Recently, I sat down with Abu Dhabi slam champs, Sara Al Souqi and Abdul Nassir Mohammed, and the Abu Dhabi grand slam finale champ, Salem Al Attas, to discuss dynamics dealing with poetry, spoken word, and slam poetry.
Dorian: How did you all first get in to writing poetry?
Sara: I’ve always been interested in English literature. In Year 9, I began with reading the works of Shakespeare, William Wordsworth, and Maya Angelou and just fell in love with poetry ever since. I had a friend who would write poetry and share his work with me, and that encouraged me to do the same.
Salem: I started writing five years ago when I saw an poster for an open mic. I decided to give it a try and have been doing it ever since.
Abdul Nassir: I started writing back in secondary school when we had a lesson in our English class about poetry. Our homework for the day was to write a three stanza piece on a topic of our choice, and I am still writing.
Dorian: When did you first slam? How was your first slam experience?
Abdul Nassir: My first slam competition was in January 2015 when I went up against some of the talented veterans of the Rooftop Rhythms family so it couldn’t have been any better for me. It was such a humbling experience because whether you come first or last, the support from the crowd and family stays the same. As the infamous slam quote goes, “The point is not point. The point is the poet”. I’ve developed strong ties of friendship that I know will last for many years to come.
Dorian: That’s what it’s all about!
Salem: I first slammed at the international book fair in 2012. I thought I was really good and got dead last. It was the worst and best experience.
*Everyone laughs*
Sara: My first slam was in 2011 in Edmonton. I went with one piece of written poetry and had planned to read it off my phone. I was unaware of the rules of slam or the fact that there was three rounds. I did my first piece and made it into the second round, and had a few pieces saved on my writing website so I read a couple of pieces for my 2nd and 3rd round and ended up doing really well.
Dorian: What advice would you give to someone entering slam for the first time?
Salem: Practice. Practice. Practice. Give yourself time to hear yourself so that you find a sound authentic to yourself. Also have fun, and don’t allow a score to be attached to your piece.
Sara: Do it over and over. The first experience is tricky because you’re not too acquainted with the rules or the vibe, but the more you do it, the more natural it will feel and the more confident you will be in your decision making, piece selection, order of performance strategies.
Abdul Nassir: Just go for it. Believe me, you will have no regrets. It’s your voice that wants to be heard and all you got to do is lay it all out on that stage.
Dorian: As slam champs in the UAE, would you ever consider slamming in other countries to see how you measure up with the rest of the world?
Sara: Most definitely. The scene in the UAE is still very young and so are we. This opportunity has been great in helping me gain confidence and grow as a slam poet, but in the back of my mind, I know that there is an entire world of slam out there that I still need to work extremely hard to measure up to.
Salem Attas: I would love to slam internationally and see if my words resonate all over the world. Also, winning is fun.
Abdul Nassir: Slamming is like a drug. You get hooked on it once you step into the arena. I’m hooked on the energy of the crowd, the thrill of the performances, and the captivating words and stories all poets have to offer. With that being said, I will definitely sharpen my words and similes and make sure I always get off that stage proud of myself for giving it my all. That’s what matters the most.
Dorian: Is slam simply a phase of your writing career or something that you will continue doing?
Abdul Nassir: I will definitely keep slamming for now. There will come a point when I will have to unplug my mic when it comes to slamming but hopefully this pen will never run out of ink.
Salem: I think it’s a phase for now. I haven’t thought to far ahead about a writing career. I’m studying to be an engineer so that’s where I’m focused right now.
Sara: I think it is something I would continue doing until I no longer feel the need to. Slam pushes me to constantly write and challenge myself in exploring different styles of writing. It has helped me grow as a writer not just as a performer.
Dorian: I think it’s important to be fluent in page and stage (spoken word and slam). When I tire of slam, I may take a couple of years off to explore my writing style and innovate. Later, when I am ready to share confidently, I consider performing and slamming if the piece evokes such passion. Is it inherently wrong to associate a score to a poem?
Salem: Absolutely. A score cannot really reflect the value of a piece.
Abdul Nassir: I don’t think so, no. People who feel it’s wrong, don’t have to compete, but I feel it instills that sense of competition into poetry and that can work in positive ways when it comes to bringing out a poet’s potential whether it be content, performance, or crowd connection. I know the slams that I’ve competed in have put me in spots where I had no choice but to give it my 100%, and once you’re there you question yourself, “Why can’t I perform every piece of mine like it was a slam piece?”
Sara: It isn’t, but a score has the ability to cause you to undermine your poems, which is the negative aspect of scoring. You just need to pick your slam pieces carefully. For example, there are certain pieces that I never used in slam because I just wasn’t ready for them to be scored, I loved them too much to allow them to be undermined by a score.
Dorian: Does the competition element take away from the honesty and freedom inherent of poetry?
Sara: It depends. If a poet is going out of their element simply because they know that this certain style or piece will score high, even though it doesn’t represent them, then yes. Competition becomes a barrier to honesty and freedom. Being true to yourself and your message, regardless of competition, is an important aspect of slam—staying grounded in the purpose of your voice.
Dorian: I remember changing poems to appeal to judges and feeling terrible afterwards. It didn’t even score well!
Salem: If anything, it adds to it. It pushes you to be great. To challenge yourself. It also makes for very exciting slams.
Abdul Nassir: Not exactly, no. A slam also gives you an opportunity to try out new methods of performance and techniques in your pieces knowing that you have to really set it on a different bar if you are to take it all the way. I’ve watched slams where poets have gotten on stage and left their bare heart out and walked off. So, the honesty and freedom stays intact but keeping in mind that it is, in fact, a competition so force an extra edge to your poetry.
Dorian: What’s your most memorable slam moment?
Sara: Winning my first slam back in January at Rooftop Rhythms. The final piece and the final score just felt amazing.
Abdul Nassir: My most memorable slam moment would be when I finally had the courage and will-power to perform a piece I wrote to my grandmother at my last slam knowing that at that moment, it wasn’t about the crowd or the points. It was only about me and my brothers.
Salem: Finding out me and Sara were tied and had to fight (recite poems) to the finish. She wiped the floor with me. Loved it..
Dorian: Who is your favorite performance or slam poet?
Salem: Who is your favorite performance or slam poet? Abdul Nassir’s and piece about his grandmother. It was a beautiful and personal piece, and it hit home hard.
Sara: Sarah Kay
Dorian: Just because her name is Sarah. Makes sense!
Abdul Nassir: Man, I love so many. One of my favorites would definitely have to be Daniel Beaty’s piece titled “Knock Knock”. Raw power and emotions right there.
Dorian: Is it more important to be a good writer or good performer?
Abdul Nassir: I’d say a good blend of both is always needed but sometimes a high level performance can take your words to a whole different level so a few plus points for performance from my side on that one.
Sara: Both need to be in sync. A good writer who lacks in performance will not do justice to their words. A good performer who lacks in content will also be out of balance as a poet/slam artist.
Salem: Both are skills that can be developed. Although good performance is a transferable skill, good writing always touches people.
Dorian: Is it more important to be a good giver or receiver because I left my wallet at home and need a favor with this bill? A split three ways is only…
Abdul Nassir, Sara, and Salem stare in shock with mouths open…
By Dorian “Paul D” Rogers | @pauldtheripy
