RULES TO THE TOASTMASTERS CHALLENGE

THE TOASMASTERS CHALLENGE AT THE #BABISHAI2016 POETRY FESTIVAL

THURSDAY 25 AUGUST 5:30PM AT MARIA’S PLACE NTINDA ENTRY FEE IS 5,000/-

The Toastmasters Challenge is an intellectual battle of words between Kampala Toastmasters and poets. Poets in Kampala have created a positive shift in the creative industry. Through their inventiveness, Kampala flourishes with rich verse. Kampala Toastmasters Club is part of an international organization that trains in public speaking and effective communication. They meet every last Tuesday and every second Friday of the month at Protea Hotel in Kampala.

Tom Jalio,astmasters challenge judge

Meet the contestants:-

Moderator: Phillip Matogo

Poets

1.       L-Ness  Lydia  (Kenya)

2.       Winnie Apio (Uganda)

3.       Fahima Kimbugwe  (Uganda)

4.       Mark Gordon Slam Poet (Uganda)

5.       Jordey Lonyo (Uganda)

Kampala Toastmasters

1.       Connie Nshemereirwe (Uganda)

2.       Abubakar Matanda (Uganda

3.       Davis Tashobya (Uganda)

4.       Stephano Kiyemba (Uganda)

5.       Paul Kavuma (Uganda)

Meet the Judges

Lekpele Nyamalon (Liberia)
Doreen Baingana (Uganda)

Tom Jalio (Kenya)

THE RULES TO THE GAME

ROUND ONE is a knock-out round where two toastmasters and two poets will leave

Each of the ten contestants has between 3-5 minutes to present their speech or poem on any topic of their choice. Their presentations will be timed and any piece below 2 and a half minutes or above 5 and a half minutes, will be immediately disqualified.

There will be time cards.

Green time card will flag at 3 minutes

Yellow time card will flag at 4 minutes

Red time card will flag at 5 minutes

Judging Criteria:

        I.            Relevance of message

      II.            Eloquence and Enunciation

    III.            Creativity

    IV.            Connection with audience

      V.            The oomph factor/originality

ROUND TWO is also a knock-out round where two toastmasters and two poets will also leave

In round two, each of the 6 contestants has between 3-5 minutes to present their speech or poem on any topic of their choice. This time they are permitted to use a prop of their choice to enhance their presentation. Their presentations will be timed and any piece below 2 and a half minutes or above 5 and a half minutes, will be immediately disqualified.

There will be time cards.

Green time card will flag at 3 minutes

Yellow time card will flag at 4 minutes

Red time card will flag at 5 minutes

Criteria:

        I.            Relevance of message

      II.            Eloquence and Enunciation

    III.            Appropriate and creative usage of prop

    IV.            Connection with audience

      V.            The oomph factor/originality

FINAL ROUND THREE is AUDIENCE SELECTION.

In round three, each of the 2 final contestants has between 3-5 minutes to present their speech or poem on any topic selected by the audience. This time the two finalists will leave the area while the audience selects a topic. The finalists will then pick a random number in a hat to decide who goes first. Their presentations must be based on the given topic chosen by the audience and they will have minimal time to prepare. They will be timed and any piece below 2 and a half minutes or above 5 and a half minutes, will be immediately disqualified.

There will be time cards.

Green time card will flag at 3 minutes

Yellow time card will flag at 4 minutes

Red time card will flag at 5 minutes

The audience will then select the winner.

The winner will receive a card to the award-giving  dinner on Friday 26 August at Fang Fang Restaurant and a book of their choice.

Our festival programme is available on our website www.babishainiwe.com and we can be reached via email at babishainiwe@babishainiwe.com.

DR. NSHEMEREIRWE, IN A WORD OFF WITH POETS AT THE BABISHAI FESTIVAL

Dr. Connie Nshemereirwe is a seasoned toastmaster, an educationist and scholar, challenging the status quo of the Ugandan education system. She will be participating in the Babishai Poetry festival Toastmasters challenge on 25 August at Maria's Place in Ntinda, in an intellectual battle of words.

Courtesy photo

How long have you been a member of Kampala Toastmasters and what significant change has it made on your life?

I have been a member of the Kampala Toastmasters Club since April 2015, and before that I was a member of the Twente Toastmasters In The Netherlands, which I joined in October 2012.

Toastmasters has made a great difference in my life. It has made me a much more confident speaker, more structured, and given me the tools to prepare for any public speaking engagement in a much more purposeful fashion.

2. When you think of Ugandan poetry,  what comes to mind? 

You know, I don't know much about Ugandan Poetry! Someone recently reached a hand into my parents' bookshelf and produced a dusty book of poems written by Ugandans in the 1970s, and I hadn't known it was there until then (I'll provide a title when I remember). Beyond that, I can only think of the Babishai Poetry Foundation. A quick Google search also reminded me of Song of Lawino. And of late I have been exposed to some spoken word artists (who I think are fantastic!) But I don't really know much about poetry. Regrettably, I think.

The Babishai Poetry Festival is going to host the first Toastmasters challenge. A battle of words between poets and public speakers. As a competitor,  how will you prepare for the challenge? 

I will prepare as usual, only I will try to be even more creative than usual. I will use my body, my voice, my eyes, everything! I plan on speaking with more than just my words because I think those poets will be hard to beat! :-)

Do you feel that professionals in the work space need to interact more with poets? 

The little interaction that I have had with poets, especially the spoken word artists, and some of the poems I read in that dusty old book of poems, leads me to believe that we would all be better off with more poetry in our lives. Poetry helps one's brain and senses expand, poetry can carry some deep messages about society's evils but can also reveal the beauty in society. I really think that not being exposed to poetry is a big loss to anyone.

How important is an education that includes creative arts? 

I think it would be invaluable! Humans are such multifaceted beings, and education should seek to touch and polish each of those facets; further, I think we lose a lot of creative potential by not exposing all children to the creative arts, and that is a loss not only to them but to society

Any parting remarks? 

I'm really looking forward to the "word-off", if I'm honest! Somewhat apprehensive but up to the challenge! I think it s a great initiative,  good job! :-)

Thank you Connie

The Babishai Poetry Festival runs from 24-26 August at Maria's Place in Ntinda.