The Martin Luther King Spoken Word contest brings together a community of poets, word artists and fans of these art forms. Together, we celebrate the power of words, within the VU community and beyond. The theme of the Martin Luther King Lecture 2023, and therefore of the Spoken Word competition, is ‘Why We Can’t Wait’.
And the winner is...
Monday, 9 October was an evening filled with passion and creativity, all in the spirit of Martin Luther King's ideals. This year, we received an overwhelming number of inspiring submissions, showcasing the power of spoken word. Chanty Louis, Juneal Holder and Mattanja Gerritsen were chosen as finalists. They were invited to perform in front of the audience on 9 October.
The jury, consisting of Elten Kiene, Uchaindani Watson, and Dave Ensberg-Kleijkers, chose Chanty Louis as the winner of the Martin Luther King Spoken Word contest 2023.
In addition to recognition and appreciation, Chanty also received the first-place prize money of 750 euros. The other two finalists - Mattanja Gerritsen and Juneal Holder - each received a sum of 375 euros in recognition of their outstanding performances.
Of course, this evening was not solely about winning. Spoken word is about voices heard, stories told, and shared emotions. That's why the jury also presented an encouragement award, recognizing the courage and inspiration evident in every submission. This was awarded to Tenzin Yangdotsang.
Read more: Chanty Louis wins Martin Luther King Spoken Word Contest 2023
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 the honorary doctorate in Social Sciences from VU Amsterdam. This annual lecture is in memory of his work and to inspire the prevailing zeitgeist. Prior to the lecture, a Spoken Word contest is held at VU Amsterdam.
Read more about the Martin Luther King Lecture 2023