As a spoken word poet, Afra Atiq doesn’t like to see her contemplations and curiosities forged in the visual boundaries of the written word. The feisty young talent would rather have her verses heard, wholesome and aloud, just as they are meant to be.
Last weekend, Doha got a taste of Atiq, “the first female Emirati spoken word artiste and slam poet”, at Words & Strings, an evening of spoken word poetry and music at Katara Art Centre (KAC) where 17 performers delighted an audience of around 100. Atiq’s poems drew hearty applause and heaps of praises, most of which went well beyond the venue and even past the transient rounds of wonderment on social media.
What’s gone into making a poet out of Atiq? Born in Dubai to an Emirati father and a Japanese-American mother, Atiq prefers to lose herself in rhymes when she isn’t busy studying for her PhD in Mass Communication at UAE University. She performs in Arabic and English, and admits to being “blessed to have this privilege” of being a female Emirati poet and getting to share her work via her performances at venues such as Abu Dhabi’s Rooftop Rhythms – where she has been named best performer of this year – or over YouTube. Community caught up with Atiq for a long chat.
 
When did your fascination with poetry begin, and how?
Spoken word is a calling. From an early age, I was drawn to the rhythm of words, how they sounded, and the rush of being on stage. I don’t think I know exactly where the journey began but there were significant events that happened at different times that sort of catapulted me into this. I am mostly self-taught. But a couple years ago, in 2008, I was attending a leadership conference in Boston and one of the participants, now a friend, got up and did a spoken word piece while we were sitting in the lounge one evening. I was so mesmerised. I just wanted to do it, too. Then a few years later in Abu Dhabi, I went to a spoken word workshop by Dorian Paul Rogers, the founder of Rooftop Rhythms (Abu Dhabi’s now-iconic open-mic poetry platform) and also a friend, and that was that. Dorian is one of the first people who ever heard me read something I had written and I have never looked back ever since.
 
What sort of themes or emotions do you usually explore in your poems?
I like to explore social issues through my poems and performances. Performing is as much about the audience as it is about the performer, so I always try to talk about topics that the audience can relate to. As far as poetry goes, I like to infuse my poetry with comedy but still address serious issues. I like to make my poems accessible and reltable and yet very personal. 
I think the trick is to find a happy medium. For instance, one of my signature poems is about food and it’s really funny and crowds love it. So I start off talking about how much I love good food and then the talk progresses to delving more into food, and it ends up consuming you instead of you consuming it. It gets quite deep and emotional towards the end. And I love to watch the crowd laughing along until we get to that moment in the poem where there is stark silence in the room because they realise that I’m actually talking about a serious issue.
 
Can you elaborate some more?
Generally, I am either really funny or really dramatic; I don’t think I do anything midway. I also like being versatile and not sticking to one specific type of issue. So one poem could be about body positivity, the next could be about the social stigma of being single, and another could be about the context of language or words we casually use without understanding where they come from. 
I try to talk about a broad range of things while having a deeper message, which I think is key to staying on top of your game – you need to have a point in what you create. 
For me, poetry expresses a personal story in an intensely personal style. It’s the medium I choose to tell my story. I always say that when I perform I leave a little piece of myself back on the stage and sometimes it’s incredibly difficult emotionally, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.


 How challenging or privileged a feeling is it to be the first female Emirati spoken word poet?
The poetry, spoken word, and poetry slam scene, are relatively new to the region. Therefore, a lot of people have not yet been exposed to this art. I am very proud to be the first female Emirati spoken word artiste and slam poet. I live my life on stage because it is what I love doing and what I know I was meant to do. I am proud to have performed locally, regionally and internationally. 
I have also competed and won poetry slams at home and abroad. I am aware that this is an enormous responsibility and a huge privilege. I don’t take this honour for granted. I know that I don’t just represent myself but my country, the UAE, and my family, and I do it to the best of my abilities. I think this knowledge also pushes me to do my absolute best and continuously inspires me to take it one step further with every performance.
 
Why do words or word play mean so much to you?
What do we have if not our words? I have seen words crush and lift people up. I have heard them change minds and hearts. I live the power of words every time I’m on stage and I have felt them move an audience to tears and laughter. So I know how much words are worth. Words are the powerful tools we have in our arsenal. Word play is equally important. 
I often use it to make points through synonyms and cultural context. I use word play to really engage with the audience and keep things interesting.
 
How does poetry work for you – do words or their power to convey feelings interest you more, or the need to express yourself via words?
It is a little bit of both. Again, since I know the value of words, I never take their power for granted. I use my words and voice to express myself but also to shed light on social issues and different topics through performance and poetry.
 Is there a big-picture plan on what you want to achieve through your poetry?
Definitely. As with all things in my life, I think big on this, too. I hope to go on and compete in many more national and international competitions and poetry slams. 
I hope to hold regular workshops, mentorships and performances to expose people to the beauty of spoken word and encourage them to try it out. And most of all, I want to make the UAE proud and put the country on the spoken word map.
 
What’s the best part about going up on stage and getting to share your poems?
It’s hard to pick just one aspect. I love being on stage. I always say that I consider myself a performer more than a poet. But if I had to pick one thing, I would say it is watching the crowd’s reaction to my words and seeing them engaged and having a good time. I also love meeting people in the audience after my performance. That interaction is priceless.