Spoken word poetry as digital oral rendition: reflections on Dike Chukwumerije and Titilope Sonuga’s poetics

In the face of a fast-moving and corrosive digital current, the primordial literary performances of traditional Africa have been challenged to acclimatize to new forms, trends and thematic discourses. The 21st century oral artist, hence, is left to grapple with the arduous responsibility of adapting to the innovations imposed by the digital space and every multi-media apparatus to present their artistic vision. This paper consequently explores the Nigerian spoken word poetry as a form of digital rendition which extensively demonstrates the flexibility, syncretism and dynamism of African orature. With analytical focus on the renditions of Dike Chukwumerije and Titilope Sonuga, the paper adopts the New Historicist approach to explore the creative oeuvre of the artists as a commentary on sociopolitical realities against relevant historical backdrops with the aim of moral reclamation. It equally draws from relevant aspects of digital orality and the performance theory to enrich the analysis of the poetic renditions. The paper summarises that with technological advancements, the oral rendition has neither been rendered moribund, nor extinct, but has evidenced remarkable adaptability to serve the sustained purpose of entertainment, archival, social criticism, political satire and redemption of declining values.