Kisumu to host 2023 edition of East Africa poetic hour battle

By Peter Ochieng

Kisumu City will play host to this year's edition of the East Africa Poetic Hour Battle, aimed at using arts and culture to promote cohesion in the region.

The event will go down at the Sarova Imperial Hotel in Kisumu, with artists from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Democtratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan expected to battle for the East Africa poetry gong.

The occasion is being organized by Talent Industry, working in collaboration with various stakeholders among them the county government of Kisumu, Techno Kenya, KMET, Tembea Kisumu and AAR insurance.

Godfrey Emoja, Director, Talent Industry during a press briefing in Kisumu on Thursday said the event will provide a perfect opportunity for them to create awareness on various issues.

"Through the creative use of poetry and performing arts, we have the opportunity to to raise awareness, educate and mobilize the East African population towards positive change," said Emoja.

Beatrice Odongo, Kisumu County Chief Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Sports, Arts, Gender and Youth Affairs said art has proven to be a powerful agent of change.

"Art has proven to be a powerful agent of change, addressing socioeconomic and political issues both within our country and beyond East Africa," she said.

Some of the artists expected to battle are Order-Low poet, Bene3, Sugu Vuda and Priest the poet both from Kenya, Nikki from Tanzania, ABC poet from Rwanda, Amako from South Sudan, Dudda from DRC and Diego the Dark Knight from Uganda.

Over 500 people are expected to attend.

Ordinary tickets are going for Sh500, VIP Sh2, 000 and corporate Sh10, 000.

One can buy a ticket via Lipa na M-Pesa till number 8520684.

The 2023 East Africa Poetic Hour Battle has been dubbed "Let's go East."