PAFF’s SpokenWord Fest: Where Rhymes, Resistance & Rhythm Collide
The Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF) has never just been about films—it’s a full-on cultural experience. And if you think the only way to tell a story is through a screenplay, let us introduce you to PAFF’s SpokenWord Fest produced by Diverse Verses LA, the part of PAFF where words hit like drumbeats, syllables spit fire, and voices rise in poetic rebellion.
The Details
📅 Date & Time: Friday, February 7, Door at 6 p.m., Show at 6:30 p.m.
📍 Location: Cinemark Baldwin Hills & XD, Los Angeles
🎟️ Tickets & More Info: Click here
2025 POETS
st. dill, Blu, Future Star, El Rivera, Malachi Maisha, Selah Blak Sol, Bloomlike Flowers, Durmerrick, Queen Quannie, Ms. Drea_the Poet, Carlton The Messenger and Larry Love.
2025 FEATURED POET
Grammy nominated spoken word artist, author, and actress Theresa tha SONGBIRD.
2025 Honorees include:
8X GRAMMY Award Winner + Song Writer and current Grammy Nominee for best Spoken Word Poetry Album Malik Yusef.
Legendary poet, writer, vegan chef and bedrock of The Anansi Writer’s Workshop at The World Stage Performance Gallery V. Kali.
More
For those who live for the power of the pen and the punch of performance, PAFF’s SpokenWord Fest is the ultimate stage for raw truth and unapologetic expression. It’s where wordsmiths, griots, and lyrical prophets take the mic and unleash everything from gut-wrenching personal narratives to razor-sharp social commentary. Whether you’re into the hypnotic flow of a seasoned poet, the gut-punch delivery of a slam champion, or the soul-stirring cadence of a storyteller who’s seen it all, this is where the magic happens.
PAFF’s SpokenWord Fest isn’t just a showcase—it’s a movement. It’s an unfiltered, unrestrained celebration of Black voices speaking their truth in rhythm, rhyme, and raw power. Expect to hear themes of resistance, love, identity, and liberation wrapped in verses that demand attention. This is art that refuses to sit quietly. It’s bold. It’s necessary. It’s now.
And don’t just expect to sit back and watch. If you’ve got something to say, this is your chance. Open mic sessions and interactive moments give audiences a shot to engage, share, and immerse themselves in the pulse of poetic activism. Whether you’re stepping to the mic or just soaking it all in, PAFF’s SpokenWord Fest is a space where every voice matters.
So if you’re ready to feel something real, to witness poetry that doesn’t just speak but shouts, then make your way to PAFF’s SpokenWord Fest. Because in a world where so much gets lost in the noise, here, words still mean everything.
