So, like, there’s this dude with dreadlocks and a mic, right? His name is Will Poetizia, and he’s like this Congolese slam poet who’s all about expressing emotions through his words. He’s been chilling in Kinshasa for about a year now, making moves in the slam scene. Not just sitting around, he’s out there organizing events and dropping verses that speak to the pain and anger of a wandering soul.
Will Poetizia recently hit up a couple of shows, “Au lac de nos larmes” on April 17 at Wallonie-Bruxelles and “Âme fugitive” on May 1 at the Andrée Blouin Cultural Center. He also did a gig at Mater Vitae school in Ngaliema. At these events, he showed off his poetic skills while keeping it real.
“At the lake of our tears” is all about peace in Eastern DRC. Will sees it as a collective therapy session, you know? Like, despite all the crying, the pain from the past thirty years is still there. The tears have basically formed a lake of sorrow, man.
Talking about the insecurity in Eastern Congo, Will believes that peace alone ain’t gonna cut it after a war. It’s all about living together peacefully, you feel me? “We don’t just need peace, we need to coexist peacefully, because peace after war is just setting the stage for more conflict,” he says.
Will’s art is influenced by the loss of reading culture in his hometown, Kisangani. Slam poetry is his way of waking people up and giving his community a voice. He’s all about representing those who can’t speak for themselves anymore, honoring their struggles and fights.
At the Andrée Blouin Cultural Center, Will switched it up with more love-focused pieces. The crowd dug his wordplay and sincerity. Improvising and connecting with the audience, he dropped some tracks from his album “Âme fugitive” on International Workers’ Day.
Born William Makela but known as Will Poetizia, he started dabbling in poetry in 2015 before fully embracing slam in 2018. Despite the challenges, Will is determined to make a living from his art and inspire young talent in Congo. Proudly repping Kisangani and the Tshopo province, he’s repped his region at various national and international festivals, spreading positivity and encouraging the youth to chase their dreams.
So, to sum it up, Will Poetizia is out here making waves in the slam scene, using his words to shine a light on important issues and inspire others. It’s all about spreading love, positivity, and hope through his art. Who knows where his journey will take him next, right?
