”That’s my origin.
I emerge from the shadows and the stillness. Money has taken precedence since logic was restricted to psychiatry.“
Where art is disrespected when it is female, where money dominates with force, and the most vulnerable man is satisfied to sink in the stream of their sorrows.
These are the words written and articulated by poet Esther Abumba, who lives in the conflict-ridden Democratic Republic of Congo. At 23 years old, Esther has selected slam as her means to convert suffering and inequality into a message of optimism.
“I selected slam because, to me, slam signifies more than just words.” For myself and for everyone else who participates in slam, perhaps. Slam is straightforward. It’s an initiative. In reality, it serves as a resource that empowers us to combat daily, existing in a community characterized by conflict. Slam enables us to articulate and to personally heal, she states.
Esther describes the art form as therapeutic, noting that many of her fellow slam poets address the theme of conflict in their work.
Frequently, they are ten, eleven, or fourteen years of age. “Interestingly, their focus has been solely on war, conflict, violence towards women, and injustice,” she states.
“I believe that young individuals require platforms, they need areas to voice their thoughts, and most importantly, they need to utilize a powerful tool to combat injustice.” And that’s where the function of the slam becomes important, dismantling injustice with language.
The poet aspires that her work can contribute to altering specific narratives about women in the nation. She’s urging other women to follow suit.
“I have faith in the transformative ability of women.” I think that women possess this.
