Just me, but I am supported by so many people my girls Simone and Shirldon, who had no interest in "Boring poetry" before they met me and I pulled them into my crazy world. The two of them lend me emotional and physical support each month when I run my shows, without them the last 2 and a half years could not of happened.
My sister Emma who takes pictures at my shows and helps me with the tecqnical stuff on the computer that I can't cope with. My sis Mariola who is also a computer and financial wizz so as you can imagine she comes in very very handy.
Thomas my Trini/Norweigen friend who took me under his wing from the moment he met me, provided me with free studio time to produce my CD, and has continued to invite me over to work in Oslo since March 2005, and recenly produced a wonderful new logo. He is also working on illustrations for my poetry book.
The above are a small amount of people who are behind the scene who believe in me, who give me the strength to carry on doing what I am doing, and offer any help and encouragement they can.
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This is a video of me performing on the BBC3 slam, 2004 this was the start of a new phase of my life, left work on the Tuesday to concentrate on my performance and writing and I won this slam on the Thursday, it bought me a lot of exposure and life has not really been the same sense, I guess it made me realise that leaving was a good idea after all.
Influences
I am influenced by many people but recently I heard a Jamaican women on the radio called Miss Louise Bennet, who was a fantastic poet, singer story tell and t.v presenter.
She has inspired me greatly her tenacity, humour and ability to hlod onto what is important to her i.e Carribean language, and history.
She passed away at the end of July and I am sorry I never had the honour of seeing her perform.
I am also inpsired by the many singers and poets, first timers and the experienced, who pass through my monthly shows WORD4WORD and WORD-UP, who are constantly reminding me why I do what I do.
I am also influenced and inspired but the many young people I have the pleasure of teaching poetry and performance workshops to. I have always worked with young people and being able to now teach what I love is a God send. all my non-related poetry, literature or performance work with young people that I have done over the years has had to cease due to time constraints but through poetry I am still able to deal with issues of low self-esteem and low self-confidence, harness creativity and set it free, and that keeps me doing what I do. My mum corny but true raising seven childen single handled, how can I not be influenced by her, she say's my great grandmother and great great grandmother were wonderful storytellers, singers and dancers,(the singing gene passed me by!) Ancestors I never had the pleasure of meeting have passed on their talents to a child they never saw.
Myspace small back:
Myspace Large front:
Myspace Large back:
I have been performing for over 5 years now, started off hitting open mic events, in London such as Urban Griots a weekly open mic event that was the place to be back in the day, I also joined a performance poetry group called Brother Man and took part in monthy shows.This was a great practice and training for me.
I had been writing for years but never thought of performing until I turned up at singers and poets night in the Bug Bar in Brixton and heard poets spitting for the first time since then I’ve been hooked on words.
I run a twice monthly events at the bar of the theatre Royal, Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, E15 1BN. Word4word is every first Sunday and is a wonderful combination of music an poetry, and Word-up slam takes place every 3rd Sunday and is a slam a competition whereby poets compete against each other fo £50 prize money.
In 2004 I won the BBC3 slam poets show and in June 2005 I became the World slam champion I have just debuted my one woman show, completed my first poetry CD and taken part in Spoke-fest a two week spoken word festival at the theatre Royal, where I organised and hosted the U.K slam championships to find a poet to take part in the world slam championships in June 2006.
This is a video of me performing on the BBC3 slam, 2004 this was the start of a new phase of my life, left work on the Tuesday to concentrate on my performance and writing and I won this slam on the Thursday, it bought me a lot of exposure and life has not really been the same sense, I guess it made me realise that leaving was a good idea after all.
I have the priviledge of travelling far and wide through my performances and this year alone I have been to Galway in Ireland, Munich and Ausburg in Germany, Sweeden, Rotterdam and Olso I am due back in Oslo in September at the Freedom of Speech festival to perform my one woman show. I am also due to go back at the end of Septemeber to host the Miss and Mr Africa show. South Africa is on the books for November if it all comes off, that’s the one I am most looking forward to as I have never been to the motherland before and my return is long over,over,over due.
I have been blessed, last year I travelled almost every month, and for someone who is petrified of flying that truly is a feat (no one can convince me that we as humans are meant to fly!) The most interesting and challenging place I went to, was an Aboriginal reservation in the Northern Territory of Australia to teach dance and poetry and contribute to a cd to raise money for the community, now that was an adventure, eye opening, tough but touching, never even dreamed that poetry would take me so far! I edited my profile with Thomas’ Myspace Editor V4.1
You give me the most jokes... lol girl.. I just LOveeeeeeeeeeeeeee ya! Was bless to see you Sunday.. FLO was just sooooooooooooooo........ amazing init! x
Great Event with Live Band or your Backing Track CD Come Early to sign up
I cant wait to see you! You were definitely a guardian angel for me. I wanna catch up! I am so proud of you with the marathons. you are a superhero! lol! love u!
hey kat, its your sista from anotha motha. im gonna be in london late june and i would love to see you. i hope you are around. miss you like mad! can't wait to see your new body! lol! love you!
Bless sister Well fine with the run and raising funds! I hope your fine
FRIDAY 8TH MAY 09 BLESSED SOULS UK Open Mic Showcase Launching in East Central London @ The MOTHER Venue, 333 Old Street, Corner of Hoxton Street, EC1V 9LE - 5 mins from Old Street Tube Station - Start from 7.30pm to 11pm Then Venue DJ onwards Only £5, ~ RSVP your attendance via Facebook
BSUK event link below Only £5 entry or £3 when you select by Wednesday that your attending via facebook event
