Wise Words: Great Lakes Griot Slam INDIES
Sat, Apr 25
|Location is TBD
🔥 Wise Words: Great Lakes Griot Slam Poetry. Power. Midwest fire. Join us in Chicago for bars, brilliance, and Black storytelling. 1 champion. $1500 prize.
Time & Location
Apr 25, 2026, 7:00 PM – Apr 28, 2026, 11:59 PM
Location is TBD
About the event
About the event
Wise Words: Great Lakes Griot Slam
📍 Chicago, IL📅 September 18–21, 2025
The Wise Words: Great Lakes Griot Slam is a dynamic, regional poetry slam rooted in the storytelling traditions of the Midwest and the Great Lakes. This competition invites some of the dopest poets from across the region and beyond to battle it out for a $1500 grand prize, the title of Griot Slam Champion, and poetic bragging rights that ripple through the culture.
This is not just a slam, it’s a gathering of wordsmiths, warriors, and witnesses. Inspired by the griot tradition, where the poet is a vessel of history, soul, and truth, this event uplifts original voices that speak to both legacy and liberation. Whether you're repping the rust belt, spitting from the soul of Chicago, or bringing that lakefront lyricism, this is where the region meets the mic.
🔥 Slam Format:
Tickets
🎤 Slam Registration
🎤 Slam Registration – Wise Words: Great Lakes Griot Slam April 25th
$175.00
+$4.38 ticket service fee
Slam Spectator Passes
$10.00
+$0.25 ticket service fee
Vendor Fees
Want to vend at our Slam festival? Here's your chance!
$65.00
+$1.63 ticket service fee
Total
$0.00