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Road to the Crown: 16 Poets Secure Their Place in Ghana’s National Poetry Slam Final 2025

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Ehalakasa’s National Poetry Slam Prelims ignite the race to represent Ghana on the global stage in 2026.

Accra, Ghana, August 9, 2025 The British Council Hall was alive with rhythm, rhyme, and raw emotion as 26 of Ghana’s finest spoken word artists battled for a coveted place in the National Poetry Slam Final. By night’s end, only 16 emerged victorious, inching closer to the ultimate prize the honour of representing Ghana at the 2026 World Poetry Slam Championship in South Africa.

In a contest where every syllable counted, Poema and Kwabena Prah led the charge with 26 points each, delivering performances that married precision with passion. Following closely were the equally captivating Whinna Yentem, Soyo Vi Zibo, Baby Poet, and Teliba, each securing 24 points and a joint third-place finish.

The list of finalists reflects a diverse blend of voices, from seasoned veterans to rising stars. Each poet brought their own lens to the stage, offering perspectives that cut across identity, politics, love, resilience, and social change.

“It’s more than just poetry. It’s a movement, a platform, and a chance to carry Ghana’s voice to the world,”said an Ehalakasa representative after the event.

The competition now shifts to the National Poetry Slam Final on November 1, 2025, where the stakes will be higher, the verses sharper, and the spotlight brighter. From that night, one poet will wear the national crown — and with it, the responsibility of championing Ghana’s slam poetry on the world stage.

Qualified Poets for the National Final (Top 16):

  1. Poema (26)

  2. Kwabena Prah (26)

  3. Whinna Yentem (24)

  4. Soyo Vi Zibo (24)

  5. Baby Poet (24)

  6. Teliba (24)

  7. Jay (23)

  8. The Town Crier (23)

  9. Beyanus (23)

  10. Nesty Brown (23)

  11. Kobby Wright (22)

  12. Leo (22)

  13. Evans Narh (22)

  14. Sabway Lyfstyle (22)

  15. Napare (22)

  16. Ueezy (22)

With the preliminaries concluded, the countdown begins. Who will rise on November 1st to carry Ghana’s poetic spirit to the world in 2026?

Ueezy de Poet: The Smile That Slices with Truth

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Ueezy de Poet, also known as Herman Jatoe, is not here for applause. He’s here to disrupt. To shake the silence. To put a rhythm to the realities so many try to avoid.

Emerging from the raw edges of Ghana’s urban storylines, Ueezy is part of a bold new poetic generation that doesn’t perform for validation it performs for truth. And that truth is often uncomfortable, unfiltered, and urgent.

His words cut through expectations like a hot blade through butter sharp, swift, and deliberate. Behind his bright smile lies a mind that has mastered the metaphor and a heart that knows how to make every syllable land like a fist or a feather depending on the moment.

On August 9th, 2025, at 6 PM at the British Council, Ueezy will take the mic at the Ehalakasa National Poetry Slam Prelims. The room may not be ready. But he is.

Whether he’s unpacking identity, spinning street slang into scripture, or challenging societal myths, Ueezy doesn’t just speak poems he lives them.

The slam stage is about voice, grit, presence and Ueezy de Poet brings all three in generous supply. This isn’t a performance. It’s a prophecy in progress.

Maame Rasta: The Unapologetic Voice Roaring into Ghana’s Slam Arena

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There are voices. And then there is Maame Rasta a cultural flame wrapped in fabric, fire, and fierce honesty.

Stepping into the Ehalakasa National Poetry Slam Prelims 2025 with the full power of her persona, Maame Rasta is more than a poet—she’s an institution. From her bold Afrocentric fashion to her defiant gaze, she commands attention before the mic is even on.

Set for 6 PM, August 9th at the British Council, this year’s prelims are already buzzing but Maame Rasta’s appearance has added a whole new layer of anticipation.

Unfiltered. Radical. Grounded. She embodies everything poetry was always meant to be: a rebellion with rhythm, a truth-telling drumbeat. Her voice is not just performance it is protest. A cry for justice wrapped in metaphor. A matriarchal wisdom that slices through noise. A spiritual chant rising from ancestral ground.

In a space where artists often chase applause, Maame Rasta reminds us: the stage is sacred, and words are weapons.

She enters the arena not to impress but to ignite to stir the embers of memory, history, and possibility. In her presence, poetry feels less like art and more like invocation.

This is no ordinary prelim. This is Maame Rasta’s roar. And Ghana will hear it.

Soyo Vi Zibo: The Pen, The Stage, The Voice of Maamobi

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Born in the soul of Maamobi and raised in its rhythm, Jibril Iddrisu, stage-named Soyo Vi Zibo, is not just a poet he is an embodiment of community consciousness, cultural depth, and lyrical fire. With roots deeply planted in Accra’s working-class suburb, he grew from the dusty corridors of Kubatul Hadra Islamic Primary through the disciplined halls of Barnes Memorial and O’Reilly SHS, to emerge as one of Ghana’s most commanding spoken word voices.

Today, Soyo Vi Zibo stands as the reigning Ehalakasa National Slam Champion, a title earned not just by rhyme and rhythm, but by the weight of relevance his words carry. His performances are textured with commentary on politics, love, education, domestic struggle, and the environment, echoing the lived realities of the people who shaped him.

But he’s not just an artist he’s a builder. As a literacy facilitator at the Nima Maamobi Community Learning Centre, Soyo pours into others the very thing that saved him: the power of words. His dual life as both teacher and performer creates a rare fusion where his classroom becomes a stage, and his stage, a classroom.

Whether at the National Theatre or in a crowded corner of Accra, his delivery remains intentional, his voice grounded, his presence undeniable. With Ehalakasa, he has delivered moving poetry and captivating theatre performances, always drawing from his roots to reach the hearts of strangers.

Soyo Vi Zibo is more than a slam poet. He is a mirror to society, a mentor to the youth, and a megaphone for the silenced. In his voice, the streets of Maamobi speak and the nation listens.

Dorneh Rhymez: Turning Wordplay into Worldview

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Some poets write to entertain. Others to provoke thought. Dorneh Rhymez does both often in the same breath.

A master of wordplay and wit, Dorneh wields poetry like a craftsman’s tool shaping verses that amuse, challenge, and endure. His work is a blend of mirror and megaphone: holding up a reflection to the world while amplifying the questions we sometimes avoid.

“I want my poetry to linger,” he says. “It can be lighthearted, but it should always leave a shadow of thought behind.”

From light jabs of humor to hard-hitting social commentary, Dorneh’s lines walk the fine line between art and advocacy. His captivating storytelling invites listeners in, while his clever puns make them stay longer than they planned.

In a world of fleeting attention, Dorneh Rhymez knows how to earn it and keep it. His poetry doesn’t just live in the moment; it travels home with you, quietly echoing long after the applause fades.

Whether on a bustling stage or in an intimate reading circle, he delivers words that connect, challenge, and charm proof that poetry can be both playful and powerful.

Whinna Yentem: Healing Hearts and Minds Through Poetry

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For some, poetry is a hobby. For Whinna Yentem, it’s a lifeline a way of speaking the truths that live in the quiet corners of the human heart.

Born Gbeng Gloria, the Ghanaian spoken word artist is more than a performer; she’s a story-weaver, motivator, and voice for the unspoken. Her dual worlds poet and veterinarian may seem far apart, yet both are rooted in care, empathy, and transformation.

“I believe poetry is the best way to express hidden emotions, address pressing issues, and motivate those who can relate,” she says. “It allows me to connect with people in ways everyday conversations can’t.”

In just two years since she began her journey with words, Whinna Yentem has evolved from playful experimentation with language to a confident artistic voice ready to stand on bigger stages. Her performances are intimate yet impactful, marked by her signature wordplay and her ability to blend vulnerability with power.

As a master of ceremonies (MC), her charisma commands rooms. As a poet, her verses open doors to reflection, conversation, and healing. Whether addressing social issues, sharing personal truths, or inspiring change, she delivers with a rare authenticity that resonates long after the mic goes silent.

Whinna Yentem is proof that artistry isn’t just about talent it’s about the courage to speak, the wisdom to listen, and the commitment to create bridges between hearts.

Her story is still unfolding, but one thing is clear: she’s ready for the world, and the world needs to hear her.

Poetic Dennis: Giving Voice to Everyday Ghana Through Verse

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In a world increasingly shaped by artificial noise and fleeting trends, the quiet, resonant voice of Poetic Dennis cuts through not with spectacle, but with sincerity.

Born and raised in Koforidua, Dennis Aboagye has carved a space for himself in Ghana’s contemporary poetic landscape by choosing a path both profound and intimate: speaking directly to the heart of society.

“I believe poetry should reflect life,” he shares. “It must breathe with the same rhythm as the people.”

His work is neither abstract nor overly ornate it is grounded, intentional, and relatable. Inspired by the laughter, pain, struggles, and triumphs of everyday life, Poetic Dennis turns mundane realities into meditative experiences. His verses transform sidewalks into stages, and ordinary citizens into heroes of their own stories.

Dennis’s mission is clear: to inspire, not just impress. He doesn’t write poetry for the elite; he writes it for the mother at the market, the trotro driver in traffic, the child dreaming on a classroom bench.

His performances are known for their subtle emotional power, their natural rhythms, and their capacity to stir introspection without preaching. Through poetry, Dennis becomes a social mirror a witness, a storyteller, and a quiet revolutionary.

As he continues to gain momentum, Poetic Dennis represents more than just a name on a flyer. He symbolizes the rising generation of Ghanaian artists who are reclaiming the narrative using language not just as decoration, but as a vehicle for empathy, reform, and reawakening.

In a culture thirsty for authenticity, Poetic Dennis quenches with simplicity, sincerity, and soul.

P.L.A.N.S: Writing the World Anew with Poetic Precision

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In a time when many are searching for meaning, Princess Lawrencia Ibizugbe, known by her literary alias P.L.A.N.S, is quietly, confidently writing a revolution.

A level 200 student at the University of Ghana, studying Linguistics and Sociology, P.L.A.N.S is more than just an emerging poet she is a mirror to society and a mouthpiece for transformation. Her name, stylized in caps, doubles as both an identity and a quiet manifesto. “Writing,” she says, “is both a voice and a mirror.” That ethos defines everything she creates.

P.L.A.N.S draws inspiration from lived experiences—personal reflections, societal observations, moments of stillness in nature. Her poetry doesn’t scream; it listens, lingers, and liberates. She writes for change, but also for clarity. Her words explore self-recognition, social justice, emotional wellness, and the aching beauty of the ordinary.

A true Ghanaian polyglot, she expresses herself in English, Ga, Twi, and is adding French to her arsenal—not just linguistically, but poetically. Her cultural fluency enriches her poetry with subtle layers of identity, community, and global consciousness.

Her debut stage performance at the Ehalakasa National Prelims 2024 marked the moment P.L.A.N.S went from pen to platform. With quiet intensity and unshakable grace, she delivered verses that resonated far beyond the walls they were spoken in. Now, with her debut book “Melancholic Empath” underway, she’s stepping into a broader literary light.

Writing is her calling, her craft, and her compass. And as P.L.A.N.S continues to rise, she reminds us all that poetry is not just an art form it is a healing force, a reflection, and sometimes, a roadmap.

TELIBA The Barefoot Woman Echoing the Soul of Africa Through Poetry

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In an age where identity is often lost in noise, Akolgo Anyeteliba Veronica, known on stage as Teliba – The Barefoot Woman, is walking a different path literally and figuratively. As a cultural ambassador and the crowned Queen of the North Ghana 2022, Teliba embodies the spirit of a generation seeking connection to its roots while carving out new artistic ground.

Hailing from Ghana’s northern belt, Teliba’s presence on stage is unmistakable. She performs barefoot not as a gimmick, but as a sacred symbol of grounding, humility, and authenticity. Her feet touch the same soil that nourished her ancestors, and through her poetry, she bridges the spiritual with the political, the personal with the pan-African.

A powerful spoken word artist, Teliba’s voice flows like river water soft in tone, sharp in truth. Her verses speak to cultural identity, womanhood, decolonization, and social awakening. Whether she is chanting against cultural erasure or invoking ancestral wisdom, her message is consistent: Africa must reclaim its voice and use it wisely.

Beyond performance, Teliba is a committed cultural activist, using poetry to inspire critical thought and radical self-love. She challenges modern constructs of success and beauty, urging youth to embrace their heritage unapologetically. Her mission? To be a vessel not for fame, but for freedom.

Now preparing to take the stage at the Ehalakasa National Poetry Slam Prelims 2025, supported by the British Council, Teliba stands not only as a contender but as a catalyst for cultural resurgence. She doesn’t just recite poems she summons spirits, reclaims narratives, and reminds us that barefoot isn’t bare it’s bold.

KWABENA PRAH: The Resonant Voice of Ghana’s Stage and Airwaves

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When Kwabena Prah steps on stage, you don’t just hear a voice you experience a presence. With more than two decades of commanding Ghana’s airwaves and performance spaces, he is a living embodiment of artistic versatility and cultural pride.

A renowned radio personality, seasoned actor, and captivating spoken word artist, Kwabena doesn’t merely perform he transforms spaces. Fusing poetry with traditional African rhythms, dance drama, and ceremonial cadence, his work isn’t just seen or heard it’s felt.

From historic events like Marcus Garvey Day at the Gold Coast Bar, to artistic showcases at Goethe-Institut, Alliance Française, Iguala Inn, and with the National Symphony Orchestra, his performances have bridged generations and genres. Most recently, he delivered a deeply moving tribute during the Daddy Lumba Vigil, honoring one of Ghana’s highlife legends with poetic grace.

Kwabena’s style is fluid yet forceful, ceremonial yet contemporary. His ability to adapt his craft for tributes, corporate gatherings, public forums, and emotionally charged commemorations has earned him both reverence and demand.

Now, as he steps into the ring at the Ehalakasa National Poetry Slam Prelims 2025, he brings not just experience but conviction that spoken word can catalyze real social change when harnessed with clarity and heart.

This isn’t just another performance for Kwabena Prah.
It’s a mission. And Ghana is listening.

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