Open Mic Nights: More Than an Event – The Beginning of a Cultural Movement
Fri 14th Aug 2026
There are evenings that entertain you, and then there are evenings that change you. Open Mic Nights, premiering on 15 August 2026, belongs firmly to the latter.
Presented by Quill KWATAS in collaboration with Abstral Navigation, this inaugural edition is not simply a showcase of poetry, music, and storytelling. It is the first breath of a vision—one that seeks to reshape how we encounter African voices, preserve our heritage, and imagine our collective future.
The theme for this historic night is "The Self and Present Experience" —an invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect with who we are in a world that constantly demands our attention elsewhere.
What Is Quill KWATAS?
Before we speak of the stage, we must speak of the movement behind it.
Quill KWATAS is a Cameroonian cultural movement dedicated to nurturing poets, storytellers, spoken-word artists, and creative thinkers. Its founding belief is simple but profound: stories shape people, people shape societies, and societies shape civilisations. Those who shape stories, therefore, help shape the future.
Its ambition is nothing less than to become Africa's House of Story—an institution that discovers, nurtures, archives, performs, publishes, researches, teaches, and celebrates African voices. Quill KWATAS does not see itself as being "in the business of organising events." Rather, it exists to cultivate voices that will, in turn, cultivate a continent.
"We are shaping stories that shape people, who in turn shape society and Africa's story."
Why Open Mic Nights?
Every movement needs a meeting place. Open Mic Nights is that space.
It is where emerging and established artists gather to perform, experiment, and engage in meaningful conversation with audiences. But more than entertainment, each edition explores a carefully chosen theme that encourages reflection and dialogue. Every performance becomes an invitation to think, to question, and to connect through shared human experiences.
For the first edition, the theme "The Self and Present Experience" draws from philosophy, literature, and lived realities. Artists will examine questions of identity, resilience, memory, love, justice, and belonging. It is a celebration of authentic voices and the stories that define us—not as abstract concepts, but as living, breathing truths.
Meet the Voices
The inaugural stage brings together an extraordinary and diverse lineup of artists, each bringing their unique lens to the central theme.
Donn WAI, spoken-word artist and poetic philosopher, delivers reflective storytelling that explores faith, identity, and the human condition.
LE GRIOT, National Grand Slam Champion, presents socially conscious performances including Hommes battus, Main dans la main, and Pleurs du mal—works that address justice, unity, and the compassion we owe one another.
AMAITY the Kroncler, a medical doctor and rap artist, uses Rhythm and Poetry to explore fear, purpose, redemption, and the choices that shape our lives.
ALAIN 5 BA'ABA, a writer, slam artist, actor, and theatre director, brings emotional, accessible poetry that transforms abstract ideas into tangible reflections on resilience and humanity.
Karolyn Kouakap, poet and performer, reconnects contemporary audiences with African oral tradition through stories that preserve memory, identity, and culture.
The evening will also feature Leo Man, Wan Shey, Bidima K-Lionne, Katch Will, and other distinguished creatives, each contributing a unique artistic perspective to the central theme.
Guiding the audience through this journey is Ngwa Becky Mankaa, whose experience in community leadership and cultural programming promises an engaging, warm, and unforgettable evening.
Event Details
Open Mic Nights takes place on Thursday, 15th August 2026, starting at 7:00 PM. The venue is FIIA on Nouvelle Route Bastos—the entrance is opposite Socrates. Tickets are priced at Classic – 2,000 FCFA.
What's on the Programme?
The evening features a rich mix of poetry and spoken word, music and chants, and storytelling and acting. Every performance is curated to spark conversation, evoke emotion, and remind us why stories matter—not just as art, but as anchors of identity and catalysts for change.
Be Part of History
The first edition of Open Mic Nights marks the beginning of what Quill KWATAS envisions as one of Africa's leading platforms for poetry, storytelling, and spoken-word performance.
By attending, you are not simply watching performances—you are becoming part of a community committed to preserving African heritage through oral traditions, nurturing creativity in emerging and established artists, and shaping the future through powerful, authentic voices.
This is your invitation to witness the birth of a movement. To sit in a room where every story matters and every voice has a place. To support African artists not as spectators, but as co-creators of a cultural renaissance.
Secure Your Seat
Tickets are now available. Spaces are limited—don't wait until they're gone.
🎟️ Book now: [Insert Ticket Link Here]
Bring a friend. Bring your curiosity. Bring your willingness to be moved.
Follow the Movement
Stay connected with Quill KWATAS and be the first to know about future editions, workshops, and events:
Find us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube by searching @ouillkwatas, or visit our website to join our mailing list.
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
We are grateful to Leo Man, Jayce TYH, Le Griot, Sandy Black, Pchords, and Donn WAI for their generous support. Your partnership makes spaces like this possible.
Final Word
"The self is not found in isolation, but in the stories we share and the company we keep."
On 15 August 2026, come find yourself in the stories of others. Come celebrate what it means to be African, human, and present—all at once.
See you at Open Mic Nights.
Quill KWATAS — Creating Space for Powerful Voices.