The well anticipated day did come at last. It was the last event organized for gratis by the Walk The Talk Group for the 2013/14 second semester after the “Read me a poem in the candlelight” and “UNESCO World Poetry day celebration”. I could not believe what my eyes saw that day, 2nd April 2014 at 5:30 pm, in the most prestigious auditorium on the Legon Campus of University of Ghana La Maison Francaise .

The team which organized this short noticed show had just ended the first ever celebration of UNESCO World Poetry day in Ghana, involving UNESCO Ghana, represented by their Director, Mr Tirso Dos Santos.

It was an honour for the group to host a US- award winning poet and spoken word artist, Dorian Paul D Rodgers who often held his performances in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate. I guess the fact that he got to the event ground very early before the event took off, showed his commitment and zeal on what was to be his second tertiary school appearance having performed earlier at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi when he visited Ghana.

The night took off with a couple of live band music– Reggae and Jazz tunes from the Ayam band ( Mr. Daniel, Mr Johannes and Mr. Imani). It was packed. A popular, well performed narrative poem, “Pinpinaa- Nanaa” by a Ghanaian published author, a World Poetry Empowered Poet 2013, Oswald George Okaitei set the poetry rolling. He took us back to times when storytelling took place on moonlit nights under the open sky with the whole community or family, gathered around a fireplace. In the Akan language, a local language in Ghana, “Pinpinaa” meant (Once upon a time). You never begin a story without saying this word. It was remarkable a poem, with which to start the poetry performances just as “Pinpinaa” was used in days of old by the Akans to commence their story. Other young renowned poets who later took the stage were Kwaku Sonny, Nii Aryee Solomon, Charlotte Addison, Chief Moomen and a lot more.

There were also performances in foreign languages by Poet Anthony, and Leander David the founder of Walk The Talk. The founder, well versed in the Ga tradition, demonstrated it in a Spanish poem titled “Aqui estamos”. He employed some Ga folk songs and questioned where the African was in the scheme of things with his piece on a traveller. This traveller returned after being away for so many years to find everything gone. Yet hopeful of the future which he would so much wait for.

Zanuella-dressed in red and black, performing with the Ayam band.

You should have been there when Zanuella Quarcoo hit the stage. She was amazing. She sang her songs rocking everyone to shake a head or move a shoulder while she sang “It feels like electric”. I could not believe the talents that were displayed on stage that night.

The last artist was the guest star, Dorian Paul D Rodgers. He was spectacular.Those who awarded him Us-award winning Poet had not done that in vain. He went on and on and on with spoken word. His audience wanted more. I would have wished he took the whole night.  That was impossible. Everything came to an end with a group picture which I know would be a memorial to Dorian, anytime he thinks of Ghana.

A group picture with Dorian after the show.