Woorden Worden Zinnen

During the 55th edition of the Poetry International Festival, Woorden Worden Zinnen presents a special finale on the festival’s closing day. 
On Sunday, June 15th, national and international voices come together for a vibrant program. Get ready for rhythmic performances by Haitian poet and hip-hop artist Jean D’Amérique, and Dutch performer Akwasi. 
Rotterdam’s own city poet Benzokarim will share powerful new work, while rising Belgian author Zindzi Tillot brings experimental reflections to the stage. From Latvia, we welcome Dana Cermane, a deaf poet known for her striking visual vernacular. 
Guiding us through the evening are none other than Jennifer Muntslag and DJ Dagger DX as your hosts and MCs. 

Jean D’Amérique

Jean D’Amérique is a Haitian-born, Paris-based poet, playwright, rapper and novelist.

Already with his first poetry collection Petite fleur du ghetto (2015) he caught the attention of the literary world, receiving a special mention from the Prix René Philoctète de la poésie and the Prix Révélation Poésie by the Société des Gens de Lettres. D’Amérique continued this success with his second publication No Way in The Skin Without this Bloody Embrace (2017), winning the Prix de Poésie de la Vocation. After collaborating with the collective Loque Urbaine in setting up the Transe Poétique international festival based in Port-au-Prince in 2019, he published his first novel Soleil à coudre (2021; A Sun to Be Sewn, 2023) for which is he was awarded the Prix Montluc Résistance et Liberté.

Not afraid to look away from the violence of reality, Jean D’Amérique experiments with new poetic forms and a range of media. He explores political violence and the lives of the marginalized. His intense style is bathed in violence, with the poet himself describing his poetry as created in the red puddle, while also aiming to heal wounds and exorcise pain through his poetry.

D’Amérique is also a playwright, having received the Jacques Scherer Prize for Theater for his play Opéra poussière (2022). He contributes to several literary magazines, leads writing workshops and released his first rap album Mélancolie Gang in 2023.

Akwasi

Akwasi is a versatile artist, writer, and entrepreneur, known as the frontman of Zwart Licht and the creative director of Omroep ZWART. With his distinctive and creative approach, he brings together music, poetry, and social involvement in a unique way.

Born in Amsterdam-Zuidoost and raised in Osdorp within a Ghanaian family, Akwasi began his artistic career at a young age. In his teenage years, he traveled around the country with the spoken word performance Negerzoenen, blanke vla en jodenkoeken. During his studies at the Drama Academy, he co-founded the hip-hop group Zwart Licht in 2007 with producer Hayzee and MC Leeroy, which quickly gained recognition for its innovative, socially conscious music. In addition to his work with the group, Akwasi released solo albums and published a poetry collection in 2018. His style is characterized by a unique mix of openness, depth, and humor, elements he also applies as a speaker at lectures on social issues and personal experiences. As the creative director of Omroep ZWART, he advocates for more diversity and representation in the media, believing that stories are a powerful tool for fostering connection and empathy.

This year, Akwasi is releasing letters addressed to Surinamese resistance fighter Anton de Kom, going on an anniversary tour with Zwart Licht, and working on the growth of Omroep ZWART. With his dedication, he continues to be an important voice in the cultural and social debate.

Dana Cermane

Dana Cermane is a versatile Deaf performer and advocate for the visibility of Deaf artists in the performing arts. She is part of Deaf Performance Now, a movement dedicated to fostering an authentic and inclusive artistic practice where sign language is not just a translation but a fully realized form of expression with its own rhythm, visual nuance, and emotional depth. 

In her work, Cermane blends visual poetry, theater, and movement to tell stories that are both conceptually and visually striking. Her performances make use of the unique aspects of sign language—such as expressive gestures, facial expressions, and spatial dynamics—to convey meaning in a way that is both accessible and immersive. 

Cermane has performed on various international stages and collaborates with artists and theater makers who push the boundaries of sign language artistry. Through her work, she challenges the traditional notion that spoken language is the default on stage, demonstrating instead how sign language is a distinct and multifaceted art form.

Photos: Sebastian Koudijzer