Featured performer and co-host Deo The Poet entertained the audience with his two profound spoken word pieces One, Story Three Points of View and The Weight of A Crown.
On September 27th, 2024, PoeTree Barbados hosted its highly anticipated inaugural open mic event at De Bar in Worthing, Christ Church. With over 100 attendees in the audience, the evening was filled with exciting performances, celebrating spoken word and poetry. Hosted by NIFCA Gold Awardee Stonedwithcupid and two-time NIFCA Bronze Awardee Deo The Poet , the event highlighted the island’s rich literary talent through featured performances and an engaging open mic segment.
Ariel Hamilton was a part of PoeTree Barbados’ inaugural Open Mic which was held at De Bar, Worthing, Christ Church where she performed her poem Slave For You.
The four featured performers of the night were Negus Knots , Deo The Poet , Iyah Bad d, and Malachi Hope . Negus Knots opened the show with Storytime , touching on themes of love, identity, and black consciousness. Deo The Poet followed with his newly released poem Weight of a Crown , which also explored black identity and leadership. Iyah Badd delivered two original songs, God He Knows and Find My Way , both of which earned a roaring response from the crowd. Malachi Hope concluded the evening with a powerful performance of Objection , leaving a lasting impression on the audience.
The open mic segment featured an impressive lineup of performers, including:
1. David Hinkson – Me: A Person, Place or Thing
2. Lui The Bajan – Emotional Refuge
3. Jabari Corbin – You
4. Wanica Durant – Charger
5. Jeremiah Toussaint – Free Willy
6. Shantha Jordan – God’s Purpose
7. Jae Serieux – Feeling Good
8. Atiba Sealy-Thompson – Moons Melancholy
9. Ariel Hamilton – Slave for You
10. Ace Khid – Golden
11. Too Sketchy – Hear Vybe
Ace Khid’s performance of Golden was a standout moment, and he continued his momentum the next day, appearing on VOB 92.9 FM on September 28th, 2024 to officially release the song to listeners.
This inaugural open mic event which was a new feature of the PoeTree Barbados events was a resounding success, with its mix of powerful poetry and engaging performances. The community was encouraged to follow PoeTree Barbados on social media @poetreebarbados
for updates on future events, ensuring they don’t miss the next celebration of literary talent.