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.
Get this video and more at MySpace.com
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
Hi Kat, I've added your video 'Words' to the Love Inspires... page. Please sign the guestbook to show your support! Hope to see you at Love Inspires... soon! ALL WELCOME!
Hi Kat, I would love for you to come and grace us with your presence at one of my events, held on the 2nd and 4th Wed of every month. Do let me know when you'll be coming, and I'll put you on the guest list...and if you want to perform, even better!
Hi Sis Kat, hope to see you on Wednesday, and I’m inviting all my myspace friends to emerge from obscurity into reality, from the myspace page to the stage, from virtual friends to real friends, so if you’re free this Wednesday join me for my launch party (and if not, the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of every month). Come and show your face, keep up with the pace, grace the space, it won’t be a waste! Hope to see you there! Cezanne x
yeah it's that time again tonight i'm hosting blessed souls which is on each 2nd friday of the month - Open mic live band jam..
44 brixton road 9pm to 3am all welcomed. £5 only all night It's KMT's & Crystals birthday celebration also!
I will be talking about how i felt introducing Omar onto stage, how i felt singing in the rain at Love Music Hate Racism Carnival on the small stage lol & my Amy Winehouse experience at Jazz Cafe last sunday when i invited her to jam.. We need to really keep prayerful for our UK industry and with our fellow music artists
Rhyme and Reason your new 1st Book is so fab.. i'm so more inspired - I woke up and looked forward to going to work and I woke up Ready to take on the World..
what have you done to me? lol
o well so much too much love for you Queen i'm praying for more blessings to come yr way of course.. i'm wondering what next and.. i'm thinking of your mum and b cup.. Jesus.
lol... lol ,.,, lol lol,, lol,, Lord have mercy.. o gosh o gosh.. i best call you and laugh..
your extraordinary.. pls take over the world they need your energy and passion!
x u need your own show sis.. Go for it now! no jokes... xx hugs and thanks
People don't miss none of Kat's show ever ever reach if you can! this woman have a twikle in her eyes and pon her lips... lol
This young lady Kat Francois hosted my birthday party this year at Blessed Souls.
She's real, confident and loving. Check out her Book Launch if you can
Love you Queen K.. from Queen A.. lol.. yeppppppppieeeeeee i'm gonna see ya this weekend to God be the Glory..
Host: KAT FRANCOIS
Time: 8:00pm - 10:00pm Location: THEATRE ROYAL BAR, STRATFORD EAST LONDON Street: GERRY RAFFLES SQUARE E15 1BN City/Town: London, United Kingdom
Contact InfoEmail: kat.francois@googlemail.com
Description ZUPAKTKAT PRODUCUTIONS PRESENTS WORD4WORD AND THE LAUNCH OF "RHYME AND REASON" THE DEBUT POETRY COLLECTION WRITTEN BY KAT FRANCOIS AWARD WINNING PERFORMANCE POET, ACTRESS,PLAYWRIGHT AND RESIDENT POET OF THE THEATRE ROYAL. SHE WILL BE JOINED FOR A GREAT EVENING OF ENTERTAINMENT BY THE AMAZING SINGING AND POETIC TALENTS OF ADELAIDE MACKENZIE, ZENA EDWARDS AND HKB FINN, FREE ENTRY, THIS WILL BE A NIGHT TO REMEMBER FILLED WITH GREAT ACTS AND UNFORGETTABLE TALENT. BOOKS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE NIGHT FOR THE SPECIAL PRICE OF £6 ONLY.
i hope you enjoy the launch of your book reason and rhyme....can't wait to get my hand on a copy! i'll be away but if i could change the date and be there for this i would/ the acts are amazing (yourself included of course)finn, adelaide,zena wow!
Your faith in me, support, positive vibes & genuine good natured sisterly self has got me thru nuff & for that I am & will forever respect & love u girl. Stay amazing.....p.s....let me know about 4 May as I'm at JazzCafe.....plus havent heard frm anyone....as yet re ACOUSTIC SUN....
"PROVERB: "When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others. "
It took you years to get my name right and now you are calling jaffa, jasper...love it, i might make it his middle name jaffa jasper knight lol. Thanks for his birthday wishes xx
Accompanying the angelic faculty of intellect, humankind was blessed with the power to scrutinize and inspect, internalize and reflect, analyze, and accept or reject, and then deliberately select from a variety of alternatives. Human beings possess the capacity and freedom of will to resolve any dilemma involving a decision between conflicting or similar options with intellect at the helm. No such options are posed in The Angelic Realm. God chooses for Angels and Angels obey. God’s Will Is Their Bread; God’s Pleasure, Their Pay. As mankind discovered after The Evil One fixed his gaze upon human innocence, Free Will, and Choices does not come without consequence. What happens when a soul jumps The Common Sense Fence, and picks the ultimately wrong preference? Remember, there’s a distinct difference between being enlightened and being “lit up,” that is to say, ”burned.” Since we have the ability to discern, we’re bound to stay on the right side of The Common Sense Fence, for on the other side of that fence looms serious consequence. CHOICE.
Mzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Francois !!!! When will iB bbbbbbb gracing one of your shows with our Crazy performance lol ??!! How are you ? Havent seen you around 7sisters no more ;( Hope all is well. Nayla iB x
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