Wednesday, October 9, was an evening filled with passion and creativity, rooted in the legacy of Martin Luther King. This year, we received an overwhelming number of inspiring submissions, showcasing the power of the spoken word.
The jury, consisting of Mitchell Esajas, Uchaindani Watson, Chanty Louis, and Dave Ensberg-Kleijkers, selected Yasin Nurmohamed as the winner of the 2024 Martin Luther King Spoken Word competition.
In addition to recognition and appreciation, Yasin received the first prize of 500 euros. The two other finalists – Benjamin Koponen and Keanu Neral – each received 250 euros for their outstanding performances.
Of course, the evening was not just about winning. Spoken Word is about voices being heard, stories being told, and emotions being shared. Therefore, the jury also awarded an encouragement prize, recognizing the courage and inspiration reflected in every submission. This prize went to Aukje Lausberg. The Young Talent Award, given to someone with great potential for the future, was awarded to Isabella Smeets.
Theme
The theme of the Martin Luther King Lecture 2024, and thus also of the Spoken Word competition, was ‘Freedom, Justice, and Hope’. Each poet gave their own interpretation of this timeless theme, inspired by the words of Martin Luther King: We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.
About the Martin Luther King Lecture
Martin Luther King's non-violent struggle for equal rights is still an inspiration today. With his speeches, he enthused many and managed to build bridges and remove resistance. In 1965, King received an honorary doctorate in Social Sciences from VU Amsterdam. The annual Martin Luther King Lecture is in memory of his work and to inspire the prevailing zeitgeist. Prior to the lecture, a Spoken Word contest will take place at VU Amsterdam.
Read more about the Martin Luther King Lecture 2024
