Publish at July 10 2016 Updated June 16 2026
Like any form of writing, poetry takes many different forms. There are classic forms that have earned widespread recognition, such as Racine’s alexandrines or the melancholic verses of Émile Nelligan. But there are also more dynamic and modern forms, such as slam poetry.
We’ve already discussed this art form, which can be easily integrated into an educational setting. In fact, librarians and social education professionals are now taking training workshops to incorporate slam poetry into educational activities. This type of poetry is often associated with the widely popular musical style of rap, given the rapid delivery of the recitation.
And then there’s its free-spirited and socially critical nature, which is the key to the success of many slam poets around the world. Whether in Europe or Africa, everyone recognizes that this method of expression can convey important social messages. In fact, in Burkina Faso, an organization is working to integrate this form of poetry into schools to give students a way to express themselves about their society. Young people in Madagascar, for their part, have been able to participate for the past two years in an inter-school slam tournament. A tournament? Yes, because we tend to forget it, but that’s the unique aspect of slam: it’s a competitive form of poetry.
In fact, when it was created in 1987, American factory worker Marc Smith wanted to find a way to breathe new life into poetry and turn it into a competitive sport. Slam was born, and with it came a plethora of tournaments. The World Slam Championship was even held in late May in Paris at the Théâtre de Verre. Here is a performance by a slam poet representing France during the competition. The video quality is average, but the focus is on the words.
However, he wasn’t the one who won the competition—it was a group of young people from Rodrigues. Like any sport, there are a few rules. Performances must not last longer than 3 minutes. Otherwise, there is a half-point penalty. A five-person jury scores the various poems. In some cases, members are chosen at random from the audience, and the jury is rotated throughout the competition.
As Catherine Duval, a teacher and president of the French Poetry Slam Federation, explains, contestants can recite anything during a competition. Someone could use a classic text, but they would be penalized for a lack of originality. As a result, most participants come with their own original work. And there’s no need to know it by heart. It just has to move the jury members.
Open to Everyone
For the teacher, slam has been a way to introduce her students to poetry. Why? Because there’s a more universal aspect to this oral art form. As this article exploring the phenomenon in Quebec City shows, unlike traditional poetry, slam poetry addresses themes that are less personal to the poet and more closely tied to the audience’s reality. With a rhythm closer to music, it becomes more engaging to listen to and even to watch, as it involves a true stage performance.
Regardless of the method used to promote slam poetry, there is a reason why so many people are seeking to integrate it into schools: because it fosters students’ oral (and written) expression. In this way, they see the endless possibilities for expressing emotions and perceptions—both negative and positive.
Illustration: dmnkltnr via Source / CC BY-NC-ND
References
Clavreul, Clémentine, and Christian Kahnt. "Orality: Slam Poetry in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Germany." Goethe-Institut Côte d’Ivoire. Last updated: April 2016. https://www.goethe.de/ins/ci/fr/kul/mag/20749382.html.
Danielle, Holy. "ADEHM: Slam Poetry to Strengthen Civic Spirit." NewsMada. Last updated: April 21, 2016. http://www.newsmada.com/2016/04/21/adehm-du-slam-pour-renforcer-lesprit-citoyen/.
Duval, Caroline. "Poetry Slam World Cup: An Eloquent Victory for Four Rodriguans." Defimedia.info. Last modified May 31, 2016. http://defimedia.info/coupe-du-monde-de-slam-de-poesie-victoire-eloquente-de-quatre-rodriguais-31086/.
Hendrickx, Sylvie. “Reflections on a Training Session: ‘Introduction to Poetry Slam.’” Interactive Website of the Interdiocesan Federation of Catholic Librarians (FIBBC). Last updated November 18, 2015. http://www.fibbc.net/Echos-d-une-formation.html.
Lavoie, Lucie. “Slam: A Popular Form of Oratory.” Thot Cursus. Last updated: September 18, 2013. http://cursus.edu/dossiers-articles/articles/20367/slam-art-oratoire-populaire/#.V30-irjhCM9.
"Slam Poetry? 'A Sport of Poetry.'" Europe1. Last updated: May 28, 2016. http://www.europe1.fr/culture/le-slam-un-sport-de-poesie-2757223.
Lompo, Mariama. “Faso Slam School: Promoting the Art of Poetry in Schools.” Artistes BF. Last updated: February 7, 2016. http://www.artistes.bf/spip.php?article1503.
Pellissier, Sevia, and Kim Chabot. “Slam: Or How to Put on a Show with a Poetry Recital.” L’exemplaire. Last updated: March 27, 2016. https://www.exemplaire.com.ulaval.ca/reportages/le-slam-ou-comment-faire-un-spectacle-avec-un-recital-de-poesie/.
Saverat-Guillard, Brigitte. “Slam Poetry in All Its Forms and in Competition.” Ouest-France.fr. Last updated: May 29, 2016. http://www.ouest-france.fr/bretagne/ille-et-vilaine/le-slam-dans-tous-ses-etats-et-en-competition-4264345.
Slam with Élémo - https://www.youtube.com/ @marcolivierslam
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