Supported by the Goethe Institut’s MobiArts Tour Project
Being in a new environment comes with a lot of what ifs and new expectations,I felt some of that nervous energy and pressure but then all that melted away as I took the stage at the opening concert of the Babi Slam Festival 2025 at the Goethe Institute, Abidjan.
Performing: “Origins”, “Survival”, “Berlin’s Bread” and “Ballot Box” in front of an international audience was a new, yet fulfilling and rewarding experience for myself and the audience in particular, the first international standing ovation I received.
Inspiring Young Minds and Planting seeds of creativity: (watch full video of Penboy at Lycée International Jean-Mermoz)
We all have dreams and sometimes not all of these dreams materialise or some just unfold in different and better ways. As a child, I have always wanted to attend a prestigious school, but circumstances didn’t allow that. I had practically shelved that thought until this trip to the Ivory Coast where I had the privilege to share my journey with pupils of Lycée International Jean-Mermoz.
Being in front of these young minds was a dream come true for me and at the same time a sign of trust and belief in my art from the Goethe Institute Community in Abidjan. The moment was priceless, looking into the hope filled eyes of the children and using my story to replenish that hope and fuel their dreams_ one that will forever be tattooed in my memory.
The second time I performed in Abidjan was at the Goethe Institut. This performance wasn’t for the crowd; it was a heartfelt message addressed to every budding spoken word artist at the venue. Every second of the 5 minutes that I performed the poem Utukufu, was to let these young artists know that: art gives room for diversity, and art as beautiful as it is, is a weapon that can be wielded skilfully to amplify the voices of the oppressed and fight for just causes. (Watch full performance here)
Cultural Exchange
Like most artists, I love lighting up stages, but of the things which lights up my heart is discussing the future of spoken word, an art to which I have dedicated my energy and time. While in Abidjan, I visited the Ministry of Culture and Francophonie, where I met Madame Gisèle Châtelain, Directrice du Livre. We had some in depth conversation about the place (the different challenges faced and the opportunities offered by the art) of spoken word in Cameroon’s entertainment industry.
Closing the curtain
The last night of the tour in Ivory Coast was full of energy, emotion and the power of words. Together with the skilled team of Collectif “Au nom du slam”, we put up an unforgettable live performance of the spoken word rally anthem “Ballot Box” and “Survival” at the closing ceremony of the Baby Slam Festival in Institute Français.
As I return home to prepare for the next stop, the warm reception I received in Abidjan is a memory that will forever be cherished. See you in Tanzania.
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