OPINION: HOW POETRY CAN BE AT PAR WITH OTHER GENRES OF ART GLOBALLY - BY SOUL’E RHYMEZ

 

Poetry is a beautiful form art, which involves a lot of creativity just like other genres. But, seemingly, it struggles to find its feat, compared to other genres of art. Poets in Nigeria struggle to earn a living, and this have a very detrimental effect on their self-esteem and art and I believe it is almost the same all over the world.

According to Soul’e Rhymez in his poem titled ‘I’M TIRED OF WRITING, he stated: “Don’t call me a poet, it sounds like penury”. That’s how it sounds to people, when you say you are a poet, because people believe poetry is not a profession; it is simply a highway to poverty. I do not think there is anyone in Africa who makes poetry a full time job like we have in other genres of arts like, music, painting, acting, dancing and so on.

Thus, there is an urgent need for commercialization of poetry. But according to a survey conducted in Nigeria in year 2015, a lot of poets believed poetry is passion and not to be commercialized. In my opinion, this seems to be lack of self-confidence. They are definitely not sure that art is lucrative, but never realize the players are the hindrance to the acceptance of poetry in the country.

Poetry is also divided into two sub-genres: Page and Spoken-word. Page poetry leans towards the literature, while Spoken-word seems to belong to the entertainment scene. Though some people, all poets, believe in poetry and are willing to go lengths to promote the art, but there are no much of external supports, no investors compared to other genres of art.

If there is a time for poetry to be at par with other genres of art across the globe, it is NOW! It seems people are tired of the watery lyrics the musicians churn out, but spoken-word offers more, it educates and also entertains. Nothing makes the mind rest more than beautifully crafted spoken word poetry.

However, Nigeria and many other African countries boast of only a few poetry shows on the TV and Radios, compared to other genres of art, and those that are available have only the poets as their audience, they also have few or no sponsors. It seems the more awareness they create, the less interested people get in poetry, but like I said earlier, the players in the industry are the problem. This includes the poets and poetry promoters.

Having studied the poetry industry for some years now, I have realized that we have a lot of challenges, but the major one is disunity. Poets seem not understand that people accept art, if poets unite. There is no way they can win the war outside without first winning the war within, which is disunity. They are a divided house and that’s why they can’t stand.

Each poet seeks to build a platform for himself or herself, without caring about others.

For instance, I do not have any friend in the poetry industry; everyone seems like my imaginary enemy even as they appear as friends. If we are not friends and united, how then do we expect people to support us? No sane businessman invests in such industry.

Another the source of disunity in the poetry world is the gap between the so-called top poets and the upcoming ones. In Nigeria, it seems these guys want to be worshiped by their protégés, who they tend to criticize at will and have them not fight back or defend their works.  

They gallivant around, boasting of how good they are, how many awards they have won, they want to dominate and be respected for nothing.

In my own experience some years back, one of the so-called top poets, whom I met at an award ceremony sent me a Facebook message, condemning me for writing for people’s girlfriends and describing my work as “mundane and “profane”. That doesn’t describe my works at all, but I was not alone, there was a guy, who also complained of being blocked by someone he respected as a father figure in poetry, because he wasn’t a good poet. According to him, the man accused him of filling his wall with amateur poetry.

The good reputation of these so-called top poets is a major problem in the poetry world.

For instance, the guy that condemned my work asked me to apologize to him publicly, which I did, but he only came on and typed “you make me feel like a donkey now, it’s past now” not even my public apology could make him send me friend request again, after he had ended our friendship on Facebook.

Their activities cripple the upcoming poets: rejecting them means you will never get their supports. Something I can testify to. This same guy acts as a judge in some poetry slams and competition and you don’t expect me to win whenever he is the judge regardless of how good I am. Even though I won’t say most of the slams and competitions are biased, be sure you can never win if you have rejected the uncouth rebukes and unprofessional criticisms of the so-called top poets.

Another cause of disunity is inordinate ambitions of the poets and some of the poetry players both performers and some of the promoters, it seems they just want the bragging rights at all cost, it seems they just want to be their name known, everyone wants that, but inability to control it or consciously ignore is a major hindrance to unity in Nigeria poetry industry.

Almost all the poets in Nigeria seek to be the best at the detriment of other poets, to them, poetry is a competition, but unknown to them, unlike other genres of art, where beefing earns you more popularity, trying to be the best at the detriment of others as a poet at this time is like building a house on sinking sand. This is due to lack of foundation, which is platform, which seems not available globally.

Poetry in Nigeria has no platform, at least, not one close to the least of other genres of art in the country. I believe this can be said about other African countries too. Talking with a poet from America, she complained that poetry is not growing like other genres of art over there due to lack of unity among the players too. I watch top awards ceremonies that encompass other genres of art, but there are usually no categories for poetry and this seems to be happening all over the world.

I expect to see Best Spoken-word Videos, Best Poetry Performer, Poem of the year, Best Spoken-word collaborations of the year in all of these globally and continentally recognized awards, but to my surprise I am yet to see one. This leaves the players with so much work to do. In an award where other genres of art are been awarded, poetry should have its place.

If poetry must to gain relevance among other genres of art and also in the entertainment, not only in Nigeria, but all over the world, there must be unity among the players. Poets, Spoken-word Artistes and Poetry promoters all over the world must unite and work together.

There is a need for unification of poetry promoters from each country. They should learn to work together. They should first win the war within, which is disunity and unhealthy rivalry; it is most dangerous now that there is no industry. All the top poetry promoters from each country should come together in their countries, harness their resources and stage an annual poetry event within their countries.

After gaining relevance in each of their countries, they should stage continental poetry events and awards with much publicity. After that is done, promoters should also find a way to connect with other promoters from other continents, not as an individual, but as a body of poetry promoters to stage at least a poetry show that will shake the world. All these will give poetry some global presence, put it at par with other genres of art and both the poets and the promoters will be able to earn a living with it.

© By Soul’e Rhymez

A Poet and Public Speaker from Lagos, Nigeria.

Email: soulerhymez@gmail.com