Woordnacht 2018

A very special performance, together with seven other spoken word artists, for this literary festival in Rotterdam, Ike was invited to write a piece in response to W.H. Auden’s ‘The Night Mail’. Each artist approached the subject ‘Zeitgeist’ and appropriated — some more than others — the original poem’s form to write their own.

All eight of us were present to perform our pieces at the event in Rotterdam, which was kicked off with a performance by poet laureate of The Netherlands, Ester Naomi Perquin. (Wow — that was really something!) With a lively crowd of burned out, homeless and (partly) drunk visitors to the event’s location (Pauluskerk), this was a very special evening indeed. Thank you, organizer Myrte Leffring for the invite, the honor!

Pictures by Selma Hengeveld.

Launch Clubspoken

June 14th of 2017 is the day that Clubspoken was officially launched. With an exclusive showcase at cocktail lounge Apt. in Amsterdam, eight members of the very first spoken-word agency in The Netherlands were presented to the public. Ike, as a proud member, was one of them. Check out his profile on the agency’s website here. The night was hosted by the always and forever hilarious Farbod Frappant.

Below is a photographic impression of the launch party by Lexie Spiegelreflexie. (Clubspoken’s promo video as seen above was shot by VERS TV.)

Ike for Hyatt Regency Amsterdam

Ike stretches his fingers doing jazz hands as part of the De Schone Schrijvers team during the grand opening of Hyatt Regency Amsterdam (June 8th). Left of him, Justin Samgar — and Smita James was there too. Yes, we are Clubspoken, and you can hire our butts. Picture shot by Jesaja Hizkia Hutubessy.

IFIGK @ Woorden Worden Zinnen

These past days in February have been exciting, with lots of performances and new spoken word friends. Thanks to all those who love and manage successfully to organize these events where can come together and share thoughts and sounds. That sounds…ah, well…we ain’t tree huggin’ and we sure weren’t hugging trees at the Tolhuistuin on Frebruary 7, though they may have kept us warm from the IJ storm.

Instead the Tuinhuis of Tolhuistuin kept us warm, as well as Woorden Worden Zinnen #26, and the performers below. ((very nice) Pictures by Stacii Samidin.)

Kimberly Martina

Brian Kemble

Widad Sitti

Roger Buyne a.k.a. Lost

Santusia Soñador & Miss Kitty

Tieka

Justin Samgar, the PoetryPusher

Amir Sulaiman

Thank you all for your words, and thanks to Ella (host/organizer) and Wesley (organizer) for inviting IFIGK to speak at your first Amsterdam edition. We had a blast!

(Please give one more round of praise for this evening’s photographer, Stacii Samidin Awesome pics!)

IFIGK @ Foam (poetry reading)

Last Friday, Ike was granted the wonderful opportunity to perform at Foam, the photography museum in Amsterdam. Along with Kira Wuck, Tieka, Amber-Helena Reisig, Smita James, and Rene Oskam, he presented works written for the occasion – a poetry sesh in support of the exhibition of Francesca Woodman’s On Being An Angel. This event was organized in cooperation with and another artistic edition of #houdjemonddichter. Below is a few pictures, courtesy of the museum.

Thanks to #houdjemonddichter for the invitation, thanks to Foam for inviting poetry, thanks to the other speakers for their words, thanks to Justin Samgar for hosting, organizing, and what-not, thanks to the wonderful audience, your genuine respect and attention for the readers, and thanks to Francesca Woodman for her photography. You should sheck that out. Exhibition runs thru March 9th 2016.