The Tribune

THE US Embassy, in partnership with American poet, author, and motivational speaker, Omekongo Dibinga of UPstander International, facilitated a five-day workshop focused on poetry and spoken word with over 50 students in grades 10-12 at C R Walker High School.

The workshop ran from February 2-6.

Through his work, Mr Dibinga inspires people, in particular youth populations, to take a stand when they witness an injustice. His 1,000,000 Youth Campaign has impacted more than 100,000 young people worldwide.

Under the Poet-In-Residence Programme with the motto, “Think before you speak. Write before you fight,” Mr Dibinga’s workshop focused on building cultural and community pride through the use of poetry and the spoken word. In each session, students were able to discover innovative and exciting ways to use language as a vehicle for thought, creativity, reflection, learning and self-expression. Students also learned ways to use language as a tool for personal growth, social interaction, and addressing social issues faced within their local communities.

In a show of appreciation for the programme, the C R Walker Knights gave Mr Dibinga a taste of authentic Bahamian culture by presenting a short Junkanoo rush-out before he addressed the entire school at its morning assembly.

On Friday, February 6, the workshop concluded with a performance titled “Power of the Spoken Word” at Bahamas Harvest Church. The US Embassy’s Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Neda Brown, Pastor Mario Moxey of Bahamas Harvest Church, C R Walker Principal Nicola McKay and other school officials were in attendance.

At the event, many of the students who participated in the programme took to the stage to give impressive performances through their creative use of the spoken word that expressed their feelings and views on a myriad of issues.

Mr Dibinga and local poet Leshea “Sapphire” Jones closed out the evening with powerful performances from a selection of their own classic poems.