2026 Spoken Awards Photos
By Lillian MK Photography By Olivia Lunger
Spoken Award Winners 2026
Favorite Free Verse Spoken Word Ashley HosaRunner-up: Jeff Daniellian Favorite Social Justice Spoken Word Erik AndradeRunner-up: Mx Asher Favorite Youth Poet Angel CruzRunner-up: (by one vote) Josselyn Wolf Favorite Poetry Event Apothica’s Monthly Poetry NightRunner-up: Afroverse Favorite Producer / Organizer Jessica SullivanRunner-up: Sadey Fournier Favorite Narrative Music / Hip-Hop / Rap Chachi CarvalhoRunner-up: Jesse the Tree […]
MOTIF’S 2026 RI SPOKEN AWARDS
Voting is now closed — Join us to see who was selected Wednesday, May 276 – 10pmMyrtle, East Providence Join us for the 4th annual Motif Spoken Awards! We are excited to be returning to Myrtle to celebrate RI’s spoken word community. The live celebration, including performances for each category and live voting, as well as the results of […]
MOTIF’S 2026 RI SPOKEN AWARDS
VOTING OPEN NOW! Wednesday, May 276 – 10pmMyrtle, East Providence Join us for the 4th annual Motif Spoken Awards! We are excited to be returning to Myrtle to celebrate RI’s spoken word community. The live celebration, including performances for each category and live voting, as well as the results of the online voting, will take […]
The Poet of our Times
The Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading is returning for its 31st consecutive year, to begin black history month. The annual free event will celebrate the powerful work of poet Langston Hughes with community poetry readings as well as live jazz music by Emmanuel Escobar and Avi David, as well as a presentation by guest speaker […]
Spoken Word Award Winners & Interviews
A night full of laughs, tears, and a literal double rainbow, Motif’s 3rd annual RI Spoken Word Awards ceremony was one for the books. With live performances from Julius Morris, Rudy Ru, Simply Sara, Nelle Nel, Ren L[i]u, Othannah Tomasina, Marlon Carey, Sandra Levy, Sonya Priest, Blaq Sav, Doug Key, and Mikayla Lee, the night […]
Motif’s 2024 RI Spoken Awards Recap
At the 2024 Spoken Word Awards, hosts Chip Doug and Anjel Newmann ushered in a night of storytelling, poetry, comedy, and more by welcoming nominees and spectators alike. Doug is a host, entrepreneur, local personality, and a Motif contributor (check out his most recent article about The Fitness Sanctuary). Anjel Newmann is an […]
Enjoy the Medicine: Langston Hughes Poetry Reading carries on important legacy
Langston Hughes was one of the champions of the Harlem Renaissance, a prolific writer, poet, and thought leader. Although he passed away in 1967, his work lives on and has been celebrated by standard bearers at the Langston Hughes Community Poetry for the past 28 years. This year saw a welcome return to in-person performances, […]
2023 Inaugural Spoken Awards – Winners
Spoken words have power – to spread ideas, create new thoughts, spin up ideas, or even just amuse or entertain. They are the OG medium of communication, artistic expression and journalism. To recognize the practitioners of art forms such as spoken word, storytelling and stand-up comedy, Motif embarked on a new kind of awards show […]
2023 Inaugural Spoken Awards – Nominees
Spoken words have power – to spread ideas, create new thoughts, spin up ideas, or even just amuse or entertain. They are the OG medium of communication, artistic expression and journalism.To recognize the practitioners of art forms such as spoken word, storytelling and stand-up comedy, Motif is embarking on a new kind of awards show […]