Editing Spoken word (section)

===International development===

==== France ====
[[File:Mumbi Macharia Spoken Word Poet.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Kenyan spoken word poet Mumbi Macharia]]
Outside of the United States, artists such as French singer-songwriters [[Léo Ferré]] and [[Serge Gainsbourg]] made personal use of spoken word over rock or symphonic music from the beginning of the 1970s in such albums as ''[[Amour Anarchie]]'' (1970), ''[[Histoire de Melody Nelson]]'' (1971), and ''[[Il n'y a plus rien]]'' (1973), and contributed to the popularization of spoken word within French culture.

In 2003, the movement reached its peak in France with Fabien Marsaud aka [[Grand Corps Malade]] being a forerunner of the genre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/303071/grand-corps-malade/biography|title=Grand Corps Malade - Biography {{!}} Billboard|website=www.billboard.com|language=en|access-date=16 June 2017}}</ref><ref name="today">{{cite web |title=Grand Corps Malade |url=https://www.francetoday.com/archives/grand-corps-malade/ |website=France Today |access-date= 25 December 2018 |date= 11 July 2006}}</ref>

==== UK ====
In the UK, musicians who have performed spoken-word lyrics include [[Blur (band)|Blur]],<ref>{{cite web |author=DeGroot, Joey |date=23 April 2014 |title=7 Great songs with Spoken Word Lyrics |url=http://www.musictimes.com/articles/5677/20140423/6-great-songs-with-spoken-word-lyrics-blur-tom-waits-and-more.htm |work=MusicTimes.com}}</ref> [[The Streets]] and [[Kae Tempest]].

==== Zimbabwe ====
In [[Zimbabwe]], spoken word has been mostly active on stage through the House of Hunger Poetry slam in [[Harare]], Mlomo Wakho Poetry Slam in [[Bulawayo]] as well as the Charles Austin Theatre in [[Masvingo]]. Festivals such as [[Harare International Festival of the Arts]], [[Intwa Arts Festival KoBulawayo]] and [[Shoko Festival]] have supported the genre for a number of years.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Muchuri |first1=Tinashe |title=Honour Eludes local writers |url=https://www.newsday.co.zw/2016/05/14/honour-home-eludes-local-writers/ |website=NewsDay |location=Zimbabwe|date=14 May 2016|access-date= 15 May 2016 }}</ref>

==== Trinidad and Tobago ====
In [[Trinidad and Tobago]], this art form is widely used as a form of social commentary and is displayed all throughout the nation at all times of the year. The main poetry events in Trinidad and Tobago are overseen by an organization called the 2 Cent Movement. They host an annual event in partnership with the [[NGC Bocas Lit Fest]] and [[First Citizens Bank]] called "The First Citizens national Poetry Slam", formerly called "Verses". This organization also hosts poetry slams and workshops for primary and secondary schools. It is also involved in social work and issues.

==== Ghana ====
In [[Ghana]], the poetry group Ehalakasa, led by Kojo Yibor Kojo AKA Sir Black, holds monthly TalkParty events (collaborative endeavour with [[Nubuke Foundation]] and/ [[National Theatre of Ghana]]) and special events such as [https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Mawuli-Senior-High-School-wins-Ehalakasa-poetry-slam-championship-1212142 Ehalakasa Slam Festival] and end-of-year events.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tigo|first=Joshua|date=2018-07-22|title=Accra's biggest poetry and spoken word event set for September 2|url=https://www.adomonline.com/accras-biggest-poetry-and-spoken-word-event-set-for-september-2/|access-date=2021-05-01|website=Adomonline.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Somuah-Annan|first=Grace|date=2021-05-16|title=We must build a poetry community in Ghana -Spoken word artists advocate|url=https://3news.com/we-must-build-a-poetry-community-in-ghana-spoken-word-artists-advocate/|access-date=2021-05-22|website=3news|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ehalakasa TalkParty Plus--Be There or Nowhere|url=https://freduagyeman.blogspot.com/2010/06/ehalakasa-talkparty-plus-be-there-or.html|access-date=2021-05-22|website=Ehalakasa TalkParty Plus--Be There or Nowhere}}</ref> This group has produced spoken-word poets including Mutombo da Poet,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theafricandream.net/mutombo-poet-of-ghana-presents-africas/ | title=Mutombo The Poet of Ghana presents Africa's spoken word to the world | date=3 October 2012 | publisher=TheAfricanDream.net | access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref> Chief Moomen, Nana Asaase, [[Sonny Kwaku Bedwei|RhymeSonny]], [[Koo Kumi]], Hondred Percent, Jewel King, Faiba Bernard, Akambo, Wordrite, Natty Ogli, and Philipa.

The spoken-word movement in Ghana is rapidly growing that individual spoken-word artists like MEGBORNA,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hypercitigh.com/personality-of-the-week/meet-knust-finest-spoken-word-artist-chris-edzordzi-parker-mogborna/ |title=Meet KNUST finest spoken word artist, Chris Parker 'Megborna' |website=hypercitigh.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228010756/https://hypercitigh.com/personality-of-the-week/meet-knust-finest-spoken-word-artist-chris-edzordzi-parker-mogborna/ |archive-date=28 February 2021}} </ref> are continuously carving a niche for themselves and stretching the borders of spoken word by combining spoken word with 3D animations and spoken-word video game, based on his yet to be released poem, Alkebulan.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-11-06|title=Meet KNUST finest spoken word artist, Chris Parker 'Megborna'|url=https://hypercitigh.com/campus-news/knust-updates/meet-knust-finest-spoken-word-artist-chris-edzordzi-parker-mogborna/|access-date=2021-05-22|website=Hypercitigh.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:The Megborna Concert 1st Kvngs Edition - 44.jpg|thumb|Megborna performing at the First Kvngs Edition of the Megborna Concert, 2019]]
In [[Kumasi]], the creative group CHASKELE holds an annual spoken-word event on the campus of [[KNUST]] giving platform to poets and other creatives. Poets like Elidior The Poet, Slimo, T-Maine are key members of this group.

==== Kenya ====
In [[Kenya]], poetry performance grew significantly between the late 1990s and early 2000s. This was through organisers and creative hubs such as Kwani Open Mic, Slam Africa, Waamathai's, Poetry at Discovery, Hisia Zangu Poetry, Poetry Slam Africa, Paza Sauti, Anika, Fatuma's Voice, ESPA, Sauti dada, Wenyewe poetry among others. Soon the movement moved to other counties and to universities throughout the country. Spoken word in Kenya has been a means of communication where poets can speak about issues affecting young people in Africa. Some of the well known poets in Kenya are Dorphan, Kenner B, Namatsi Lukoye, Raya Wambui, Wanjiku Mwaura, Teardrops, Mufasa, Mumbi Macharia, Qui Qarre, Sitawa Namwalie, Sitawa Wafula, Anne Moraa, Ngwatilo Mawiyo, Stephen Derwent.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ekesa|first=Beatrice Jane|date=18 August 2020|title=Integration of Work and Leisure in the Performance of Spoken Word Poetry in Kenya|url=https://jcsll.gta.org.uk/index.php/home/article/view/23|journal=Journal of Critical Studies in Language and Literature|volume=1|issue=3|pages=9–13|doi=10.46809/jcsll.v1i3.23|issn=2732-4605|doi-access=free}}</ref>