Mitchy Exposes the Money Struggle Behind Uganda’s Poetry Scene

Ugandan spoken word poet Isabirye Godfrey Mitch Junior, popularly known as Mitchy, has opened up about the harsh reality behind the growing poetry scene in Uganda.

While on the Ugandan Boy Talk Show, Mitchy admitted that spoken word is enjoying more visibility today, with more people embracing the art form.

However, he said the excitement fades when you look at it financially.

According to him, poetry is still struggling to become sustainable enough for artistes to survive on it full time.

I think it is getting more visibility, and people are appreciating it more, but we want it to get to a level where it is actually more sustainable, where one can be a full time poet, and there are many players.

The financial downside of the art form, he revealed, is why he often advises interested young people to keep their options open.

Many kids reach out to me and say, “I want to be a poet,” and I ask them, “What else can you do?” because I need to be real with the kids.

Mitchy explained that chasing poetry purely for money can easily break someone’s spirit.

Still, he said the art form remains powerful for reasons that go beyond finances, especially healing and community.

I usually tell people that when you focus on poetry for the money, it is actually depressing. But when you focus on it for other reasons, it is one of those platforms that are healing, actually… I know these are things we cannot easily attach a monetary value to, like feeling good, feeling okay, and feeling mentally healed and all. Still, once you focus on poetry mainly for money, it is depressing. But sometimes, when you are going through a lot, you just be around a poetry community and you feel life is worth living at the end of the day.

Also read: Mitchy Explains Why Spoken Word Poetry in Uganda Still Falls Short of an Industry