‘How my book could shape works of lyricists, spoken word artists’

If you are into performance art and you love spoken word poetry you have most likely heard of Graciano Enwerem, one of the few Nigerians who have made a career out of it. Graciano Enwerem  a spoken word artist who was born in Kano State has told YOUHVILLE that he published his soon to be […]

If you are into performance art and you love spoken word poetry you have most likely heard of Graciano Enwerem, one of the few Nigerians who have made a career out of it.

Graciano Enwerem  a spoken word artist who was born in Kano State has told YOUHVILLE that he published his soon to be launched book “Spoken word poetry 101” because he got tired of  “giving the same answers to same questions” to his numerous online students.

He said: “I decided to publish my answers to these most frequently asked questions based on on my experience and research on the experiences of both my older students and poet friends. Later on, I had to add more to it by being patient for 10 years (2008-2018) to make sure that the knowledge in this book would not become or look obsolete after few years like what we find in most texts.”

The book which is set to be released next Tuesday in Port Harcourt addresses most, if not all the challenges every poet, orator or songwriter is most likely to experience, the spoken word artist said.

He added that the book “will benefit not just those who are into Spoken word poetry but all lyricists alike.”

On making a career solely out of performance art like spoken word poetry in Nigeria, the artist who is popularly referred to as “Sir Grrraciano”, said people in this part of the globe hardly support poets.

He However stated that “I am one of the few who hasn’t worked a day in any company or ministry if it isn’t poetry since 2010 that I left the University and I live comfortably with my family.”

“So yes, it’s possible but very difficult. I would not advise an impatient person to try it. With the pressure from family and society, it takes lots of courage and discipline to do poetry alone in Africa” Graciano responded.

He said there will be an official launch event in Port Harcourt shortly.