The Nigerlites Spoken Word Artistes (NiSWA) was formally known as The Young Nigerlites Spoken Word Artistes. This platform was founded by some young teenagers on 14th November 2022 at the HCAF Saturday Session. Abubakar Auwal and Hajara Aliyu Mahmoud founded it as co-founders with the patroonship of Sir Makama Shekwoaga. Secondary school students, university students and non-students can be members.
In the first month of its existence, an open call for membership was announced where myriad applications from talented spoken word artistes were received. The volunteering team of the platform, consisting of the two founding members, worked very hard in selecting the qualified entrants who submitted their membership applications. Only some were successful.
NiSWA held its first meeting on 5th January 2023 at the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation headquarters in Minna, with seven members in attendance. Some of the first applicants, Nazeer Suleiman and Aliyu Umar Muhammad, were asked to serve as the heads of documentation and academic assessments. Solomon Ibrahim was asked to serve as the financial officer, while Miracle Adams, Aminu Isah Sa’idu and Emmanuel Umeji were asked to serve as digital and media publicity members.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF NiSWA:
- Bringing out new voices to the world;
- Elevating the status of spoken word in the state;
- Propagating its value and the value of the artistes in the community.
- To discover more young Spoken word artistes in the state and form a community.
- To use Spoken word as a medium of advocacy.
- To create programmes, competitions, and festivals that will provide platforms to showcase the talent of spoken word artistes in Niger State.
MEMBERS OF NiSWA
Nigerlites Spoken Word Artistes is currently composed of 22 spoken word artistes. Efforts are being put in place to admit more members soon.
PROPOSED ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMES
- NiSWA will be forming, Schools, Local Government and Zonal branches in the state
- Annual spoken word competitions for school branches, local government branches, zonal branches and up to state level will be inaugurated.
- Establishment of a website, TikTok account, Instagram, and YouTube platforms.
- A weekly challenge in which, at least every week, we post new spoken word videos on our YouTube channel and other website handles for our followers.
- Workshops, the first of which took place in August 2023. It was titled PRE-ANNUAL DSWC SPOKEN WORD WORKSHOP”.
SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES
Facebook//@t Nigerlite Spoken word Artistes
Twitter // @Nigerlite_NiSWA
Instagram //@Nigerlite_NiSWA
YouTube// @TYNSWA
GMAIL // TYNSWA01@gmail.com.
Blog: maskedpoet89.blogspot.com
