Dear Jens,
I did not understand a word Lars said but he seems very passionate and his delivery is good. I have been to a couple of poetry slams in Kampala by Open Mic Kampala and Poetry In Session and quite often I am inspired by both the poems and the delivery. Sometimes it is just pure entertainment and other times very thought—provoking.
There is actually an upcoming poetry reading the day before Valentine’s Day. It’s being organised by Babishai Niwe Poetry Award. Basically poets have been invited to write poems on love, romance and they will read them that evening. I am really looking forward to that.
We do not have slam competitions though. None that I know of anyway. In the competition, what criteria do they use to determine the winner? The content or the performance? Because a lot of writers cannot perform their own work so I am curious to know how that works.
Thanks for sharing your experience on the creative writing workshop. Thankfully, I will be facilitating with someone else so I am going to concentrate on the things I am good at and share those. I will tell you all about it. I worked as a Sub-Editor for a newspaper and later as Magazine Editor but my work with Sooo Many Stories has given me an opportunity to work as a fiction editor. I am learning so much and teaching myself quite a lot.
Before I go into the Kampala writing scene I thought I should tell you about my writing club that has helped my growth as a writer this past year. Also because in your last post, you mentioned that you would love to be a part of a writers’ club such as Femrite’s. You can start with a small group like my writing club.
In 2012 I was selected for the Caine Prize workshop that was held in Uganda for the first time. I found myself in the company of Harriet Anena, Davina Kawuma and Lillian A Aujo. I had seen them before (the writing scene in Kampala is quite small and you end up bumping into the same people) but we were not that close. Garuga, where the workshop was held, brought us closer and we began with just talking about books and commenting on different conversations about writing.
kayanja isaac
mudanga charles
lex luthor
Great. Nothing as important as finding a group of friends with whom you can be honest with while strengthening each other. Smaller communities or writer groups are very effective. I know that particular group is going to make #256, #Africa shine, yet again. For people who travel a lot, continue mentoring online, though it’s hard. There’s something about physical closeness that brings spontaneity. The closest poetry like slam competition we had was in 2013 when Rehema Nanfuka won, the spoken word Africa competition.
Wow. I am envious. I am not in any. Do you think there are people out there willing to form one?
Yeah, me too man.
I belong to one, that’s always open to new members, we could talk if you want to join.
Anonymous, how can Joel and Crystal reach you?
How do I join
That’s a great question, about they determine to win in slam poetry competitions; content or performance? I would like to have an answer to that! This is a great piece. Beautifully demonstrating all the hard work that goes into becoming a great writer. Many people don’t know about the nitty-gritties that lead to the glam.
Crystal, that particular competition had particular guidelines like sending a video and poem submission before and then the presentation. Rehema had obviously rehearsed like crazy, before. she was confident, sure of her lines, articulated her poem, wow! Slam- I’m interested. Like Mos Def?
That’s fair I guess Nambozo. When you are judging then, it has to be a combination of both? They way they ‘slam’ the lines they forwarded to you earlier? I can’t understand why I missed that competition.
After going to school to study writing, I wonder how people can write without rigororus mentorship or study? How? Without constant feedback, reading and so on. As Nyana said, Kampala’s writing space is small which is why we are hosting many Kenyans and launching their novels these days. We’re committed and generous. Crystal and Joel, there used to be a Kampala writers group. Try kahini.org, they have a writing festival in Kampala this year.
Cool!
Bev, writing as a direction has always been daunting for a regular person. The question is always, how will the shilling come in? So unless pure passion drives you (like you) to study writing and learn its intimacies, what a person is left with is pouring out and not necessarily going the whole nine yards of the art. I think many people have that weakness in Uganda.
I ask Jason how he is so eloquent, he talks about practice and feedback. Most of us do not give ourselves to our work like you’re intimating because of the issue above.
I guess one has to decide they are not haphazard poets and can go all the way into the ecstasies.
Joel, very true. Every stage in our life leads to difficult questions. Jason and others decided that they would become strict and professional with their art, Solomon Jaggwe, Makumbi and many we know of. We all dabble art with other professions and passions. The thing that drives us crazy the most, that makes us do the most ridiculous, take the most risks, invest the most time and resources will always yield the most results and direct our overall direction in life. It’s a fact for every career decision we make. Many great writers still lead full 8am to 5pm lives and others have chosen to be writers from one dawn to another, staring at pages, at deadlines, at screens and typing for all its worth. These stages vary though and we’re all in states of fluidity as we determine on any day who we’ll be, writer, actor, poet, performer and how much of those 24 hours we’ll spend doing that. I think it’s good to curate various skills. If a poet, become an editor, a publisher, a performer, a teacher and so on. Grow! #thesepostsneedawordlimit
I believe these are words young writers ought to hear early on. Thanks Bev, I am taking this advice. Decided last year I needed to put in my time. I am doing so.
Where have I been?
I never thought of such writing clubs, with membership that small. But looking at how far Nyana and your groupies have gone, I need one.
So Joel and Crystal, can we form a writing club?
burning to join one poetry group..how and where…yet know not…so if u feel as i do…contact me
What are the details of your group? When do you meet? Where? Criteria to join and so on…
Marvellous ,I love your group.How can I join you.I im an award winning poet
how do i join?
How do I join
That is quite awesome. check my blog http://www.briankharis.ug for my writings too. Be blessed
Hy am jamilah i have written a number of poems but they are just in my notebook and pc i wish they can be heard hopeful they can inspire others in anyway
I don’t have any means and am not in any group
Am a good performer too
I wish to be heard
Thank you
I want to join the club, help me to find a place were I can put my works.
I just want to start my career of writing thank you