Goma Slam Sessions / Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo

In some places, the expressive art of slam poetry is viewed as a kind of fashionable behavioural trend that can be seen as “hot” or “not”. This is not the case in Goma, where slam serves as a vital tool of self-expression, peace-building and democracy. 

Located in eastern DR Congo near the border with Rwanda, residents of Goma have dealt with near-constant war, political unrest and refugee crises dating back to the mid-90s. Throughout history, such conditions have often provided fertile ground for the rise of artistic voices, but Goma has been further handicapped by a legacy of suppression that persists in the long shadow of former dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. Until now.

Fueled by artistic courage and the will to make a difference, the local collective that runs Goma Slam Sessions has given voice to the unheard by harnessing the expressive power of poetry. And while the group’s mere existence represents a tremendous act of courage, they do far more than just exist.

Operating out of their own cultural space, the Goma Slam Sessions collective runs various monthly events that showcase local slam poetry practitioners for an enthusiastic audience that is increasingly hungry for independent thought and vibrant creative expression. Doubling down on these local efforts, they’ve also partnered with slammers and cultural organisations to produce events in other territories such as Masisi, Rutshuru, Nyiragongo and South Kivu.

Thanks to these efforts, long-festering social and political themes are finally being discussed out in the open, an important step toward community healing and progress.

In addition to these events, Goma Slam Sessions also organises street performances as well as directing slam workshops for women, whose voices have been heavily suppressed by antiquated social and political policies. They also run slam programs in primary and secondary schools, aimed at arming future generations with the power of free speech in pursuit of a society that champions peace and social justice. 

They’ve already reached more than 500 students with these programmes, and the impact is profound. Students who participate see substantial growth in pride and self-esteem, often becoming ambassadors of peace in their respective schools. It’s a multi-generational approach to securing basic human rights, a luxury that many of us take for granted.

Many of the artists in the Goma Slam Sessions collective were born in the 1990s and 2000s, a generation that has never known peace. They carry a tremendous emotional burden that makes it difficult enough to simply find the words to describe their circumstances, let alone summon the courage to share these words in public. 

By creating an artistic platform and encouraging people to use it, Goma Slam Sessions is a resounding spark of life that promotes the power of words to process pain and ignite a fresh new landscape of hope. As slammers are fond of saying - writing heals, and speech liberates.

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