Talented and Versatile Poets launch the book, “We Gat Sonting Fu Sh=eh”

We Gat Sonting Fu Seh, that’s the message that resonated today from six young Belizean poets. Some of them you will recognize from our own entertainment shows or parodies, while the others are new faces, and equally as talented. The thread that binds them is the spoken word on just about any issue affecting society. They have compiled their poems in a book and accompanying DVD which was released today. News Five’s Isani Cayetano was on hand for the event.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Fans of spoken word poetry converged on the Image Factory this morning for the launch of We Gat Sonting Fu Seh, a book and CD collection of literary work featuring six young Belizean poets.  Among them are familiar faces, including Stephen Gabb and Denzel Wade, well-known members of the entertainment group The Truth and Micah Goodin, a member of the Nation Builders.

Stephen Gabb AKA Saga, The New Chapter

“I used to do poetry fu wah long while so we just mih write up and everything and these guys Kyraan, Micah, Denzel, Elizardo, Raheem dehn da great poets so we just decide fu collaborate with each other and da Yasser actually come up with di idea and we just run along with it yo know.”

The poems, primarily centered around social commentary, showcase a different side of Gabb’s personality.  Despite his growing fan base and popularity, Gabb says it’s not always about humor.

Stephen Gabb AKA Saga

Stephen Gabb AKA Saga

“I love comedy and I love entertain people but dehn have was serious side to me, yo know, and I always love poetry.  I started off with music but I did poetry as well you know.  We already have more things weh we wahn do, you know.  We have BBQ and 501 Spoken Word weh always di come out to and, you know, listen to spoken word, everybody just di speak dehn truth and yo have Drums Not Guns weh da wahn music initiative weh yo actually like, yo know, we play di instruments and everything.  Different things weh we do with Youth Voices as well, we da just embracing in positivity within Belize and speaking your own truth, you know.”

They are the product of Youth Voices, a community arts platform which seeks to contribute to the empowerment and identity building of youth.  Sharing his life story, through spoken word, with those in attendance is Elizardo Novelo.

Elizardo Novelo

Elizardo Novelo, Poet

“When I mi drop outta third form who mi di deh fu me?  My ma.  She look pan me and seh no worry, just keep on going.  Now that I’m on the top, now that I have this degree saying I am a chef I say thank God because that woman saved me.”

The book and DVD is a publication of the Image Factory Art Foundation and is supported by Research Education and Advocacy for Social Change, REACH.  Denzel Wade, also a member of The Truth, is part of the movement.

Denzel Wade, Poet

Denzel Wade

“We are still working on the video stuff that we want to do and we’re still doing music on the side also.  But right now everybody is basically trying to maintain a nine-to-five so until we reach that point where alright we could establish ourselves as a music group that would, you know, make enough finance to feed ourselves then, you know, Belize will forever be seeing us, you know.”

The book and DVD set is available is currently available for sale at the Image Factory and the Angelus Press for twenty-five dollars. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.