Image credit: sheep.
Poetry has always been a huge part of our culture and heritage it has its roots deeply entangled in our indigenous languages, it’s an art form that has wooed ladies, made men’s hearts melt and also tackled heavy social issues., however, it’s one of the most underrated financially and socially.
Poetry is a niche art form
Poetry is a niche art form making it harder to market let alone make a decent living from it. Unlike other art forms, such a music most people just ain’t willing to pay for shows or even buy anthologies even though they love the poet and his craft.
The historic role of poets
Historically poetry has always been seen as a none commercial art form and more of an activist art form.
In the olden days when kings and queens used to rule nations, a poet was one of the people who could tell the royalty of their flaws, and creatively inform them of the communities frustrations he or she was a link between ordinary citizens and those of royal linage.
Inyosi is the poet who was the keeper of royal heritage, he did the praise poetry mainly for kings and queens that was his main focus to celebrate, educate on all matters concerning the royal house and the building of that particular nation.
Imbongi meaning the one who gives thanks or shows gratitude is usually a poet that does praise poetry in social gatherings from wedding to coming of age celebrations and even funerals to bid farewell to the dearly departed.
Traditionally, this meant the artist/ poet didn’t get paid for his skill but rather as a sign of gratitude he would receive enough to keep him sustained for a day this was and sadly still is payment in the form of gifts and .
Usually, the host determines what’s sufficient and this has lead to problems particularly in this modern age, no artist wants to be paid with a plate of food while spending hours entertaining guests.
Companies have taken advantage of this because they usually would invite poets for corporate gigs but still not want to pay the artist worth. They invite poets and tell them they don’t have a budget yet they have expectations on the outcome of the performance and how it should fulfil their goal which is in line with the needs of the company at that given moment.
Many poets have been fooled and manipulated into how these gigs are a chance at exposure and gaining money in the near future and truth is, corporates are sharks that want to keep the margins low by using the cheapest available services while gaining profits and usually poets are at the bottom of the artistic chain.
The mother of rap
It’s rare or rather impossible in our country for a poet to make a living purely from being a poet yet poetry is the birthplace of Rap, most rappers begin with poetry and then mix it with a rhythm which eventually is referred to as rhythm and poetry(Rap) one of the most marketable art forms in our country.
However, without its roots in poetry rap wouldn’t exist perhaps it’s time we took care of the mother of rap, poetry for she gave birth to this wonderful art form of rap.
Conclusion
Poetry has been the Queen of Rap perhaps it’s time we give her the respect she deserves by paying her worth.