Mawson Lakes Slam Heat, SA

The Salisbury and Playford Libraries heat was held in Mawson Lakes on Thursday, 21st October. The heat was won by 17 year old, Marvin Mashongangiko, who has performed once or twice before and has been writing for about 8 months.
The runner up was 16 year old, Manal Younus, who has been writing for years, but until the slam, had never performed, read out or shown her work to other people.

Winner, Marvin said that it felt good to express himself. "The Slam was a really good experience for me as I got to hear other forms of poetry that I was not aware of prior to the night. I entered because poetry is a way of expressing my feelings and emotions as well as showing off my writting skills in a way that allows other  people to read it and get to know me and what it's like to be me in my world. It also highlights my ambitions in life. I wanted to get exposure and be heard by a lot of people for ac hance to try and change lives and the world with my speech."

Marvin's favourite style of writing is rap/hip hop and when asked if he thinks it's important for Australians to write and perform their own work, Marvin said, "I think it would be a good idea because everyone has a story to tell and each one is different from the last and it would be good to hear them all." Pretty much what the Slam is all about!

Runner up, Manal Younus says she loves poetry. "It always sounds so elegant even if you're saying something that is completely meaningless. When I want to get things off of my chest I feel silly just writing pages and pages in a journal, so instead I would put my thoughts in to songs and poems to express my thoughts. This way I would actually enjoy looking back on them. I entered the slam because I knew that my work wasn't bad and I thought that some people might like my style of rhyming so I figured I might as well just put it out there."
When we asked her how she felt performing for the first time, she said, "It was a bit scary especially since my work is mostly personal thoughts and opinions about the world. My songs and poems, I feel, really show the kind of person I am. To read them to a bunch of strangers is like having a deep and meaningful conversation with strangers. It felt good afterwards though."

APS: Do you have a favourite style of writing or a favourite writer?
MY: I think that 80s and 90s hip-hop was amazing as for favourite writers (rappers) Lupe Fiasco and Common. This is because they write lyrics that flow so well, but if you spoke the words as a poem, they still make sense and have meaning and emotion.

APS: Do you think it is important for Australians to write and perform their own work and why?
MY: Yes I do. Some of the Australian poems that I have heard/read have been so good, including those I've heard at the slam. People can relate to most of the stuff that these Australians write about which makes their poems/songs more enjoyable to listen to.


Winner, Marvin Mashongangiko and Runner up, Manal Younus


Marvin receives his prize from host, Daniel Watson


Manal - mic and runner up prize in hand, with Daniel