*spark! - Sarah Kay performs part 1

Part 1 of Sarah Kay's performance at Acumen Fund's *spark! event, a benefit hosted by Acumen's New York chapter. *spark! talks share stories of inspiring individuals igniting change around the world.
Sarah is a Spoken Word poet and the founder of Project V.O.I.C.E., a national movement that celebrates and inspires youth self-expression through Spoken Word poetry. For more on Sarah & Project V.O.I.C.E., visit www.project-voice.net
Acumen Fund is a non-profit global venture fund that uses entrepreneurial principles to help solve the problems of global poverty. Learn more about Acumen Fund on our website, www.acumenfund.org
To participate in future Acumen Fund events, join our Community - community.acumenfund.org
Many thanks to Zack Wilson for his work putting this video together. www.zackwilson.com

[@RoadcasterSA]

I've lived in Cape Town my whole life and have recently discovered Sarah Kay's works of poetry. To stumble on this and hear her tell a tale that is so insightful of the history of our beautiful and troubled city is a real treat. The moment she started singing Shosholoza, my ears were perked. She did not dissapoint and it made this Capetonian very happy. Thanks for helping keep the memory of District 6 alive, Sarah Kay.

[@yihu123]

Saying she inspires me is saying very little! after listening to six or seven of her poems my essay grades in english got up 10 points. Its not about what she says or how she says it its the way she looks at it! I love her speech and it comes natural, I observed it and not copy cat it but made it my own, and gave my own personal speech a little twist and people noticed it! Thank you Sarah Kay for making me look forward to what may come across my life even if its very little

[@SiriuslyPotty]

"Not even phantoms will haunt this ghost town because even their ghostly figures are not white enough". 5 years of history lessons never impacted me as much as that one line.

[@thingsTheater]

Even though this doesn't have the drums for dramatic effect, this is my favorite delivery of hers for this poem. It's not as rushed and she doesn't seem nervous anymore. It's so beautiful.

[@nomusamsiza1357]

This poem us based on a book titled District Six. It's a book about South African history, apartheid and the group settlements act. If you've read the book, the poem makes more sense.

[@TeaGreenz]

I always have to hear her poems two or three times before i start to understand them.

[@makaylawheeler3553]

I am not easily brought to tears. However Sarah Kay has achieved that with a story of fifty pigeons. I'm merely 13 but have been so heavily influenced by her poetry. Thank you

[@cc_m5477]

Absolutely perfect! Sarah Kay is one of my favorite spoken word poets and this poem was beautiful! Love you!

[@huzandam]

Sarah Kay is just awesome

[@Luisa_Ribeiro]

Always put on your ear phones and close your eyes before listening to her poems.

[@nakaimhlanga]

I'm from Zimbabwe. This is amazing

[@xxkEtchUpxx1]

brings tears to my eyes... so touching

[@kristas.358]

She is strikingly brilliant!

[@Brittanity]

her voice is beautiful, and the poem would be different if we chose to close our eyes, but I understand that she writes with performance specific in mind, so perhaps remember to experience it again, while watching her.

[@2006kcl]

"not even phantoms will haunt this ghost town"... beautiful!

[@PoetryETrain]

Thank you, these parts have been added to our playlists..

[@rajeshvaidya2427]

Incredibly powerful...loved it!

[@achevigny]

Magnifique!! La puissance des mots.

[@Medusa63]

All I can say is...beautiful!

[@35gelac]

Shosholoza is a Ndebele folk song that originated in Zimbabwe but was popularized in South Africa. The song is a traditional South African Folk song that was sung by Ndebele all-male migrant workers that were working in the South African mines in a call and response style. The song is so popular in South African culture that it is often referred to as South Africa's second national anthem.

[@Diana-gt1rv]

I agree, just beautiful 😊

[@3damnthis]

She made me cry!

[@xtremeracer4lyf]

simply amazing, well said and well spoken.

[@relk123x]

wow at first i had no idea what this was about but then its like really gd and.. i dunno how to put it but its really gd!

[@JaizAmazing]

shes amazing... wow! glade i subbed

[@vietnguru2008]

love it! love it! powerful!

[@178D]

I love you I love you I love you 10000 ❤

[@NoelieTREX]

beautiful. just beautiful.

[@bquiles90]

so powerfull. Love

[@Changeneverchanges1]

Wow That is really touching!!!

[@chuthithuytrang5704]

Anyone knows where I can get the full lyrics of this beautiful poem?

[@lawron2]

amazing spirit

[@JackCarver10]

@duncanauk1 I watched all the TED performances of her now, I must say: I like it. :D

[@mahbrocigarettes]

i wrote a poem: SARAH KAY. she probably has eaten cereal before. SPECIAL KAY. SHE PRETTY NEAT. this one time, i had a dream that i found a stick, sarah kay is really intelligent. i like listening to her talk. it makes boring people at work seem unbearable. -frum, chris

[@PaulFrank_paz]

Bravo!

[@duncanauk1]

@JackCarver10 Poetry is like art , some like it some dont.

[@GBthe1AndOnlyMuchLuv]

wow!

[@alexllamasares8218]

Thank you WIKI.

[@takioyagin7945]

😍😍😍😍

[@JackCarver10]

@blacklotus13 Alright, thanks for the advice.

[@lesiba5382]

District 6!

[@mantombimnculwane1527]

uhm...Zimbabwe is not in South Africa...beautiful piece though

[@chelsymaumbe4554]

The origins of the song come from Zimbabwe. When it was sung by the Nguni people and the Ndebele men who traveled across from Old Rhodesia to South Africa to work in the mines. Newer translations have replaced the word Zimbabwe and put in its Place South Africa. It’s a song with a mix of Zulu and Ndebele, both ethnics closely related,

[@Medusa63]

You may only be 13, but I sense an "old soul" and a beautiful one at that just by your choice of words :)

[@staind687]

very talented

[@forwordcollection]

"not even phantoms will haunt this ghost town because even their floating figures are not 'white' enough" *snaps snaps snaps*

[@blacklotus13]

@JackCarver10 you are not stupid, you're just looking from a completely wrong angle. don't try digging for content, rather consider it an artistic approach to spoken word. that's what poetry is about - combining words to a beautiful picture that touches and inspires. she is a master, if you don't believe me, watch the poem she perform at TED

[@sierraaawrr]

SHOSHOOLOOOZAAAA!~

[@Amiinah1]

WOWWOWOWOW

[@brissy724]

I feel like this is more of a history lesson than a poem

[@makaveliq3]

Guys her poem is about racial oppression of blacks. She's abstracting her main characters struggles of being oppressed and having to move. She relates it to the pigeons he keeps. He lets them free, and feels sad when the don't return. He finds them somewhere else, because they (like him) don't have a home. She is relating two abstracts and making the one abstract aware of the connection. It's not that hard. Think.

[@POTOskaterJMchic]

District 6...District 12...haha Panem anyone??

[@creamedcookielove]

Notice in all her poetry videos she's always wearings those 2 rings

[@Flictrinity]

Why Zimbabwe at the end of Shosholoza? South Africa and Zimbabwe are two different countries. Just asking....

[@dianneoberry8110]

does anyone think of the Hunger Games when you hear this?

[@shyamalganguly3598]

The liberated pigeons probably got their homes where they should belong and their feathers, the broken cages, and shattered glasses are replicas of the captive pains that they once had to remind all not to be tortured to be free to look back what it was like!!

[@Kenshinsm]

i don't get it. lol jk love you Sarah Kay

[@rethabilemonaheng4826]

I am a fan. But can you please get the words right to Shosholaza....and why change the lyrics from South Africa to Zimbabwe.... I didnt get it. I am South African and haave never heard it sung with 'Zimbabwe'. And the Cape Mayas...try get the pronunciation right..please. Great poetry!

[@Jacknava2001]

she makes poetry hot, her beauty distracts me from what shes saying lol

[@addisonscout]

the fuck is gd?

[@princekotchere]

@johnnyex . Spoken word is not written poetry. At least not by definition.

[@JackCarver10]

Her body signs are so awfully distracting... And in the end it felt like she said absolutely nothing the whole time. Am I just stupid?

[@rethabilemonaheng4826]

I am a fan. But can you please get the words right to Shosholaza....and why change the lyrics from South Africa to Zimbabwe.... I didnt get it. I am South African and haave never heard it sung with 'Zimbabwe'. And the Cape Mayas...try get the pronunciation right..please. Great poetry!

[@rainstorm1809]

+Rethabile Monaheng according to Wikipedia, (which is not the most reliable source), the Shosholoza originated in Zimbabwe and was brought to South Africa by men who travelled there to work in the mines. Since she has such strong themes in this poem about returning home, that might be why she used Zimbabwe instead of South Africa, but it also seems like there are multiple versions / translations of the original song.