The Vocal Festival: A celebration of oratory and vocal expression
In a world where social media and written messages dominate, it is often easy to forget the power and beauty of the human voice. However, a recent event has brought public speaking back to the forefront: the Vocal Festival. This first edition brought together around fifty participants who competed in eloquence and creativity to tell stories in just two minutes.
Organized by Jack & Jane Production, the Vocal Festival aimed to highlight oral writing and encourage the exchange of stories. More than 30 candidates were selected from among the applicants, creating a passionate community made up of young Congolese coming from different backgrounds in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The festival has been hailed as a unique opportunity to showcase the often overlooked art of oratory. Participants were able to share their stories, experiences and worldviews. For the organizers, it is about giving a voice to everyone, a voice to tell their stories, tell the world and grow together.
The highlight of the festival was the awards ceremony. Three stories were rewarded during this ceremony. Yves Ponzo won first prize with his story entitled “Common Court”. Muntu la Zemeusla won second prize with “The Woman in the Corner”, while Paiam Kitoko was awarded third prize for her story “Simone sumbu”. A special prize was also awarded to John B for his poignant story entitled “The Little Orphan in the Street”.
In addition to the cash prizes and books offered to the winners, the special prize also allowed John B to make a recording at the Qiblah studio at the brand new Mokili na Poche cultural center. Deserved recognition for his talent and exceptional contribution.
First prize winner Yves Ponzo expressed his gratitude to the festival for showcasing public speaking and giving him a platform to share his story. Its text, a poetic painting of Kinshasa society and its common classes, recalls the challenges faced by children and highlights the importance of giving them an appropriate education.
By rewarding these talented storytellers, the Vocal Festival demonstrated the power of voice and oral expression. He also encouraged participants to continue telling, sharing and passing on their stories. Through events like this, we witness the vitality of public speaking and its impact on society.
In conclusion, the Vocal Festival honored the art of oratory by providing a platform for talented storytellers. He showed that the human voice has the power to captivate, inspire and create deep connections. We hope that this first edition is the start of a long tradition of celebrating vocal expression and the art of storytelling.