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"There was a season when I couldn't find my own language. And in order to find my voice again, I began stitching together found language (in the form of centos) from rooms, conversations, books, performances, billboards, art—experiences and interactions that helped me access poetry as a playground for language. To reclaim my voice, I had to use it too (over and over) and it took much time, devotion, and refinement. “Mati Asɛm” is a dynamic, immersive one-woman performance poetry show that blends the ancient literary art of the cento with live spoken word, visual arts, and multimedia. The performance will explore the concept of intertextuality, giving new life to historical and contemporary works through the craft of creating centos—poems constructed from lines and phrases taken from stories, songs, memories, and texts I’ve experienced. “Mati Asɛm” serves as a reclamation of my voice. It is a conjugated and emotive Twi phrase meaning “what I hear, I keep,” symbolizing both wisdom and prudence. It represents not only the discovery of a new language but the rediscovery of my own. “Mati Asɛm” reflects my journey of making careful, intentional choices in language—of considering what others say, of seeking how the language around me merges with my lived experiences. In this solo performance, I will engage with the audience by performing a collection of centos— reimagining words from the past and present them in a new form, allowing the audience to witness the evolution of language and its power to resonate across time. By blending poetry with projected visual art, sound, and multimedia, “Mati Asɛm” will amplify the transformative power of poetry and language"-Cynthia Amoah
Tickets: $20
Programming support provided by: Ohio Arts Council
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
777 Evening St, Worthington, OH, United States, Ohio 43085
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