Le Toguna Du Slam

What if slam wasn't a fad from elsewhere, but a memory that's come back? What if the stage, the microphone and the words of today were the invisible heirs of yesterday's palaver hut, the Dogon toguna, sanctuary of calm speech, peaceful debate and shared wisdom? Le Toguna du Slam is an essay-manifesto at the crossroads of African oral traditions and contemporary poetic expression. Through her clear, embodied and vibrant words, Damadja Traoré guides us on a journey of initiation: that of an art that heals, awakens and brings people together. From Mali to the world's stages, from the mouth of the griot to the breath of the slammer, this book explores: the origins and social functions of slam, the stage as a sacred space for dialogue, techniques for learning poetic performance, issues of professionalization, copyright and cultural entrepreneurship. This book is aimed at everyone: artists, educators, students, citizens, up-and-coming dreamers. It doesn't just describe slam. It transmits it, celebrates it, and roots it." TOGUNA HASN'T DISAPPEARED. IT HAS CHANGED FORM. IT'S HERE"