A Look at 5 Poets Breaking into Song (#16): Saltwater Spirituals & Uppity Blues II

Poetry and music came together in the most beautiful way at 5 Poets Breaking into Song (#16): Saltwater Spirituals & Uppity Blues II earlier this month at Halifax Central Library's Paul O’Regan Hall.

Hosted by George Elliott Clarke, this unique event featured six incredible poets—Delvina Bernard, El Jones, opens a new window, Reed “iZrEAL” Jones, opens a new window, Salima Tourkmani-MacDonald, Stedmond Pardy, and Clarke himself—whose words were transformed into music by Emmy-winning composer D.D. Jackson. With the powerful vocals of Shanice Skinner and Dean Bowman bringing these pieces to life, the evening was a masterclass in storytelling, emotion, and artistic collaboration.

If you missed it, don’t worry—we’ve captured all the highlights. Take a look and experience the magic for yourself!