Teardrops (poet)
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Poet Teardrops | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Mark Joshua Ouma |
Also known as | Poet Teardrops |
Born | Nairobi, Kenya | 2 October 1990
Genres | |
Occupations | |
Years active | 2002–present |
Labels | Churchill Show |
Website | www |
Mark Joshua Ouma, better known as Teardrops,[1] is a Kenyan spoken word artist based in Nairobi.
Biography
Mark Joshua Ouma was born in the Makongeni area in Nairobi, Kenya but grew up in Kisulisuli in Nakuru.[2]
Career
Teardrops started poetry professionally in 2009. So far he has two albums. He released the first album and co-launched a sold out event on October 12th 2014[3] at the Alliance Franchise together with another spoken word artist called Mufasa (the event was called Unchained Voices[4]).
His second album was released in April 29th 2017 at the same venue to also a sold out event. The album is called Teardrops: Shengspear (Memoirs of a wordsmith)
In 2014, he won the Pillars of Africa award of Male arts & culture category award for his spoken word.
Awards & Nominations
- (2014) Pillars of Africa - Male Arts & Culture Category Award [Won]
- (2014) Honesty Oscars awards - Best Activism Award for the song “Nitabaki na nini[5]” [Nominated]
- (2013) Kwani Open Mic Slam Competition.[6][Won]
- (2009) Slam Africa[7] [Won]
Features
Teardrops has had numerous extensive features in both local and international dailies.
He has been featured in the leading dailies in Kenya most notably Daily Nation[8], Zuqka pull out and People's Daily.[9]
He has also been featured on The Trend, NTV and Three times and on all the major TV stations entertainment segments. Notably he was featured on AM Live NTV whereby he was crowned the champion on a poetry competition on the show. He has also been featured on Kenya Television Network as a guest News Anchor.
Teardrops has also been featured on almost all the major radio stations in Kenya.
Works
Teardrops has headlined numerous poetry and arts events over the course of his career. Most notably is the African union conference, The Garissa Memorial Concert at Uhuru Park in 2015 (an event to commemorate the 147 live that were lost at the Garissa technical university) alongside artists such as Eric Wainaina, Sarabi, H_art the band among others. Teardrops has also headlined the climate change festival organized by the German and French embassy.
In 2016 he was handpicked by the Churchill Show to perform his poetry for 22 episodes and the contract was also extended in 2017-2018 season and he airs each Sunday on NTV.
He has also performed at the OXFAM report launch on poverty levels on December 6th 2017 at the Sarova Stanley.
References
- ^ "Meet an award-winning poet, Mark Joshua alias Teardrops". Mediamax. 8 September 2015. Archived from the original on 27 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "How rapper became a lover of spoken word". Daily Nation. 14 May 2015. Archived from the original on 27 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "This Is Teardrops – The Poet". teardrops.co.ke. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ "Unchained Voices: Spoken Word Kings Mufasa And Teardrops Release Double Albums At Sold Out Concert - Mwende Ngao". Mwende Ngao. 2014-10-15. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ PAWA254 (2014-06-30), NITABAKI NA NINI (What Will I Remain With?) Official Music Video, retrieved 2018-05-17
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Kwani Trust". www.kwani.org. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ "Poetry Slam Africa: Greatness beckons". The Star, Kenya. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ "How rapper became a lover of spoken word". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ "Meet an award-winning poet, Mark Joshua alias Teardrops". www.mediamaxnetwork.co.ke. Retrieved 2018-05-17.