Funding is provided by the US Embassy Budapest (Government of the United States), the International Visegrad Fund and Trafó House of Contemporary Arts.
The project is co-financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.
PHOTOS
Kemény Zsófi, Marc Kelly Smith, Nemes Márk
Day 1: Conference Day – November 27
Day 2: Semi-finals – November 28
Day 3: Showcase Day – November 29
VIDEOS
Bob Holman
Day 2: Semi-finals – November 28
Day 3: “Bridging Barriers” workshop
Bob Holman, Süveg Márk Saiid, Marc Kelly Smith
Some posts and comments by the participants, after the event.
Adriana Bertran Ania – Spain
I must confess I was scared about going to the European Poetry Slam championship. I had
to miss classes (gràcies, companyxs, per fer les guàrdies), I feared missing Ricardo Dubcek,
I feared how fragile my body sometimes gets when routines are altered. I feared performing
badly in front of such a number of what would later become slamilia friends.
Gracias, Poetry Slam España por llevarme allí. Gracias a lxs campeonxs Dani Orviz, Marga
Tzébé y Salva Soler por convencerme de que sí o sí, debía ir.
Thank you, Slam Poetry Magyarország (Kati Strahl, Hannelore Capoen, everyone involved),
for being so patient and hard-working.
On Thursday, we enjoyed a magical performance that breathed in poetry and breathed out
theatre. Thank you, Chicago Speakeasy ensemble and all the amazing European artists.
Women of the World Champion Mwende “FreeQueency” Katwiwa topped the night with such
necessary truths, thank you.
And on Friday, we made it happen. Our poems swam across the air to each heart and
resonated with our human struggles. Hungarian poet and Free Speech expert Peter Molnar
won first place, and I came second and won the Jury Award. Sofie Frost came third and
Jonna Nummela came fourth; they both delivered world-class performances.
But the important part is that the slamilia grew and y’all made my heart bigger by coming to
live here, too.
So thank you.
NATHAN JONNIAUX – BELGIUM
Some words from Slam Poetry Magyarország, Budapest…
“It has to be honest
It has to be you
About who you are
Not Somebody else
(…)
Slam is life
It’s all of us together
(…)
That’s what art is about
It’s the passion that connect us together
(…)
The audience is the most important thing in slam world
Celebrate the community around the speaker”
Marc Kelly Smith, 27/11/18. Thank you for these touching words.
Tomáš Straka – Slovakia
Kétszáz forintos pizza
Do you know what our poems will change ? …
My father once told me, if Kossuth makes politics as Bártok makes music, we all will speak
one language.
I wrote my first poem when I was 16 – Haiku about scent of a woman in my palms. Since
that I have known I am a poet – that means that poetry itself defines my being. Then I
discovered Beatniks, Jiří Wolker, Appoilnaire, Kryl, Márai and a lot, lot more; making poetry
festivals with friends in Kassai Varos and dreaming about poetry theaters, dreaming about
becoming a true beatnik, knowing nothing about slam, just having strong passion to speak
loudly and let other speak maybe even louder.
All names of undiscovered artist and philosophers of my city, which no one cares about still
screaming in my ears with mad pressure: WE HAVE TO STAY CONNECTED TO MAKE
OUR LIVES MATTER ! Connected to other world.
I spent the Championship week mostly with people from east and south Europe,
postsocialist children of concrete and civil war (silent or open), milenials of suffering all
knowing that what Anatol said that our countries are just bridges to the success of others or
as Simon said I do not blame god or our homeland because they do not exist.
My country is a Disney princess, hypocrit stupid girl, singing songs of world that never
existed waiting for strong male ruler to finally save her, from everything what he thinks is
bad. And it is very very hard to wake that bitch up!
Many of poets I met feel the same and after a long time I feel acceptation, or at least
understanding. What will our poems change? Do we have a voice ? In this world which
seems like it is run just by politics and economy?
Is there any power in the voice of a poet, voice of people ? „You are the Prime Minister but I
am slam poetry champion !!!“ Peter said. As loud as he fucking could! And the fact that he
won a championship maybe gives us some hope.
Not to change the world completely – Hippie dreams long time rotten. But hope we can
change small, intimate, world of people that can hear us !!! Small civil souls of our time
which are not exhausted too much to listen. „ I LOVE YOU !!! I LOVE YOU !!! I LOVE YOU
!!!“ ends Kurt Cobain the twentieth century by his suicide letter. „I LOVE YOU !!! I LOVE
YOU !!! I LOVE YOU !!!“ that is what I want to say to everyone of you who dont forget to feel,
to fight and to be proud of that.
What will our poems change ?
Nič… ?
Maybe.
But we create a world, worlds actually, which audience gladly accept!!! Thank you, all the
organizers, for that precious experience, thank Marc, Bob and all the Chicago poets that we
can host you and you can host us.
Thank you, everyone, for singing and painting in the deaf and blind world. You make dream
become a reality, you make hope rise.
Lots of Love
Mattias Hammarstrom – Sweden: These were without a doubt the most powerful and vibrating
days of my life. I cannot thank you and the other slam poets that made this a reality enough.
I send all my love, gratitude and humility across the beautiful bridges we built together ❤ –
Stilda Ana Roguljić – Croatia: As long as there are people like you and others on the championship,
the world has a chance!
Bailey Castle – USA: Tomáš!! Wishing I was eating kétszáz forintos pizza with you and everyone
along the Danube River singing poetry and listening to the silence of it all. Connected
forever. All my love ❤️
Adriana B. Ania – Spain: what a beautiful way of capturing it. you are a poet.
Spanish poet Gabriel Celaya once said: “Poetry is a weapon charged with future." Maybe
not, maybe we are preaching to the converted, but aren’t we all a bit stronger after some
days of poetry?
Joel Chmara – USA
I just wanted to reach out and thank you Kati, Bali, Hannelore, Pion, and Suveg Mark for
working tirelessly so that the world Slam community could come together and have a
cathartic experience. You all gave us a welcoming in Budapest that made us feel special
and cared for.
Holy smokes! This trip was filled with beautiful humans, inspiring art, and zero arrests. I am
way too lucky for what I was able to experience. Here’s some of my newest dear friends.
The European National Slam will live long in my heart…and liver.
Marija Grubor – Macedonia-
And so we were us a bunch of beautiful people from different corners of the world, United in
love for the izrečeniot and the written word. I’m sure the roads will cross us again one day!
Poetry connecting people
Funding is provided by the US Embassy Budapest (Government of the United States), the International Visegrad Fund and Trafó House of Contemporary Arts.
The project is co-financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.