On May 29th, I was a judge at the Urban Soul Poetry Slam held at Maponya Mall in Soweto (video of winner, Buthelezi uploaded last week). It was actually in Ster Kinekor and it was the first time I’ve been at a poetry event that had to end quick because there was a movie starting after the show. Wolverine, I think it was; still haven’t seen that. The venue did add a different energy to the experience. And watching poetry rocking popcorn and a slush puppie is poetic in itself.
Anyway, a friend of mine (no names) filmed the performances and I’ve been gradually uploading them to YouTube. I did feel that a lot of the guys were more interested in being rappers than poets, talking punchlines & stuff. I know there is an alleged thin line between poetry and rapping and, no, I can give you a definitive definition, but I think I do know what poetry feels like versus rapping. For one, I’m a poet, not an emcee, and could never be confused for one.
That said, I did enjoy the evening and the words shared. Stroll over to my YouTube spot and let me know what you think.
sho bro…i feel u. im struggling with the same thing right now. i just feel cats don’t know what is it they wanna do with themselves. right now a lot of peeps are fucking with poetry ’cause they feel it makes the look and feel more intellectual, but drag their emcee habits into it, and visa-versa. it’s a thin line dog, and they fuck with it knowingly…they know they faking jacks.