Recap: Goethe Abansoro with EHALAKASA – A Night of Spoken Word Magic

Recap: Goethe Abansoro with EHALAKASA – A Night of Spoken Word Magic

Based on the event details provided in the image, here is a suggested blog post for a past event on YouTube:


Title: Recap: Goethe Abansoro with EHALAKASA – A Night of Spoken Word Magic

On August 14, 2024, the Goethe-Institut in Accra hosted a mesmerizing evening of spoken word performances and music under the event banner "Goethe Abansoro with EHALAKASA." The event, a collaboration with the vibrant EHALAKASA community, was a free-entry celebration of poetry, storytelling, and music, bringing together some of Ghana's most compelling spoken word artists and performers.

As the audience gathered at 7:00 PM at the Goethe-Institut's location on Kakramadu Road, Cantonments, Accra, there was a palpable buzz of excitement. The evening began with a warm welcome and introduction from the Director and Head of Programs at the Goethe-Institut, setting the tone for a night that promised an immersive cultural experience.

The curtain-raiser opened the floor, followed by the soulful sounds of Kleos, who took the stage as the opening musical act. Kleos’ performance set a powerful, melodic backdrop for the evening, effortlessly blending rhythms that resonated with the crowd.

The spoken word performances began with Royal King, who captivated the audience with two powerful pieces. His words painted vivid pictures and stirred emotions, setting a high bar for the evening. Faiba Bernard followed, delivering two equally compelling pieces that left the audience in awe of her lyrical prowess and depth of storytelling.

As the night progressed, Royal King and Faiba Bernard took turns delivering shorter, yet impactful pieces. The exchange of poetic narratives and reflections kept the audience engaged, evoking a range of emotions from laughter to contemplation.

After a brief conversation with the audience, hosted by the charismatic Jewell King-Speaks, Kleos returned to the stage for a middle musical act that provided a refreshing interlude to the spoken word sessions.

The second half of the evening featured more riveting pieces from both Faiba and Royal King, each poet bringing their unique voice and perspective to the stage. The audience was treated to a rich tapestry of themes, from personal introspection to broader societal issues, all delivered with passion and artistry.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the joint piece by Royal King and Faiba Bernard. Their collaboration brought the house down, a seamless blend of their distinctive styles that showcased the power of unity in art.

Kleos closed the night with a final musical act, leaving the audience with a lingering sense of fulfillment and a call to return for more such cultural evenings.

One of the unique aspects of "Goethe Abansoro with EHALAKASA" was the interactive sessions interspersed throughout the event. Host Jewell King-Speaks facilitated engaging conversations with the performers, giving the audience a glimpse into the creative minds behind the spoken word pieces. This engagement not only provided deeper context but also created a more intimate connection between the audience and the artists.

The evening wrapped up with closing remarks and announcements by Jewell King-Speaks, marking the end of a memorable night filled with artistic expression and community spirit. The event was more than just a showcase of talent; it was a celebration of words, music, and the power of spoken word to inspire and connect.

For those who missed this event, or for anyone wanting to relive the magic, a full recording is available on YouTube. Be sure to check it out and immerse yourself in the beautiful world of spoken word poetry and music.


Ehalakasa Slam winners for Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya.

Ehalakasa Slam winners for Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya.

Spoken word artistes, Jewell King and Hondred Percent, will next month travel to Cote d’Ivoire and Kenya respectively as part of their prizes for winning the Ehalakasa Slam Championship between 2014 and 2016.

While Jewell scooped the crown last year as Ehalakasa Slam champion last year and will participate in the Collective Slam Abidjan event from March 1 to March 5, Hondred Percent will be in Nairobi for the Slam Africa programme from March 10 to March 15 for coming up tops in the Ehalakasa Slam contest in 2014 and 2015.

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Jewell King-Speaks, the reigning Ehalakasa Slam champion 

The Ehalakasa movement has been prominent on the Ghanaian creative arts horizon over the last decade in this country with the promotion of poetry, music, dance and theatre.

The poets will attend the two different programmes by courtesy of Cultural Crossings, a platform that enables eligible African artistes to travel on the continent to share experiences.

The brains behind Cultural Crossings are Liberian-born, England-based artist Sarah Gusten-Marr and Ghanaian spoken word artiste and founder of the Ehalakasa movement, Benedict Kojo Quaye better known as Sir Black.

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(from left to right): Sarah Gusten-Marr, Hondred Percent (Ehalakasa Slam champion, 2014 & 2015), and Sir Black.

Gusten-Marr who owns GalleryGM in Yorkshire, England grew up in Liberia, Germany, USA and Italy. She’s a well-travelled woman and has a deep passion to see African artists explore more of their continent. She believes traveling is essential because it opens passages to our world.
“Traveling enhances knowledge. So the more we travel, the more we are exposed to different things. When people travel they celebrate likenesses and learn to respect differences,” Gusten-Marr said.

The Ehalakasa name represents words from three Ghanaian languages: ‘Eha’-(Ewe) song; ‘La’-(Ga)sing; and ‘Kasa’-(Akan) talk.
Founder, Sir Black said the movement is determined to bring enlightenment and life to the poetry scene in Ghana.
“We want to challenge our poets to dream, not only at night in bed, but also help them dream across the man-made boarders of our continent,” Sir Black stated.

Cultural Crossings also has an artist-in-residence programme for creative folks from across the world in Yorkshire.

source: Kouame Koulibaly