Nakuru poets Lejosh Jamal, Chotara the poet nominated to continental stage
Lejosh Jamal during a previous performance
Lejosh Jamal and Chotara the Poet have earned another opportunity to showcase their talent after being selected for the second preliminary slam of the 2026 Poetry Slam Africa competition, setting the stage for an intense battle among some of the region’s emerging spoken-word artists.
Their selection comes as the poets continue to build their profiles within Kenya’s competitive poetry scene. Consequently, the preliminary stage presents not only an opportunity to compete for the coveted title of Slam King but also a platform for the artists to reach new audiences and demonstrate the power of poetry in addressing issues affecting society.
For Chotara , winning the Slam King title would come with significant opportunities, particularly the chance to perform on an international stage and expand his audience beyond Kenya.
“The title ‘Slam King’ comes with a lot of advantages. One of them is getting a chance to perform on an international stage, hence expanding my audience,” Chotara says.
Furthermore, he notes that the pressure created by the competition has challenged him to grow both creatively and professionally. According to Chotara, the competitive environment has encouraged him to write more, conduct deeper research and strengthen his personal brand as he continues to develop his career.
“The pressure in the competition is helping me as an artist to write more, research more and brand myself even better, since I’m still in my prime,” he adds.
Meanwhile, Jamal says the opportunity to participate in the competition was significant because poetry slam remains one of the biggest platforms available to poets in Kenya.
“Where we stand as poets, the biggest stage you have right now is slam, Kenya Poetry Slam. Having been selected just for the preliminaries, even if I don’t make it to the grand finale, it means there’s something I’m doing that is right in the poetry scene,” Jamal says.
Beyond competition, Jamal views poetry as a tool for social transformation. He explained that his work seeks to invoke change in the community while giving a voice to issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Therefore, he hopes every poem he performs during the competition will resonate with audiences and inspire positive change.
Jamal, who was also selected for the competition last year and progressed to the finals, is now looking to build on that experience as he returns for another opportunity in 2026.
With both poets determined to make the most of their second chance, the upcoming preliminary promises to be a crucial moment in their artistic journeys as they compete for recognition, growth and a place on the bigger stage.