Delhi Poetry Slam(DelSlam), which came into existence in December 2013, gives a platform to various ‘word performers’ from poets to hip-hop lyricists. Slam is a world phenomenon in poetry which began in the 90s and has revitalized poetry recitals since, usually considered drab and boring. The new form, aggressive and vocal, is mostly a personal narrative of things unsaid or unsung.
Delhi Poetry Slam, an initiative that aims to “restore the art of spoken word into the everyday culture of the Capital”, the event brings together poets and performers from various backgrounds. According to Saumya Choudhury, a poet and an organiser of the event, while poetry recitations and readings have been going on in the City for quite some time now, people are not familiar with performance poetry yet. The term connotes a broad spectrum of performances – ranging “from an ensemble to a soloist performing on a mic, with everything in between,” says Nicole Sumner, who has won a poetry slam in Seattle.
DelSlam’s shows are crafted with a structure where local slam poetry talents perform opening sets for the international feature artist. After the feature poet performs, we host an open mic where anyone from the audience can take the stage,” Choudhury says, adding that she had had many mentors like Jamaal Jackson Rogers from Ottawa, Easterine Kire (2016 Hindu Prize Winner) based in Norway and Melizarani Selva from Malaysia. Their first show, titled Words in Your Face, in December 2013 featuring Nicole Sumner and Michael Creighton was a complete sell out. Their shows have remained popular ever since. The DelSlam stage has changed the lives of many artists. “Anyone who comes here leaves as a different person. DelSlam’s in-house poet for the last year and a half, Cecilia Abraham, was just another housewife until she held the mic between her hands and destroyed every stereotype of “cooking, cleaning, rinsing and repeating” that comes along with the label.