New Poetry Slam giving Guyanese poets the stage — and respect — they deserve
By Shaniya Harding

FROM authors to playwrights, Guyana’s creative scene is alive with energy. Now, poets are stepping into the spotlight, thanks to a new collaboration between GT Gimmicks and Nightlife592. The partnership recently launched the first Poetry Slam: Spoken Word event — an initiative that’s reigniting appreciation for performance poetry and giving local poets a platform to shine.

Bringing poetry back to the stage

Actor and entertainer Mark Kazim, one of the minds behind the event, says the idea has been years in the making. Known more for his acting than poetry, Kazim explained that his love for spoken word started long ago. “Years ago, I used to go to poetry nights at Upscale Guyana Restaurant,” he recalled. “That event eventually ended, but it always stuck with me.”

That passion eventually led him to launch his own poetry platform, Word Spoken, where he featured and filmed local poets. “I always felt poetry needed to be heard,” he said. “Guyanese people don’t realise how special our poets are.”

When he discovered Nightlife592’s interest in hosting poetry events, everything aligned. “I reached out to them after seeing a flyer for a poetry slam,” Kazim said. “They wanted to start something but didn’t know any poets or how to structure it — so when we met, it was meant to be.”

Together with Hadassah Headley and Omar Edghill of Nightlife592, the team organised and hosted the event in just three weeks.

A sold-out success

The first Poetry Slam brought together some of the country’s most talented performers, including Mark Luke-Edwards, Latiefa Agard, and Mishael Henry. The venue was packed, with a sold-out crowd responding with cheers, tears, and laughter throughout the night.

“It was a major success,” Kazim said. “People are starved for entertainment that makes them feel something. It’s not a party — it’s emotional, it’s thoughtful, it’s real. You go through every emotion with the poets.”

The team’s goal is to make the show a monthly feature. “We wanted to do it once a month, but after the response, we’re even more excited,” Kazim said. “People are already asking about tickets for the next one.”

The second Poetry Slam is set for October 26 at Searoc Sky Lounge, and according to Kazim, it will be even bigger and better. “We’re fixing the few hiccups from the first show,” he explained. “This one’s going to be hotter than the first.”

Building a poetry community

For Kazim, Poetry Slam Guyana is more than a stage — it’s the start of a movement. “This event is about promoting Guyanese poetry and spoken word, but also about promoting local talent overall,” he said. “The main act is poetry, but we also feature original musicians. It’s not karaoke. We want people who create — writers, singers, thinkers.”

Each month, one performer is crowned Poet of the Night by audience vote, and the winners will eventually compete in a Grand Slam featuring all the top performers. “By then, we’ll have built the brand and helped these poets become marketable,” he said. “The goal is to make poetry exciting again — something people follow and support.”

Fair pay and real recognition

A key part of the event’s vision is fairness. Every featured poet is paid for their performance, regardless of whether they win. “If we feature twelve poets, all twelve get paid and receive a small gift,” Kazim said. “The first Poet of the Night was Latiefa Agard.”

He added that several sponsors have already joined in after seeing the first show’s impact. “People loved it so much that they wanted to be part of it. Some attendees have even come forward to sponsor future events.”

Kazim believes this shift — paying poets and creating consistent opportunities — could transform the arts scene. “Too often, Guyanese performers don’t support each other,” he said. “We want to change that. This event is about mentorship, collaboration, and respect. We’re not creating competition; we’re creating community.”

As the Poetry Slam movement grows, one thing is certain: spoken word is reclaiming its place as a force for connection, creativity, and cultural pride in Guyana.