Poetry readings in Fiji was popularised by the Niuwaves Writers’ Collective in the late 1990s. After a gap period of five years, with sporadic poetry reading events scattered around Suva organized by various art groups and organizations such as the Fiji Association of Women Graduates (FAWG), VASU Pacific Women of Power Exhibition, the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, and Kalamwasa Writing Fiji during the Wasawasa Festival, the heat is on again in Suva.
The revival of the Poetry SLAM began around 2008 jointly organized by the School of Language, Art, Media and Journalism (also S.L.A.M) at the University of the South Pacific and Hugh Fraser, an Australian Volunteer. The thinking behind the School facilitating SLAMS was a deliberate attempt to maximize the association of SLAM events with the School acronym. SLAM events over the 2008 – 2010 period began with much hype but towards 2010, fewer events were organized much to the dismay of the growing audience who look forward to the event.
In 2010, the School also initiated a small-scale poetry reading event at Icrave, a newly established bar in Suva. The Icrave readings draw an audience of about 20 in an intimate poetry sharing event unlike the NiuWaves crowd drawer readings which took place at Traps Back bar in the late 90’s to around 2002.
The USP SLAM is pure entertainment, providing students, staff and the wider public the opportunity to watch spokenword poets compete in a performance event. It also features a number of local musicians and bands in a promotional effort.
2011 marks the beginning of new era in spokenword performance around the region. On-the-Spot, a Tonga based artist collective has taken up the challenge and has organized an on-line call for participation in the first ever Tonga Spokenword event titled “StageFright!”. When S&GS suggested the platform to On-the-Spot in 2010 during the Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies outreach at the Kava Kuo Heka Festival in July, On-the-Spot organizer Ebonie Fifita expressed hesitation about organized poetry readings and spoken word performances. However, after some thinking, it is exciting to note that the group has added spokenword events to their visual arts, film and music program.
In Fiji, the Fiji Arts Council under the new Directorship of Laisiasa Veikoso, the literary arts committee is currently considering inclusive literary events also featuring recitals and performances.
At the Oceania Centre, the establishment of a new position in Literary Arts and Film means that there is now a structured approach to Pacific film nights and spokenword performances. The appointee, Derek Cleland joined OCACPS in February this year. Derek who spent the last 4 years in Fiji as an Australian volunteer working in the area of Culture and Heritage began his own journey in the arts after the Festival of Arts experience in Pagopago 2008 and has been deeply engaged in various art initiatives with the Fiji Arts Council and Wasawasa Festival. In 2010, he also performed with the Davui Ensemble – a local orchestra performing poetry to their music. Derek brings with him the promise of new and innovative ideas to Spokenword initiatives in Suva.
In an attempt so as not to confuse or duplicate poetry SLAMS and readings as organized by the School of Languages, Art, Media and Journalism, the Oceania Centre has launched its “Blood in the Kava Bowl” Spokenword series which features performance poetry, story telling and sharing in a Pacific style on-the-mat around a tanoa of Kava. The inaugural event which took place on April 1st at the Oceania Centre featured 10 spokenword artists in an open-mic event accompanied by the Oceania Centre’s New Sounds band led by Calvin Rore.
Blood in the Kava Bowl which is a tribute to the late Professor Epeli Hau’ofa also takes the title of Epeli’s poem which it is said was a literary response to a professor in Pacific studies with whom Epeli was in conflict at the time of writing.
Derek Cleland performed a number of pieces including an impromptu with New Sounds which provided a new feel to the spokenword event. Peter Sipeli also brought his home-grown local style with a personal piece in his usual inspiring performance style. Other performers included two new comers, as well as Sadrishan, Vilisoni Hereniko, and Teweiariki Teaero. Yours-truly a.k.a 1angrynative took the opportunity to respond to Blood in the Kava bowl as an extension of the original antagonist Guerrilla-style that Epeli began.
With the Pacific Festival of Arts 2012 just around the corner, S&GS wonders if this may mean an increase in authentic spokenword artists in the region ready to show the word how Pacific artists rock the stage. Whatever the outcome, one thing is for sure, Spokenword is growing in the region and in Fiji at least, 2011 promises more literary events for the masses starved of creative inspiration.