PoeTree Barbados celebrates spoken word

PoeTree Barbados kicked off their series of poetry events with a stellar show dubbed “PoeTree- A Celebration of Spoken Word,” on February 29th, 2024, at The Sage Bar, Maxwell, Christ Church.

Under the patronage of the Minister in The Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Culture, Senator, Dr Shantal Munro-Knight, the organization started the event on a high as they presented their first recipient of their newly launched PoeTree Barbados Griot Award to Adrian Greene.

Organizer of PoeTree Barbados, La Shawna Griffith told the over 200 patrons who attended the event that the decision to honour Adrian Greene, was a part of PoeTree Barbados’ mission.

“PoeTree Barbados is beyond just providing developmental opportunities it is about honouring those who have paved the way for organizations such as this to be possible. This award is our way of thanking the griots who have paved the way for us to have spoken word as a category at NIFCA and have our art form known across the length and breadth of Barbados. When we thought of who should receive our first award one name came to mind. This person would have coached the majority of this cast, he would have mentored us for free and tonight it gives me the distinguished honour to announce that our first PoeTree Barbados Griot Award recipient is Mr. Adrian Greene,” she said to loud applause from the members of the audience.

Greene in his remarks said that he was honoured and thankful to be recognized for his over two decades of work in developing the spoken word sector.

“This is the most meaningful award I have ever gotten in my life. I mean that because I spent the last 20 years of my life promoting this art form as a vehicle that is consciousness-raising, social awareness raising and confidence-building. I have been in almost every single school in Barbados and these youngsters here were probably in school when I started doing this stuff and I have watched them grow. When I see the growth in the spoken word artiste in Barbados over the last few years it warms my heart. I am looking forward to seeing how far PoeTree Barbados grows so thank you,” he said to loud applause from the audience.

There was also a special presentation made by Cher Antoinette who is the owner of C-TOI Wearable Art of a beautiful jewellery set to the Minister in The Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Culture, Senator, Dr Shantal Munro-Knight to thank her for attending their launch event.

The show started with a performance by Zoe Sunshine of her original song Unlisted the jazzy song got the patrons in the mood as they danced along as she did her beautiful runs. The next performer of the night was the organizer of the event La Shawna Griffith who passionately performed her multiple award-winning poem Colour-ISM 101 , she was followed by Safiyyah who performed her acoustic version of How Deep Is Your Love which she dedicated to her husband.

The next performance by Cher Antoinette sent shock waves through the audience as she performed her poems Nocturnal Invasion and Tight Spaces. Cher, who was the oldest performer of the night showed that age is just a number as she performed her sensual pieces receiving loud responses from the packed audience. She was followed by a performance by Jae Serieux of his original song Love Birds.

It was the next performance that left the audience wanting more as De Zamz dressed in a red shirt, and black fedora performed his original song Pressure P. He invited a member of the audience to the stage and danced as he serenaded her on stage. The members of the audience cheered them on as they watched their entertaining performance on stage.

Following his riveting performance the organizer of the event, La Shawna Griffith informed the audience member that she won two giveaways which were sponsored by Malaika Nefeterri Studios and Tazha Beauty and Skincare.

The next performer Ashley Serieux, continued on a sensual note as she performed her piece Unholy. Dressed in a red dress, she explained how she had sinned in a sexual encounter and how she was going to sin again. The audience held to her every word as she passionately performed her original piece. Ariel Hamilton also gave a masterful performance of her poem The Crown Of A Black Queen which resonated with many of the female attendees in the audience. The poem highlighted the importance of black hair and how it has been a part of resistance during history.

The first encore of the night was given to 22-year-old spoken word artiste Malachi Hope who performed his poem Sometimes I wonder! The poem which spoke about him thinking about black history resonated with members of the audience as they gave him a roaring response, making the master of ceremonies, Cher Antoinette invite him back to the stage to give them another taste of his lyricism.

He was followed by Rae who also got the audience roaring as he performed his poem, Enigma. The audience roared and cheered him on as she showcased his lyrical gymnastics in his poem that spoke about male mental health.

One of the surprises on the night was the performance by the 2023 Prime Minister’s Award for Theater for his poem Suicide Bomber, in the National Independence Festival for Creative Arts, Stonedwithcupid who came to the stage to introduce the headliner Deo The Poet. But his introduction was in a masterfully written poem which spoke to the sheer brilliance of his pen.

Deo The Poet who was the headliner of the event, gave the patrons a stellar performance. It was evident why he was chosen as the headliner for their debut event.

Dressed in a red and white dress shirt Deo The Poet passionately performed his poems I Am, Weight Of A Crown, Island Plantation and How Much before inviting the Poet Of The Year StonedwithCupid back to the stage to perform his humorous poem which left the packed audience in stitches Sweet Girl Your Boyfriend Is A Clown. The poem which highlighted how women can choose men who are not as intellectual, had the members of the audience which included Sunrokk, DJ Simmons, Empress Zingha Simmons, Jade Josiah, Andrea King, and Carmen amongst others in stitches as they listened to his self-penned poem.

The MC then invited Deo The Poet back and his final performances left the audience in awe. Deo The Poet put all of his passion and lyricism into the poem IG Model. The poem speaks about a young woman who is popular on social media but struggles with her body image, mental health, and mirror image but on social media appears to have her life together. The audience roared as he performed this poem and cheered him on as he delivered his lyrical gymnastics on stage.

The mature audience went into a frenzy and had to be quieted when he did his poem, I Am An Addict. The poem in which he speaks about his love for mature women had the ladies in the audience captivated as he spoke about his encounter with a mature lady who he then found out was married. The audience laughed, cheered, and hollered loudly as he performed his entertaining poem.

The audience waited patiently to hear his NIFCA Bronze Award-winning piece The Rose That Grew from Concrete which ended his 30 min set on a high note. Deo The Poet was animated as he delivered his poem that spoke about his life and the many things, he has had to overcome to be the person he is today. The audience roared and stood and applauded him as he concluded this poem which ended the well-attended show just after 10 pm.

Organizer of the event La Shawna Griffith thanked the performers for their performances and told the packed audience that they could not have done it without the support of their sponsors.

“This event would not have been possible without our sponsors Cupid Productions, Write Right PR Services, Bliss Restaurants, C-TOI Wearable Art, Tazha Beauty and Skincare, Passionate Words Editing Services and Malaika Nefeterri Studios,” she said.

She invited persons to follow their Instagram @poetreebarbados for more information on their upcoming event on World Poetry Day, March 21st, 2024. (PR)

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