Poetry in Commotion

For lovers of art, education and innovative community development, check out Poetry in Commotion – a free event hosted by community radio station, Radio SkidRow.

With the aim of spreading knowledge and inciting social action within marginalised communities, the event features performances by talented emerging dancers, MCs and spoken word poets from Sydney’s west and inner west. With internationally renowned spoken word artist, Sham E Ali, also performing her work alongside the Blacktown Youth Services, it’s sure to be a powerful evening.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to view Nasir Jones’ documentary, Shake the Dust, which features compelling stories of breakdance crews in the slums of Uganda, Cambodia, Colombia and Yemen.

“[Nasir] works with us at Radio SkidRow and he’s very involved in community development and hip hop and how the two just go in hand together,” explained Kween G, the station manager at Radio SkidRow. “It’s showing the film but involving poetry and hip hop… It’s about showing different cultures and putting on an event in the local community to showcase that.”

“Radio SkidRow has always been the home of hip hop, the home of radio, the home of activism, the home of world music, and we’ve had that reputation for over thirty years now,” said Kween G.

“The whole idea of putting this event together is to bring those elements to the public and showcase the community and show that within us, we have so many talented people who are sharing stories and who are doing positive things through hip hop… People miss how much of a message for change hip hop is.”

Even if you can’t make the event, the show will be broadcast live on the day on 88.9FM and will be available through their website. (ES)

Aug 14, 4pm–9pm. Gumbramorra Hall, Marrickville Community Centre, 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville. Free. For more info: www.radioskidrow.org or 9560 4254

BY EMILY SHEN