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This year has been a historic year our De La Salle Spoken Word Collective.
Formed four years ago, the Collective has always put forward one team for ‘Word – The Frontline’ – an inter-high school spoken word poetry competition, bringing together teams of young people from across Auckland to share their stories. This was the first year that we took two teams to the regional heats and it was also the first time in the history of that competition, that two teams were able to qualify for the semi-finals from one school. 42 teams auditioned and both our teams made it into the top 14 teams.
In the first semi-final poetry slam, our first team consisting of Luani Nansen, Noah Brown, Logan Leilua, Angelo Toalepai, Jacob Iakopo and Daniel Watta were knocked out. But we were fortunate that our second team, consisting of Togi Frost, Joseph Lagaaia, Eneliko Petaia, Nicholas Taumata, Mathieson Roodhouse-Hill and Elijah Muaiava qualified in their semi-final poetry slam and made it to the Grand slam. This is the first time our school has ever made it onto the Grand Slam stage and this in itself was an accomplishment.
Last Saturday, our second team went head to head with Auckland Girls Grammar, Mount Albert Grammar School, Nga Puna o Waiorea, St. Pauls and Rangitoto College, vying for the title of ‘Word – the Frontline’ Grand Slam Champions. The team stepped onto the stage with grace and authenticity, performing three poems about three different topics – Keeping our cultures alive through poetry, Breaking through the glass ceiling and Toxic Masculinity. The team placed third overall, making them the third best spoken word team in Auckland!
It has been an incredible journey for these budding poets and is one that they will remember for the rest of their lives.
Watch their journey on YouTube:
TEAM 1
‘DEAR YOUTH’ poem – ROUND 1: Angelo, Jacob, Luani
‘LUKE CAGE’ poem – SEMI FINALS ROUND 2: Logan
‘HONOURING YOUR JOURNEY’ poem – SEMI FINALS ROUND 3: Jacob, Noah, Daniel, Luani, Logan, Angelo
TEAM 2
‘CHILDREN OF THE MIGRATION’ poem – SEMI FINALS ROUND 2: Joe, Togi, Eneliko, Nicholas, Mafi, Elijah
‘PE’A MUTU’ poem – SEMI FINALS ROUND 3: Nicholas, Eneliko, Elijah, Joe, Togi
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