When Brothers Speak Celebrates 20 Years

Media Release

Photo credit: Lawrence Kerr   Dwayne Morgan, 2012 Canadian National Team Poetry Slam Champion and 2013 Scarborough Walk of Fame inductee, is the founder of When Brothers Speak.

North America’s largest and longest running showcase of Black male Spoken Word artists celebrates its 20^thanniversary on December 8, at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. 

The brainchild of Toronto Spoken Word pioneer, Dwayne Morgan, When Brothers Speak annually features poets at the top of their game, amplifying the lived experiences of Black men in a way that hits home with no apologies. 

“It’s hard to believe that it’s been twenty years since I crammed people into the Comfort Zone to introduce people to this idea,” says Morgan. “At the time, I didn’t think it was going to be an annual thing. I just wanted to bring Black men together from both sides of the border to share our experiences.”

For the last fifteen years, the show has been produced at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, a calculated move by Morgan.  “I remember sitting in that theatre watching a dance performance, and thought that my art form needed to be on that kind of stage as well. In that moment, I decided to elevate the show to a concert, and make it a date of note on the social calendar.”

The 2018 edition of the show will feature performances from Luke Reece, 2017 Canadian National Team Poetry Slam Champion, Eddie Lartley, Canadian National Team Poetry Slam finalist from Hamilton, Joel Francois (New York), German-born, American-raised, Andrew Tyree, the 2010 Individual World Poetry Slam Champion, San Diego’s Rudy Francisco, and is curated by 2012 Canadian National Team Poetry Slam Champion, and 2013 Scarborough Walk of Fame inductee, Dwayne Morgan. 

When Brothers Speak is a raw and uncensored roller coaster ride along the Black experience. With race, continuing to be the backdrop of much social discourse, When Brothers Speak remains a timely and necessary vehicle to address the realities of Black people in North America, especially those who feel pushed to the margins. 

Tickets for the 20^thanniversary showcase run between $45 and $55 on Ticketmaster.