2023 Piedmont Laureate Dasan Ahanu will lead Spoken Word contest

Meet Dasan Ahanu

2023 North Carolina Piedmont Laureate

Christopher Massenburg, better known as Dasan Ahanu, is an award-winning public speaker, organizer, curator, educator, poet, spoken word artist, educator, songwriter, and emcee, and loyal Hip Hop head born and raised in Raleigh and currently based in Durham, North Carolina.

He is co-founder and managing director of Black Poetry Theatre, a Durham based theatre company that creates and produces original poetry and spoken word based productions. As an active participant in poetry slam, Dasan has competed regionally and nationally as a founding member and coach of Durham, NC’s own Bull City Slam Team. In 2010 and 2014, Ahanu led the Bull City Slam Team in winning the Southern Fried Southeastern Regional Poetry Slam, the largest regional poetry slam in the country. He also led the team to a 3rd place finish at the 2010 National Poetry Slam and a 2nd place finish in Group Piece Finals at the 2012 National Poetry Slam.

He is an Alumni Nasir Jones Fellow at Harvard’s Hip Hop Archive and Research Institute, resident artist at the St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation/Hayti Heritage Center, and visiting lecturer at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He has performed across the country, appeared on national radio and TV, published three books of poetry, been featured in various periodicals and released numerous recordings. He works with organizations and institutions to develop effective arts strategies to enhance their work in the community.

Literary Contest

Raleigh Fine Arts Society is excited to announce that the 2024 Literary Contest will be a 

SPOKEN WORD CONTEST 

For all high school students in the Triangle.

NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS

Sept 1 – Oct.27, 2023

Raleigh Fine Arts Society is excited to announce that the 2023 Literary Contest will be a SPOKEN WORD CONTEST for all high school students in the Triangle.

The Spoken Word Contest is in partnership with the United Arts Council Piedmont Laureate program which celebrates writing in several genres including fiction, non-fiction, playwriting, children’s literature, and poetry.

This year’s Piedmont Laureate is poet Dasan Ahanu, whose vision for his appointment is to facilitate a Spoken Word competition for high school students. Ahanu is an artist, educator, scholar, and cultural organizer based in Durham. He has performed across the country, and hosted or coordinated many Poetry, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Cultural Arts events. Ahanu will facilitate the Spoken Word Contest this fall. It is open to high school students in Wake, Durham, and Orange Counties. The winners will be recognized and awarded cash prizes at a Reception and Awards Ceremony in early December. All entries will be judged by professional writers and poets selected by the United Arts Council.

HIGH SCHOOL SPOKEN WORD CONTEST

Your Words… Your Voice…

Bring Your Poem to Life!

Now Open for Submissions until October 27, 2023

Who is Eligible to Enter?

Students in grades 9-12 who attend school in Wake, Durham, or Orange County

How Can Students Enter the Contest?

Create a three-minute or less video of an original piece and submit application (button below) by October 27, 2023.

Are There Prizes?

Cash prizes in the amounts of $500, $300, and $200 will be awarded to the top three student submissions and nine additional students will receive honorable mentions and a $50 Amazon gift card. The winners will be celebrated at a reception at the North Carolina Executive Mansion on December 12, 2023.

DEADLINE: Friday, October 27, 2023 before 11:00 pm

Reception & Awards Ceremony recognizing the top 12 winners

Tuesday, December 12 at The North Carolina Executive Mansion

WORKSHOP OPPORUNITIES

We look forward to announcing a reimagined project that will include other genres, such as poetry and personal essays, as well as offering afterschool workshop opportunities with professional writers. If your high school is interested in learning more about the workshop opportunities, please contact Margaret Dickson at mhdickson@gmail.com