Younglan's Elbow Room Poem: Review by Sylvia Onyeka
by Alewa House, published 2 years, 3 months ago
Title: Elbow Room
Genre: Spoken Word Poetry
Artist: Younglan Ft. Edge Golbador
We are all seeking for space, and that is what makes Elbow Room by Younglan inescapably significant. Be a part of the awakening, “Work very hard that you might earn a place among stars”
Elbow: The elbow is the region between the upper and lower parts of the arm that surrounds the elbow joint. The term is specifically used for humans and other primates. The function of the elbow joint is to extend and flex the arm grasp and reach for objects.
Room: A portion of space within a building or other structure separated by walls or partitions from other parts.
In tune with primal traditions, whether of African, Middle Eastern or Nordic origins, Transportational music by Edge Golbador opens the Elbow Room. The unmistakable feeling of levitation, searching, expansion, and ultimately creative conjuring transports the listener into the words forming our present day human realities.
“Everything you seem to love now,
You might just end up hating
And everything you seem to hate now
You might just end up loving”
As humans, the transience, impermanence and shiftiness of our emotions and actions is revealed in this opening lines. The poet reveals that our experience either as individuals or as a people is answerable to change, continually, in a state of flux. However, we must, while our emotions and temporal knowledge lasts, take the necessary action that will better our lives and for the betterment of our community. We cannot leave our destiny entirely to chance or based on the fact that we cannot foretell the future. This line of thought is clearly revealed in the ensuing lines.
“So I am hating the president now
So that I might just love him later. . .”
In a beautiful use of juxtaposition, Younglan expertly balances the emotions of love and hate, subtly bringing leadership and governance to accountability. While not promoting hate amongst the citizenry for leaders or advocating blind followership by the citizenry, the poet implies that matters of state and life generally is a learning process, and as such, must be subject to regular review and accountability. As Socrates, one of the greatest statesmen and philosophers, opined, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” The same is applicable to present day governance and the living experience of every person.
“The earth has had enough of the poor man’s blood
These days, it regurgitates it even”
Meaningfully titled, the Elbow Room by Younglan is a search or demand for space by individuals and peoples to express discontent, either in politics, in health, religion, education, or lifestyle in general. The above lines are eloquent testimony to the discontent which citizens in every country across the globe feel against bad governance and politics deprived of humanity. The aim of such discontent, being to create significant awareness, stir up knowledge, and in some instances, revolution all in a bid to achieve betterment–better living conditions, better remunerations for workers, better health care services, better communication approach between leaders and followers and governance over-all because despite the seeming allegiance with protest and revolution the call for caution is strong.
“But if we all get guns
Then we all might die soon!”
However, whether or not the poet ends his diatribe with a call to arms or sues for peace. . . the listener will find out upon downloading and keenly listening to the piece.
Younglan’s excellent rendition, well-paced with controlled emotions, (just short of an outburst) alongside the superb blend of imageries, rhetoric, similes, and metaphors is an undeniable pointer to the fact that the poet in Elbow Room offers the creative world a master piece in the tradition of Taban Lo Liyong, Bob Marley, Achebe, Aime Cesaire, Langston Hughes, and every other bard who, in defense of humanity, has spoken out against injustice and oppression. This is one message that is sure to outlive us all.
Consider this review a tip of the iceberg. The entire piece is totally worth your listen, and remember to leave a comment and reach out to Alewa House with regards to sponsorship, downloads, and general details regarding Elbow Room, our effective tool in chiseling out corrupt practices and carving the tomorrow of our dreams. Elbow Room is a clarion call to which every person of good conscience must heed. Otherwise, “Can’t you see scars?”
Enjoy every bit!
Sylvia Ohiaeri Onyekachukwu
Youngman Africa Development Foundation
Featured Articles
Younglan's Elbow Room Poem: Review by Lengdung Tungchamma
by Alewa House, published 2 years, 3 months ago
I have always believed that great poetry should be the voice of reason.
When men lacked the language to communicate what they hold in their hearts, they resort to poetry.
Younglan's Elbow Room is a touring poem. Its title is misplaced. If I would name this poem, I would call it "Khadiija's Voice". Khadija being an unknown protester that joined in the #EndSars protest of 2020.
Elbow Room is a rejection. A rejection of our politics, our politicians, our system of governance, and our values. When he said "Look at us now, we are monsters", he could have been referring to the unprecedented, deadly, looting that happened during the lockdowns. Do you know, no one was killed during the main #EndSars protest in Jos, but that at least 3 people died at the warehouse where plateau citizens were looting?
We broke down the roofs of the structure, destroyed the gate, stole useless metals and went face to face with soldiers that had guns. We had become monsters.
But it is the making of selfish politicians, pot bellied big for nothing men that have denied us our rights and refused us the right to complain or cry. "An ordinary councilor in Tudun Wada has 6 cars", all bought with our tax payers money. When the new Councillor of Jenta Adamu came on board about 4 years ago, the first thing he did was to get a new car.
Yet every politician claims to be working for "your interest", the "voice of the masses", and to be worried about your plight. At least, when the election comes. Lies.
The touring thing in Younglan's poem is the hope. He lays his hope in the youths, that we will vote for the kind of society we want, and if our votes are rigged, we will vote again. And we will vote again. "Until the revolution becomes you and me".
A great poem should not end without hope. It should offer a vision. A dream. This one does that.
My only criticism of this work is that it was too short. Too short to say everything. But on a second thought, poetry should be short and mystical!
I expected to hear Edge Golbador say something, his voice was soothing but the absence of any words was disappointing.
There are very few poets in this city, Younglan is one of those. I'm always delighted by his work! Always. Dear Jos, you are blessed. Relish your greatness!
May we become the revolution.
You can find the poem here. https://alewahouse.com/watch/4583990495/
Much respect to Alewa House! This poem was neat. All your work has been neat.
Elbow Room review by Lengdung Tungchamma
THE STORY OF A THOUSAND TRUE FANS
by Alewa House, published 2 years, 4 months ago
THE STORY OF 1,000 TRUE FANS
If you want to connect with anybody anywhere there is a theory you can use to achieve that, it's called the six degree of separation. It states that for every two people in the world there are at most 6 people standing between you and them. But well, you have to find them to get you there.
What if you want to make a living as an artist or a content creator, this one is called the story of a thousand true fans. Well, it's not actually a story but a theory. A theory i learned recently from a friend Asugh Iyorlaha
It says that you don't have to be a Davido or a Wizkid to make a living as an artist, you only need 1,000 true fans. By 1,000 i don't mean 1,000 followers on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook but a 1000 true fans.
Then what exactly is a 1000 true fans. Relax, we are getting there shortly, press play to Jack and Jill by Edge Golbador below and continue reading..
Now, let's proceed. A true fan is someone who will purchase anything and everything you make, put it out there and they will buy. They will drive for hours to see you sing. They will subscribe to your mailing list, waiting for you to announce your next event. They will buy your event T-shirts and talk about you to their friends. They are true fans.
How about that person that repeatedly tell you about Jesus. that's a true fan.
The Maths:
If you can get 1,000 people to buy 1,000 Naira worth of tickets for your shows spread over a year, you would have made 1M Naira per year. That would be 80k per month, an amount that would make you live comfortable in Jos.
"Whatever your interests as a creator are, your 1,000 true fans are one click from you. As far as I can tell there is nothing - no product, no idea, no desire — without a fan base on the internet. Everything made or thought of can interest at least one person in a million. The trick is to practically find those fans, or, more accurately, to have them find you." - Kevin Kelly
The robust tech infrastructure of Alewa House is built around this idea of a thousand true fans. It aims to help artists make a living off their art and this is how it addresses these problems:
- My friend Tabitha spent a lot of money to buy equipment to create contents for her YouTube channel. However, she is fed up. She does not have the required number of subscribers to earn money on YouTube, even though she puts in a lot of work. She's broke.
- I also know of filmmakers who have invested time into making good movies, and have to go through the hassle of pitching to Netflix or to film agents. Most of them are broke.
- I pay $5 per month on apple music to listen to my home boys. By month end, their total earnings is less than 1 cent and they pay $15 to distribute the music globally. They are all broke.
How Alewahouse works:
- A premium member contributes 30% of his membership fee ($9.9) shared equally to all the artists s/he follows. Tabitha a content creator will make up to $594 per month from her 1k followers (Well assuming they also follow five (5) other artists on the platform).
- 70% of premium membership fee is shared equally across only contents that user has access to that month. Repeated views don't count. Tabitha will make an additional $693 if at least 1 of her content out of say 20 contents (from other artists) is accessed by her 1k followers on the platform.
If you have spent time on this platform before then you would know that to "Follow" a content creator on Alewa House is not free and requires a premium membership. Shoutouts to our premium members! This is unlike YouTube right? Basically, we pay you when somebody follows you and that way, you can earn and make a living with as little as 1,000 followers. Sounds cool right?
Register on Alewa House and access the following benefits:
- Grow with your 1,000 true fans
- Measure the loyalty of your 1,000 true fans
- Monetize effectively your 1,000 true fans
Do what you will with this information. This is the problem we are solving as the global digital content creation market size continues to climb.