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Akoben Festival Mission Statement
"If your words don't match your work, then what is your worth?" -Galintha Harden, New Orleans Poet Weary of poetry festivals whose community involvement is simply esoteric-and even wearier of poets whose commitment has been the same? -Akoben Words-In-Action Festival began as an effort to challenge our nation's spoken word artists to have their "words match their work". Akoben will serve as a yearly training ground for our communities' most passionately vocal advocates, creating in spoken word artists, agents of social change. Each year, in its destination city, Akoben Words-In-Action Festival will complete at least five service projects in the following areas: education, economic empowerment, cultural/artistic advancement, community development, and succor/relief endeavors. Akoben will also carry out its national service mission, determined yearly by the festival family, in all of the cities where its participating poets reside. Akoben Festival Philosophy (Ah-koh-ben) n. war horn; call to action and volunteerism The ancient Akan people of Ghana developed the Adinkra symbols to express their cosmology. Akoben, the war horn, represents the community's plea to the individuals of the community to ready themselves and the village for battle. The Akoben Words-In-Action Festival is building itself as the institution through which the warriors of the spoken word community can ready themselves for the work involved in the battle for community restoration. Love is action. Akoben Festival Pledge I have heard the beckoning and I have answered the call. I agree that service is more important than success, people are more important than possessions, and principle is more important than power. I will honor the struggles of my community and work toward their alleviation. I will exhibit discipline, patience, devotion, and courage. I will live as a model of freedom and self-determination by encouraging others to be free and self-determining. These are more than mere words, as I pledge to live by a decree of action, as I speak, so shall I do!
It is best to view messages in their entirety on the yahoo groups web site since some emails are in HTML format please follow link below to view message board http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BSideNews If for some strange reason you wish to leave us know that you will be missed Ingrid B
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