Rhymes on the Rise: Spoken Word gets new breath

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Spoken Word and poetry are experiencing something of a renaissance in the country, particularly in the urban areas and among the tertiary students. While poetry was previously the preserve of the nerdy and uncool, the hipsters have taken over and given it new life. Mobilizing via social media groups and performing at niche events, poetry?s new stand is providing a refreshing counterbalance for those who seek an alternative to hiplife, the effervescent azonto and other mainstream offerings.

Kwaku Sonny is one of those leading the charge for the art form in Ghana. His immensely popular group on facebook, People of Equal Thoughts and Spirits (P.O.E.TS) is a congregation of like minds on the subject and the event it has spawned, ALEWA is of the marquee gatherings for the spoken work crowd.

Ahead of the next event, to be held on Saturday, 14th July, pulsemagonline.com sat down with Rymesonny, as he is known in creative circles to discuss the art form.

pulsemagonline.com: With spoken word now growing in the country, what do you think is the future of the art form?

Kwaku Sonny: I believe the future is here and now and poets and lovers of this art form who have been following the trend and how events have unfolded till this level can attest to the fact. We of People of Equal Thoughts & Spirit (P.O.E.T.S) together with other groups like EHALAKASA ,mzOne, PFG, etc have defied the odds and now we all can confidently say the Spoken Word has come to stay.

If I have to talk about spoken word tomorrow, then I would say that, its going to be best alternative to anything entertainment, educational, and the best form of information dissemination, it will provide alternative source of employment for the youth

pulsemagonline.com: What sorts of structures do we have in place for the projection of poetry?

Kwaku Sonny: People of Equal Thoughts & Spirit) (P.O.E.T.S) have been able to identify and assemble a sizeable number of artistes in the field and we are working gradually to create an industry and a market for this art form. We have built the first ever poetry social networking platform on our website, www.peopleofequalthoughts .com, where poets and lovers of the art continually share their works, network and interact on how best we can make Ghana a force to be reckoned with in terms of spoken word.

We are about to launch the first ever-online poetry radio dubbed the P.O.E.T.S radio in the country, we are also adopting a system on how best we can groom and brand upcoming poets and spoken word artiste to an appreciable level.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the group and a reputable marketing firm to help raise funds, brand and position this art form in the heart of the corporate world

pulsemagonline.com: What is ALEWA?

Kwaku Sonny: ALEWA is the result of poets who also double as leaders of the most vibrant Poetry group in Ghana ? P.O.E.T.S thinking through and creating a brand. They were looking at creating a platform different from the norm in the country and that has been achieved and even our critics will praise us.

The ALEWA platform has since being described as the most prestigious poetry event in Ghana and has seen over 60 different websites and media houses covering the event. Alewa stage has been graced by over 40 different poets and 3 great Ghanaian writers of international repute in the likes of Alba K Sumprim, Nana Awere Damoah and EmpiBaryeh and has been attended by over 600 hundred people which is encouraging.

pulsemagonline.com: What inspired its creation?

Kwaku Sonny: ?Within every brand is a product, but not every product is a brand.? If you relate this this quote to our situation, you will find out that poetry has been with us for centuries but times have changed, without proper branding, your product will remain at the same level.

Alewa is the Ghanaian word for a homemade candy. It is very colourful and the makers are creative enough to blend the colours and the ingredients in a way that makes it attractive and sweet, so we believe Spoken Word Poetry is, where words are blended to paint an attractive picture that the observer, reader, or listener appreciates.

The Alewa toffee always left a stain on the tongues of the eater, so we wanted to brand spoken word and poetry in a way that will leave a stained in the tongues of people who comes into contact with it

The ?Alewa? has been acronymously coined by the organisers of the show, which means and as well describes the artistes performing on the show: Art Lovers, Entertainers, and Wordsmiths in Action. ALEWA is proudly Ghanaian.

pulsemagonline.com: What do you think sparked the renaissance of spoken word in the country?

Kwaku Sonny: It is mind blowing to see talents that have been hidden for so many years coming up to express themselves in such creative manner. The renaissance actually started with Poetry pot in the early 2000s, Nt1 poetry came, added a bit to it. EHALAKASA, a wonderful concept by all standard spearheaded by GGG CHANNELS headed by Sir Black and Nii Lante took off in 2009 and have done and continue to do a wonderful job in the poetry arena. Alewa from P.O.E.T.S is here and they are playing their role perfectly and pushing this whole movement forward

pulsemagonline.com: Does poetry need special attention?

Kwaku Sonny: Poetry has a hidden power to arouse in people the emotion and spirit to do. The interest that people in Ghana have started showing in this art form cannot be underestimated. Recent poetry activities in the capital have shown that the rebirth of spoken word and poetry has really come to stay and its affecting the nation positively.

The main thing that is not directly affected by global economic hardships or social turmoil is inborn intellect or talent in the form of creative arts and when brandished well, in our own way we could affect the society we live in and it needs a special attention, we are calling on the government, our developmental agencies, the NGO, corporate institutions to take a second look at the this art form.

pulsemagonline.com: What is the relationship between music and spoken word?

Kwaku Sonny: The most common debate going on in the poetry arenas today is over the difference between rap and spoken word, and also the difference between spoken word and poetry. To me rap is an art, which is very distinct from spoken word poetry in that it is performed in time to a beat. Rapping as an art form can be categorize into components and these are content, flow (rhythm and rhyme) and delivery

Spoken word is a form of poetry that is more or less giving social commentary from a poet?s perspective and creatively employing the use of some literary devices such as rhyme, alliteration, metaphors, meters, and more. Spoken word performances generally consist of storytelling or poetry,

I think the similarities between all of these art forms has placed them in the same basket, but I always tell people to test which areas their strengths are and channel their energies to ?

pulsemagonline.com: Who is Rhymesonny?

Kwaku Sonny: RHYMESONNY is a determined, humbled, self-motivated individual, entrepreneur and a creative artiste who aspires to be a legend in any field he chooses to direct his energies and talent. Like the name connotes, he could be best be describe as the king of rhymes. Some refer to him as the epitome of rhyme?s most advanced rhymes and his choice of rhymes and rhyming schemes are breathtaking. He weaves them carefully with ease and straight to the point. He has been described as a nightmare for his colleagues in the trades especially poets who love rhymes.

Some say he S.U.C.Ks meaning his rhymes are Special, Unmatched, Creative and he is Knowledgeable. Poetry is a beautiful path of writing and expression but Sonny goes beyond. His poems just attract you because even if you are not in the mood of reading, you expect his usual articulated talent of rhymes.

pulsemagonline.com: What inspires you?

Kwaku Sonny: My inspiration has always been my aspirations in life and my frustrations, what I want to do for myself. Family, nation and the world and my failures in life, also my faith and my passion. I also enjoyed been challenged. Real events also have an effect on writings, sometimes for good, other times for bad, but for a poet it should always be good and the outcome should be masterpiece. There are many examples I can draw from my daily experiences.

If you haven?t heard or read Rhymesonny?s work, here is a sample that he asked us to pass on readers:

Story

One day, I heard a voice clearly in my ears

Saying Sonny, wipe away your tears

Rise above your peers

And do away with your fears

I will add more years to your years

And your name will go farther than the Picassos and the Shakespeares

I will take you to the promise land

I will bless the works of your hand

And make them grand

Your name will be a brand

That will go beyond your homeland

I will give you the power to command

And it shall stand

People will not understand

Bring before thee your wrong

I will correct them and make you strong

I will place you where you truly belong

I will touch your tongue

And you will sing a song

A song that will revitalize, sensitize and energize

The youth that they are living for a prize

A song that will change the thoughts of fools and make them wise

I said to myself hmm, these are lies

The voice said again, my son, if you are troubled,

Where do you look up to, I said the skies

Then my son, be wise, arise and open your eyes

I have sown in you a seed

That will bear fruit and on it, million will feed

Multitudes that is what you will lead

You will provide them their need?

Just be confident and you will succeed

I received it, I accepted it, I agreed

And here I am ?

RHYMESONNY

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