When Dorian Rogers first moved to Abu Dhabi in late 2011, there wasn’t much in the way of poetry open mic nights. The wordsmith saw a gap in the nightlife scene and his passion and love for writing and performing forced him to fill the void.
Now, Rogers, aka Paul D, runs a number of events across the capital that see hundreds of like-minded souls gather to enjoy live poetry performances. Rogers tells us: “I’ve always had a knack for words. When I went to university at 18, I was inspired by Back Talk Poetry
Troupe, which hosted weekly poetry open mics. The poets were family and proved to me you could be hip and positive at the same time. From there, I went on to compete in slam competitions, lecture and perform at universities, as well as organise my own shows and events.”
But for those of us who don’t know, what exactly is spoken word? “It’s the performance art component of poetry. For hundreds of years, the reading of written poetry was often monotone and not ideal for entertaining. Components of spoken word such as voice inflection, volume control, pausing and speed can really help to make a poem more engaging.”
Rooftop Rhythms was Rogers’ first venture in the capital back in March 2012 and had close to 100 people attend. This was when Rogers knew he was on to something. “It was obvious that this type of entertainment and culture could catch on,” he says. Four years on, attendance is the highest it has ever been, with Rooftop Rhythms forming an umbrella of events, including Versus Party – where DJs constantly change sets and battle it out to please the crowd – and Abu Dhabi Soul, a soul music open mic night. Rogers and his team are about so much more than just live poetry. And Rogers, along with other performers, brings in a real mixed bunch. He says: “In 2012, our crowds consisted mostly of American educators. That demographic is now not the majority. We now have a large Sudanese, Arab and local Emirati following. I count it as a major accomplishment that the type of people attending has totally changed and yet we still see a growing popularity with the various events.”
You might have seen Dorian on social media recently, posting a video of himself performing a poem. This was something quite topical, considering the time it was posted. Rogers says: “That poem was called #Justice4Dorian, a poem where I imagined myself as a victim of police brutality. The video evoked such an emotional response because I performed in funeral attire from inside of a coffin.
“I was concerned with posting it because I didn’t want to offend anyone or make it seem as if I was sensationalising the topic. Shootings in America of unarmed citizens is a very sensitive issue these days. Overall, the feedback was very good. Only a few were disturbed or misunderstood my intent, but that is often the case with poetry.”
But was he happy with the response? “Definitely,” adds Rogers. “Artistry is meant to arouse emotion, arguments and critique. These types of reactions bring forth thought and, hopefully, action.”
Poetry has always been associated with the region, but can often be seen as an art that is for the older generations. But the work of Rogers and his fellow performers are having a great impact. “I have to say the landscape for poetry has changed tremendously,” he says.
“When I moved here I mostly saw international bands featuring at hotels on long-term contracts. It was rare to see a local live music or poetry performance. Fast-forward five years and there are now multiple open mic poetry shows, as well as live music platforms for
emerging talent.”
On September 1, Saadiyat Beach Club will host the next popular Versus Party from 10pm-2am, with Abu Dhabi Soul also featuring at the same venue on September 21, from 8pm-11pm. At the end of the month (September 30) Rooftop Rhythms #41 will be held at NYU Abu Dhabi, from 8pm-10.30am.
For more details visit www.facebook.com/groups/rooftoprhythms.
Three top performers
Local talent
Nabiha Stingray
Nabiha is a teenager and newcomer who has shown impressive skill and potential on the stage. She is one of the youngest Emirati poets on the scene and Rogers believes she has a bright future ahead of her.
The champ
Salem Al Attas 
Salem is Rooftop Rhythms’ second grand slam champion and the top male Emirati performance poet. He mixes humour, love for family, and his love for pop culture to engage the crowds during his performances.
Girl power
Afra Atiq 
Afra is the top female Emirati performance poet. She is a slam winner, lecturer, and workshop facilitator who is doing a lot to pave the way for young women writers to express themselves through positivity and self-expression.
