Events

2024 Motif’s RI Spoken Awards

Winners announced below.

Last year, Motif introduced a new event celebrating spoken art forms. This April, the Spoken Awards return with categories embracing storytelling, poetry, spoken word, and stand-up comedy. The names below were nominated by 20 local organizations that book performers in these various disciplines around Rhode Island. See the winners announced below!

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The live celebration, including performances for each category and live voting, as well as the results of the online voting, will take place at Myrtle, 134 Waterman Ave, East Providence on Tuesday, April 9. Hosted by April Brown and Chip Doug, the event is in partnership with Rhode Island Black Storytellers, the Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading and SENE Fest.

NOMINEES

FREE VERSE
Amaziyah the Great
Brittany Lizotte
Christopher Johnson
Michael "Warrior" Bonds
Nelson Tavarez
Rudy “Rudacious” Cabrera 
Shomari Woods
Winner: Rudy “Rudacious” Cabrera

SOCIAL JUSTICE
Alisha Pina
Erik Andrade
Ginay Lopes 
Mr. Orange Live
Sara Monteiro 
Vatic Kuumba
Winner: Erik Andrade

NARRATIVE MUSIC / HIP-HOP / RAP
An Artist Named Flizz
Chachi Carvalho
Hil Holla
Jon Hope
Krook Rock
Lord Gremithy
Marrowz
Shakespere to Hip Hop - 
     Marlon Carey and Reggie Gibson
Winner: Shakespeare to Hip Hop - Marlon Casey    and Reggie Gibson

YOUTH
Aianna Thomas
Alana Parrott
Camille Cabral-Bennett
Janiah Rivera
Jude Paye
Julius Morris
Karuna Lohman
Quinn Kennedy
Robin Linden
Sabine Cladis
Winner: Camille Cabral-Bennett




FAVORITE EVENT / NIGHT
The Daily Note Poetry Night
Freestyle Fridays at Southside Smoothie
Funda Fest
Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading
Outspoken
Pawtucket Poetry
Poetry Story Jam at Southside Cultural Center
Providence Poetry Slam
SWAP Meet
Tell Your Truth
Winner: Providence Poetry Slam

FAVORITE PRODUCER
April Brown
Atto Pilot (Music Producer)
Cøøg and Louie (The Daily Note)
Jaybird Walker
Liv Dolphin 
Lori Kirkland 
Mr. Orange Live (Damont Combs) 
Sara Monteiro
Winner: Sara Monteiro
COMEDIANS
Blaq Sav
Brett Davey
Brian Glowacki
Dutchess SS 
Katie Arroyo
Liz Moniz
Shiv Patel
Winner: Blaq Sav

NSFW COMEDY
Alessanda Grima
Brian Beaudoin
Dee Conley
Dennis Mello
Lisa Costa
Rob Pierce
Tyler Hittner
Winner: Lisa Costa
IMPROV (Group or individual)
Bit Players Newport
BYOI
Contemporary Theater Company
Improv Jones
Kismet
Mondays Pages
PIG
Speed of Thought Players
Winner: Improv Jones

COMEDY: NEW VOICES
Daryl Cayard (“Please Delete this Podcast”)
James Firth
Kirsten Logan
Mr. Kuze
Pat O’Neal
Uzair Malik
Winner: Kirsten Logan

INTERACTIVE / CALL & RESPONSE
An Artist Named Flizz
Bill Harley
Mark Binder
Marlon Carey
Rudy Ru
Valerie Tutson
Winner: Rudy Ru

HISTORICAL / CULTURAL
Charmaine Porter
Mark Binder
Raffini
Ray Rickman
Sara Monteiro
Silvia Ann Soares
Thawn Harris
Winner: Sara Monteiro

PERSONAL STORY
Brittany Lizotte
Charmaine Porter
Christopher Johnson
Fallon Masterson
Gemelya Barros
Ginay Lopes
Krook Rock
Raffini
Winner: Ginay Lopes


Overall Favorite Spoken Performer
Sara Monteiro 

Favorite Live Performance: Comedy
Blaq Sav

Favorite Live Performance : Youth
Alana Parrott



FAVORITE EVENT
Afroverse
Blend Battle
Funda Fest
FundaFest’s Stories for Grown Folk
OUTSPOKEN’s Two Year Anniversary at Gateway Center (9/30/23)
Poetry Night by The Daily Note
Stranger Stories PVD
Tell Newport
Winner: The Daily Note

FAVORITE LOCAL PODCAST
TRU
Little State Big Voices
Old Roommates
Spark Up with Cristina Sev
HumbleGloryPod
Club Ambition Podcast
Where the Living Room Used to Be
Winner: Little State Big Voices











Favorite Live Performance : Spoken Word
Ren

Favorite Live Performance : Storytelling
Marlon Carey

Langston Hughes Poetry Award
Ricardo Pitts-Wiley