April is Poetry Month. As such, it recognizes the strongest force in the universe, an idea. Poems are ideas brought to life with images that form a fixed reality. For the last four years, the Atlanta Vibe has dedicated its performances during the month of April to the spirit and power of words. Throughout April, spoken word artists make special efforts to take poetry to people in places it is not usually heard. Poets hanging in the Vibe view their craft as an educational tool and use their voices to speak about the pain, pride and pinned up dreams of slave descendants. Sharing truth and knowledge in this way continues the oral/griot tradition of African education. Poets in the Vibe encourage everyone to plan, attend and participate in spoken word events and become a part of the next great movement that will elevate slave descendants' status.

ESP Honors the Spirits of Spoken Word

ESP (Experimental Spoken-word Performances) will close out Poetry Month by celebrating all spoken word artists who work so hard maintaining what we have come to know and love as: The Atlanta Vibe. Yohannes created ESP to give artists an experimental venue, where risky ideas and performances are the norms. His goal is to go beyond T.H.I.N.C.-ing outside the box to tearing down its walls. At ESP, performers are expected to push the limits of perception, bend their straight-line perspectives and recast their concept of spoken word. Over the last seven months, ESP audiences have witnessed some true epiphanies.

Yohannes will round out the Month Poetry by celebrating the spirit of spoken word. On this night some of the ATL's cutting edge performers whose concepts have become innovations in the Vibe will honor those poets who kept poetry alive in Atlanta. It is their legacy that provided a foundation for Atlanta's unique genre. Michael Warner, one of the headliners for Yohannes' up coming AHOP blow out Vanguard will stop by to plug his new CD GOD's Light...Music. Also, never missing a beat, Drez "the Beat-nik" will call forth spirits with beats from his CD Have Mic Will Travel. In weeks to come, The DISH will provide a sneak peek at other mad bombers of truth who will be a part of this reunion, celebrate the growth of the family of spoken word, great poets and serious artists of all types.Come join the family at AHOP 840 Ralph David Abernathy Rd. 8:00 P. M. May 16, 2001. For more info, hit Yohannes up voice 404-244-6023 or e-mail icim@bellsouth.net.

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