Slamovision 2024
Join us for a celebration of international slam poetry online on 12th December 2024 from 7-9pm.
UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature use creativity and culture to promote the social, economic and cultural development of their cities. In these times of global uncertainty, the network continues to connect literary communities across the world, forging bonds through the power of books, words and ideas. On December 12th 2024, 14 UNESCO Cities of Literature will put forward their finest selected slam poet to represent them in the Slamovision Grand Finale’s 6th year.
Manchester City of Literature is hosting Slamovision for the second time, in Manchester, UK. This will be the largest Slamovision to date, and possibly the most competitive yet. Each finalist will have got through at least one local heat, and be primed to compete for the coveted title of champion.
Representing Dublin is the incredible Cormac Mac Gearailt, performing his poem ‘Lament of the Trees’ in his trademark rhythmic, fast-paced and hard-hitting style. Cormac is a bilingual spoken word artist and poet from Dublin, Ireland. He writes in the Irish and English languages. He has won a number of poetry slam competitions, and is the 2024 All Ireland Slam Champion. He has also performed at festivals across Ireland and has staged four full length one-person shows.
The ‘Eurovision for the Spoken Word’ has been contested since 2019 and is aimed at increasing cultural participation within individual cities, as well as showcasing local talent on an international stage. Reece Williams will be hosting, and there will be special guest performances from Manchester’s Multilingual City Poets as well as last year’s reigning champion from Manchester Esther Koch.
Fourteen Cities of Literature are participating in Slamovision 2024, three cities for the first time ever: Bremen (Germany), Dublin (Ireland), Exeter (UK), Gothenburg (Sweden), Iowa City (US), Kutaisi (Georgia), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Manchester (UK), Nottingham (UK), Québec City (Canada), Reykjavik (Iceland), Tartu (Estonia), Vilnius (Lithuania) and Wroclaw (Poland). Many cities are performing in their Mother Language, including a first time Irish language entry from Dublin.
Jo Flynn, Manchester City of Literature says:
“Manchester is a city of poetry, it’s leaping off the stage and onto our streets. You’ll find here poems on pavements, up walls and sprawling out to reach literary houses, writing schools, heritage libraries and language centres. As two time Slamovision champions, we’re delighted to be sharing our city’s finest poetry with the world once more and to be collaborating with poetry talent from 13 sister Cities of Literature makes it even more exciting. I hope you’ll join us on the 12th to see who will be the winner!”
To join us via live-stream please visit this link: https://www.youtube.com/live/ecLYJegxQxQ
Check out the 2023 and 2022 winners:
Taurean at the Nightclub by Manchester’s Esther Koch
Strong Tea by Abíọ́dún ‘Abbey’ Abdul