LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) – Nigeria’s young poets hurled words against the injustices plaguing the giant of Africa, from corruption to Boko Haram’s insurgency, in the fifth “War of Words” poetry slam.
Scores crammed into a stuffy space in Lagos, Nigeria’s chaotic commercial capital, as 20 finalists from across the country battled for first place and $500. That’s nearly six month’s pay at the minimum wage.
“Now That Change Has Come,” was the challenge for the competition, suggesting the reforms promised by new President Muhammadu Buhari.
“You have three minutes to bring that stage down,” 13-year-old Oyinkansola Adesewa advised a friend. Soon Adesewa herself took the stage in a bold pantsuit that she created of green and white swirls echoing the colors of Nigeria’s flag and launched into a poem about how the “national cake” is not divided equally.
Run by the Word Up organization of Olumide Holloway, banker by day and King Olulu on stage, the competition is part of the country’s exploding slam poetry scene. Poetry slams are competitions in which contestants are judged for their content, delivery and audience response.