First Annual Bull City Spokenword Festival

Many festivals make their homes in Durham. Those celebrating modern dance, the blues, and documentary film
are just some of the offerings here. Now, Durham can add spokenword to the mix.

Spokenword is the art of performance poetry. It is where the poems written on the page are given life on stage. The art form has become a staple in communities across the country. Many venues are opening their doors for spokenword events. Poetry slam in growing in support and reach. In Durham, there is a vibrant spokenword community that reflects the strength of the scene across North Carolina. This festival celebrates the artform and showcases the talent of today's spokenword artists.

The First Annual Bull City Spokenword Festival will be Saturday, May 5th at Hayti Heritage Center. The festival will be hosted by Dasan Ahanu with workshops facilitated by Ed Mabrey and Sacrificial Poets.

Noon - 2pm
Writing and Performance Workshop (youth and adult)

2pm - 4pm
Youth Poetry Slam w/ Sacrificial Poets

8pm - 11pm
Group Piece Invitational Poetry Slam

For more info and to purchase tickets visit the Bull City Slam website.  Visit Durham's Community Event Calendar for everything going on in the place where great things happen.

Durham's Poetic Traditions

Durham boasts a poetry and spoken-word community that continues to grow in popularity each year. Durham is where great things happen, and that includes great performance art.

Darrell "SCIPOET" Stover

Much of the momentum behind this community comes from Durham's African-American community, and leadership from the Hayti Heritage Center is part in parcel of that growing energy. So, its only fitting that former Hayti Heritage Center Program Director and Poetry Power program founder Darrell "SCIPOET" Stover is returning to Hayti to celebrate his new poetry collection, "Somewhere Deep Down When."

This Saturday, March 3rd, the Hayti Heritage Center Presents "Poetic Traditions" an evening celebrating the release of Stover’s collection - it is  part autobiography, part archive and part tribute to numerous local friends.

Amiri Baraka

Stover will be joined by some of these friends for the event; special guests include Poet/Activist Amiri Baraka and Chuck Davis, director of the African American Dance Ensemble.

Poetic Traditions begins at 6PM, tickets are available at the door. For more information, visit Hayti Heritage Center's website.