Introduction

The World Poetry Slam Organization (WPSO) was established in 2022 as a response to the growing need for a structured, inclusive, and globally representative poetry slam network. However, its roots can be traced back to decades of slam poetry development in Belgium, Europe, and worldwide.

The World Poetry Slam Organization (WPSO) was officially founded in September 2022 as an international non-profit organization (ivzw/aisbl) during the first-ever World Poetry Slam Championship (WPSC) in Brussels. However, its origins trace back much earlier, as poetry slam communities worldwide had long recognized the need for a global structure to connect, professionalize, and support slam artists and organizers.

Origins and Development

Slam poetry has long been a grassroots movement, particularly embraced by young artists, migrants, and marginalized communities as a means of expression. Since the early 2000s, slam poetry in Belgium saw increasing participation, with regional and national championships acting as platforms for emerging talent. Despite significant growth, there was a lack of structured support, funding, and international cooperation.

From 2008 onwards, Philip Meersman played a key role in structuring the Belgian Poetry Slam Championship as a bilingual event and coordinated the European Slam Championships, fostering collaboration between different national slam organizations. The European Poetry Slam Championship (EPSC) faced many organizational challenges, including inconsistent funding and logistical hurdles, yet it provided an essential international platform for spoken word artists.

Poetry Slam?

Poetry slam—a genre at the crossroads of art and activism— amplifies voices for change, fosters democratic engagement, and builds bridges of solidarity across the globe.

As a poet, academic, organizer, and advocate, I have witnessed firsthand how slam poetry transforms artistic expression into a powerful tool for democratic engagement, fostering European and global solidarity, peaceful transitions, and freedom of expression.

Brussels, as Europe’s capital, is a fitting backdrop for this conversation. It is a place where diverse cultures meet, where democracy is debated, and where art can challenge and inspire.

The Evolution of Poetry Slam

Poetry slam has a rhizomatic history. The current competition format emerged from Marc Kelly Smith’s café readings in Chicago during the 1980s—spaces designed to make poetry accessible and interactive. Simultaneously, it was shaped by the energy of hip-hop culture, where spoken word, rap, and beatboxing gave voice to marginalized communities in urban spaces.

But we may not forget the oral storytelling roots of our ancestors with raconteurs, minstrels, troubadours and griots.

The essence of slam is simple yet profound: a self-written text, performed within a set time, without props or accompaniment. This format is universal, yet each performance is deeply personal, resonating with local and global audiences alike. It is democratic art in its truest form—by the people, for the people, and judged by the people.

It is like Speaker’s Corner, but in a poetic form, judged in essence on content, form and performance.

The European Slam Movement

Europe has been a fertile ground for slam poetry. The European Poetry Slam Championships trace their roots to 2009, when German organizers held the first Euro Slam Days in Berlin. Since then, the championships have evolved into an annual tradition, uniting national champions and fostering a spirit of camaraderie among organizers and artists across the continent.

However, organizing such events is no small feat. The challenges—ranging from securing local funding to navigating logistical hurdles—are immense. Yet, the passion of local volunteers and the commitment to creating a platform for diverse voices keep the movement alive.

We started with 10 European national champions in 2012 and are now at 32 and counting….

2009: Berlin, start informal European Network

2012: Antwerp, Belgium

2014: Malmö, Sweden

2015: Tartu, Estonia

2016: Leuven, Belgium

2017: Brussels, Belgium

2018: Budapest, Hungary

2019: Matera, Milan (2020), Italy (Covid-Cancelled)

2020: Maribor, Slovenia

2021: Brussels, EUNIC, Belgium

2022: Rome, Italy

2023: Antwerp, Belgium

2024: Košice, Slovakia

2025: Berlin, Germany

2026: Vienna, Austria

2027: Nordic-Baltic region with Estonia (Tallinn), finals in Latvia

2028: (Benelux-Denmark) and finals Rotterdam, The Netherlands

2029: North Macedonia and Romania (semi-finals) and Greece (finals)

The Global Slam Scene

The global slam community—or “slamily”—is a testament to the universality of spoken word as a medium for change. The World Poetry Slam Championships, inaugurated in 2022 in Brussels, reflect this inclusivity.

The Need for a World Slam Championship

For years, an unofficial “Coup du Monde” was held in Paris, claiming to be the world slam championship. However, this event faced severe criticism for its racist, misogynistic, and exclusionary practices, as well as a lack of transparency in competition rules. By 2019, international slam organizers from over 60 countries called for the creation of a truly inclusive, multilingual, and fair World Poetry Slam Championship (WPSC).

On June 26, 2019, a key meeting in Paris between Marc Vanicatte (France), Sophia Walker (UK-US), and Philip Meersman (Belgium) laid the groundwork for a new global slam movement. This led to the formation of a worldwide slam network, involving major organizers from Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.

Establishment of WPSO

By 2022, the need for an official governing body resulted in the foundation of WPSO as an international non-profit organization (ivzw/aisbl). Its core objectives include:

•           Creating a fair and inclusive World Poetry Slam Championship (WPSC)

•           Promoting decolonization, diversity, and gender equality in slam poetry

•           Ensuring professionalization and sustainable funding for slam artists

•           Encouraging global mobility and collaboration between slam organizers

•           Providing an alternative for artists who have been victim of problematic organizers

With Brussels as its home base, WPSO aims to establish a long-term structure for global poetry slam, connecting poets and organizers worldwide while ensuring freedom of speech, cultural exchange, and equitable artistic opportunities.

Reasons for Establishing WPSO

1.        Unifying the Global Slam Scene

◦         Poetry slam had grown into a global movement, with national and continental championships being organized independently. However, there was no centralized governing body to provide structure, coordination, and advocacy.

◦         WPSO was created to bring together slam organizers, poets, and cultural institutions from over 100 countries into a unified network.

2.        Ensuring Equity and Representation

◦         The organization was designed to promote inclusivity, ensuring that artists and slam communities from the Global South (Africa, Asia, Abya Yala) had equal opportunities for artistic mobility, funding, and recognition in the international slam scene.

◦         Many slam artists from marginalized backgrounds (LGBTQI+, racialized communities, people with disabilities) faced barriers to participation. WPSO aims to amplify their voices and provide safe artistic spaces.

3.        Professionalization and Sustainability

◦         Poetry slam is often perceived as an underground or amateur art form, making it difficult for artists to receive fair pay and institutional recognition.

◦         WPSO advocates for fair compensation, standardized honorariums, and professional development for slam artists and organizers, ensuring that slam poetry can be a sustainable artistic career.

4.        Decolonization and Global Cultural Exchange

◦         Traditional Eurocentric models of artistic funding and mobility often excluded voices from the Global South. WPSO seeks to implement best practices from African, Asian, and Latin American slam traditions into European contexts, fostering a decolonized approach to poetry and performance.

◦         The organization encourages equal partnerships, artistic exchange, and collaborative learning, rather than hierarchical models of cultural funding.

5.        Structured Global Championships

◦         Prior to WPSO, slam championships were organized at national and continental levels without a consistent structure for a world championship.

◦         With the creation of WPSO, the World Poetry Slam Championship (WPSC) is now an annual event, ensuring fair and transparent selection processes, clear regulations, and improved accessibility for poets from all regions.

6.        Long-Term Cultural and Educational Impact

◦         Beyond competitions, WPSO promotes educational programs, artist residencies, workshops, and research collaborations, connecting poetry slam with universities, cultural institutions, and local communities.

The world championships – like the European Championships – are a traveling event, with editions held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2023) and Lomé, Togo (2024), in full preparation we work on Ciudad Juarez, Mexico (2025), Durban, South Africa (2026) and Tokyo, Japan (2027). Beyond that, the preparations are well under way for Portugal (Lisbon or Porto) (2028), Maputo, Mozambique (2029), Moncton, Canada (2030), Rotterdam, The Netherlands (2031), Rabat, Morocco (2032) and Daytona Beach, USA (2033). Each host country brings its unique flavor, enriching the global slam tapestry while adhering to the core principles of fairness, inclusivity, and respect.

Slam as a Catalyst for Change

Poetry slam is not just performance—it is artivism. Slam creates spaces where issues like identity, social justice, politics, and freedom of expression can be explored without fear. It is a mirror reflecting society’s struggles and dreams while offering a stage for collective catharsis and dialogue.

Without a lot of support grassroots initiatives have flourished, offering emerging poets the opportunity to perform, learn, and grow. Mostly financed by individual sponsorship and investment to complement these local efforts with international exchanges, workshops, and collaborations.

In Belgium, for example, with slam I have bridged linguistic and cultural divides, fostering dialogue between Flemish, French-speaking, and German-speaking communities since 2005. The Flemish and French Speaking Communities only signed a treaty between themselves in 2012.

In 2024, the World Poetry Slam Championship was held in Lomé, Togo—a country where promoting LGBTQI+ rights remains a punishable offense. Yet, the championship became a powerful act of artivism. It was a space where voices long silenced by societal constraints spoke out with courage and creativity. As president of the World Poetry Slam Organization (WPSO), I emphasized the importance of respecting every artist’s integrity and freedom of expression.

The European Championships Poetry Slam in Kosice, Slovakia where also a good example where 32 different countries participated and shared their voices to show that whatever background one has, the struggles of daily live are all the same. It is the poet which looks at the world in a specific way, making the audience reconnect and rediscover reality as seen through the eyes and words of the slam poet on stage. Defiantly standing up for the right to express themselves and defend any oppressed and underrepresented minority.

These example demonstrates the unique power of slam to amplify marginalized voices, build empathy, and foster solidarity. It is a tool for emancipation, helping individuals and communities find their voice and make it heard. 

Slam as a Democratic Art Form

What makes slam poetry unique is its inherently democratic nature. It is judged not by elites but by the audience, empowering communities to decide whose voice resonates most. This democratization of art is vital in a world where so many feel unheard and unseen.

Slam’s accessibility also makes it a powerful educational tool. In classrooms and cultural centers, it reignites interest in language and literature, encourages critical thinking, and promotes literacy. By giving voice to the voiceless, slam nurtures empathy, understanding, and a sense of shared humanity.

The Future of Slam

As we look ahead, the challenges remain, but so do the opportunities. The pandemic taught us the value of adaptability, with online competitions connecting poets across borders. Emerging initiatives, such as the World Poetry Slam Organization, aim to professionalize the field while maintaining its grassroots ethos.

Slam’s transformative power lies in its ability to reflect and shape society. It amplifies the voices of the unheard, bridges divides, and inspires action. As changemakers, poetry slam is a platform that democratizes art, fosters solidarity, and challenges the status quo.

Conclusion

In the end, slam poetry is not about the trophies or accolades—it’s about the voices it amplifies and the connections it creates. As organizers, poets, and supporters, we are part of a global movement that believes in the power of words to inspire, heal, and unite.

Let us celebrate slam poetry as a testament to human resilience and creativity. Let us continue to amplify voices, challenge injustices, share dreams and build a world where everyone’s story matters. After all, in slam, poetry always wins.