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Speak the Mind adds performance and slam poetry to the Arts Alive mix, with artists from Africa, the Caribbean and the United States.  The Khoi Khonnexion collective uses indigenous Khoisan instruments in their performance POETRY and music come together at Speak the Mind, where local and international wordsmiths take to the stage for a single show at the Bassline in Newtown on Saturday, 13 September. A regular and popular feature of the annual City of Johannesburg Arts Alive programme, Speak the Mind this year features a wide range of artistic genres and poetry variations from Africa, the Caribbean and the United States. Local lyricist Ntsiki Mazwai will take part; and Mazwai, aka MaMiya, who uses music to translate and enhance her poetry, will share the stage with counterparts Bianca Williams and slam poet and graffiti writer Creamy Ewok Baggends. The Khoi Khonnexion collective, comprising Jethro Louw, Glen Arendese and Garth Erasmus, will deliver a uniquely African performance, using indigenous Khoisan musical bow and arrow as a trance musical instrument in harmony with guitars, reggae-dub rhythms and backing chants to enhance their poetic delivery. Phillipa Yoa de Villiers, Pikita Ntuli and Matodzi "Gift" Ramashia will round up the South African posse, while music will come from DJ Khenzero, Pops Mahommed and Kwani Experience in an unplugged session.  Bianca Williams, poet, rapper and singer extraordinaire Poets from Zimbabwe, Angola and Kenya will represent the rest of the African continent. Zimbabwe's Underground MC, a social activist and spoken word poet; Leslie Tongai, aka Outspoken; and the teacher and social activist, Cosma Mairosi, will vent their thoughts about their troubled country through protest poetry. Nastio Mosquito, who sees himself as a psychologist and teacher, will provide a Lusophone perspective to Speak the Mind. Mosquito hails from Angola and uses poetry as a form of self-expression. American artist Georgia Me (GA Me), who has been called the queen of the spoken word, will deliver her trademark, tell-it-like-it-is gems. Georgia Me's past performances include Vagina Monologues in Edinburgh's Royal Playhouse and Soul of Black Folks 100th Anniversary at Columbia University. She is also a regular feature at the Def Poetry Jam sessions, an HBO television series consisting of performances by established and up-and-coming spoken word poets. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Brooklyn-based Roger Bonair-Agard is an author, artistic director and co-founder of the LouderArts Project, an organisation dedicated to the evolution of poetry through the craft of writing and performance. This veteran performance poet is expected to wow the audience with his energetic and inspiring work. Like Georgia Me, Bonair-Agard is a favourite on the Def Poetry Jam circuit; a decade ago he was named the Nuyorica Poets Café Fresh Poet of the Year. He was also the national Slam Champion in 1999 and 2000. Another veteran slam poet, Thabo "Flo" Mokale, will host Speak the Mind, which promises to be a sizzler. Speak the Mind is on at the Bassline in Newtown on 13 September as part of the annual Arts Alive festival. Tickets are R50 at Computicket and R40 at the venue. Related stories: |
