Matthew Byrne | Writer, Founder, Digital Marketer

Beijing’s First Major Poetry Slam

On Sunday 3rd June 2018, Spittoon and BLK GEN co-presented the first ever Beijing Grand Slam competition at Yue Space, as part of the Beijing Underground Summer Music Days. The event had two major components: a slam competition featuring six international poets, and the first organised Chinese-language slam, following a series of bilingual workshops run by Zoe Xie.

What is a Poetry Slam?

A spoken word competition in which poets perform their own work from memory — no reading from phones or paper, no props, no costumes. Poets have three minutes to perform. The form started in Chicago in 1984 and draws heavily on free verse and musical delivery. Judging criteria covers delivery, difficulty, and rapport with the crowd.

The Contenders

PJ — a Wyoming native dragged into slam at 15 when poets like Anis Mojgani and Jesse Parent changed the course of his life. He toured the US performing at universities, bars, and cafes before a hiatus during college. Moving to Beijing helped him find his voice again through the city’s underground slam scene.

OKIN (Nikolai TNB) — slam poet and hip-hop performer from Windhoek, Namibia, born to Namibian freedom fighters. One third of critically acclaimed hip-hop and poetry group Black Vulcanite. Published in poetry anthologies in South Africa and the United States. His wo

Holly Baer — writer and teacher from Collins, Mississippi. Published in Confluence, a collection of poetry and short stories from the University of Mississippi and Kingston University. Has written for the Jackson Free Press and Patheos.com, and performed at BLK GEN and Spittoon events in Beijing.

Jumi — grew up in Washington DC and attended her first spoken word event at 13 in Oakland. Has organised open mics and published two poetry chapbooks: I Luv Woman Girl Machine and Beware of Dogs. Performed in DC and Chicago before Beijing.

J. Penn — born and raised in New York, performer and writer who believes a voice is the most important possession a person can have. Host of multiple Spittoon slam events.

Da MC (Simba Chikonye) — Afrocentric conscious hip-hop artist, poet, and social commentator from Africa with over ten years of performing. His storytelling style of rap led him into poetry. Has performed across Beijing at venues including Vics Club and the Pride of Africa Awards.

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The Chinese Slam Workshops

Alongside the main competition, Spittoon hosted the first organised Chinese-language slam in Beijing — with bilingual workshops on 17th and 30th May at The Great Outdoors on Fangjia Hutong, mentored by Zoe Xie alongside Spittoon slam poets OKIN and Hollie Montgomery. Five workshop places were available. Participants performed their slam pieces at the main event for the first time.

Originally published May 2018 on the Spittoon WeChat channel. The event took place at Yue Space, Beijing, Sunday 3rd June 2018.

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