to be heard. This affirms the ‘fears’ that this new genre has long harboured oasis of unheard talents waiting to be discovered and harnessed and pushed into the public arena.

RAP music itself, from which the poetry performances of WordSlam series has found a voice emerged as one of the most distinctive and controversial music genres of the past decade. A significant part of hip hop culture, rap articulates the experiences and conditions of African-Americans living in a spectrum of marginalised situations ranging from racial stereotyping and stigmatizing to struggle for survival in violent ghetto conditions.
In this cultural context, rap provides a voice to the voiceless, a form of protest to the oppressed, and a mode of alternative cultural style and identity to the marginalised. Rap is thus not only music to dance and party to, but a potent form of cultural identity. It has become a powerful vehicle for cultural political expression, serving as the “CNN of black people”. It is an informational medium to tune to, one that describes the rage of African-Americans facing growing oppression, declining opportunities for advancement, changing moods on the streets, and everyday life as a matter of sheer survival.
In turn, it has become a cultural virus, circulating its images, sounds, and attitude throughout the culture and body politic.
Rap artists such as 50 Cents, Grandmaster Flash, Run DMC, Public Enemy, Ice-T, N.W.A., Ice Cube, Salt ‘n’ Pepa, Queen Latifah, Wu Tang Clan, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Tupac Shakur, the Fugees, and countless others, produced a new musical genre that uniquely articulated the rage of the urban underclass and its sense of intense oppression and defiant rebellion. Moreover, rap is part of a vibrant hip hop culture that itself has become a dominant style and ethos throughout the world today.
In Nigeria, emergent acts used the Spoken Word to convey deeper realities of our lives. Dagga Tolar, Ras Banjo, Awoko, Simon Eyannam Dose aka de Cornerstone, Sage Has.son, Edaoto, Ayodeji Akinpelu, Segun Eluyemi, Iquo Eke, Uche Uwadinachi, Jumoke Verissimo and others solidify their places as the emerging voices of this new genre.
Ensconced in a complex society where poverty and corruption stagnate a potentially great nation, “where the general wahala of life” reduces life to a daily burden, the spoken word through the series now provide a platform for addressing these societal ills that have kept Nigeria in the doldrums.
But the beauty of WordSlam is also its ability to deal with themes such as love and the beauty of human existence.

THE third edition, which was compered by the international music export of Nigerian-German origin, Ade Bantu, got on to feverish start with short poetry performances from young poets with chants from Tunrayo and Seun Idowu on the talking drum.
Francesca’s poetry Do you know My Mother reinforces the importance of the female gender and motherhood while Uche Uwadinachi’s My Ebony Goddess also spoke of the inherent beauty of a woman. Ayodeji Akinpelu ‘the youngman with a mature message’ showed he is an emerging master of rap and the art of the spoken word.
He got the audience to its feet. Segun Eluyemi the youngman with the “magic nose” with which he dishes out melodies has perfected this act. Using his nose, he produces sweet melodies with the flute and the hand held accordion. He is certainly a star to watch out for in the coming years. One of the highpoints of the evening was the poems of Iquo Diana Abasi Eke. Iquo, a performance poet and writer, rendered her words to the accompaniment of instruments such as traditional drums, flute and string.
Iquo’s love poems such as Earth Wind and Fire and I am excited the audience.

THE Open Mind & Mic session featured aspiring poets such as Ehigie Oghomwen, Cyril Omamogho, Kinsley Ejeabasile, Brainstorm, Chineye Ifeduba etc. They all performed different themes of poetry to the delight of the audience.
The Crown Troupe of Africa led by the energetic Segun Adefila added colour to the event with the performance of Monkey dey Work, Baboon Dey Chop.
The climax of the evening were the performances of the veterans of ‘Wordslam series’ — Awoko, Daggar Tolar, Edaoto, Cornerstone and Sage Has. son. Sage has particularly proved that indeed the Spoken Word can rouse its listeners to a world beyond their imagination. It can inspire and transform the audience to a new world of possibilities.
A short on-stage performance by Ade Bantu added a lot of colour to the event and proved once again why he has been very successful on the world stage.
The night also featured Lari Williams. Indeed, Williams on stage at the WordSlam was a bridge between the old and the new. In the days preceding the event, Williams and Bantu had had a two-day workshop with groups of established and upcoming poets and performers, many of whom were on stage that Saturday. The two-day workshop to further explore the sustainability of WordSlam that took place at Studio 868. The Culture Caucus Advocates has also confirmed that WordSlam will soon be taken to schools across Nigeria to groom young talents in the art of life poetry performances.
The beautiful Saturday evening glowed with the back up music provided by Naijazz 08, a young group that combines indigenous sounds with western jazz. The founders Tunde Alaka, Joseph Babalola and Oyin Ogungbade Samuel, and accompanied by other artists made the night memorable for the audience.
The success of WordSlam 3 underscores the fact that this new genre has come to stay. It also consolidated the gain of the past two editions and impresses it on the public that poetry can indeed leap out of the cold pages of the print.
As evening wore on and the rhythm of the Spoken Word from poets reached a feverish point, the audience and poetry lovers are already looking forward to the next edition of WordSlam.

Olupohunda, afreelance writer,
lives in Lagos.