We are proud to introduce the brilliant Blessing Adetunji to the Wordplay & Flow family after scooping our Best Spoken Word Performance award last October at the Wordplay Awards. The poetry power house graced the stage with her winning piece ‘Outstretched’. From writing songs as a teen to working with organisations such as Hackney Empire, Blessing has made her mark with so much more to come. Where did the journey start for you? Around the age of 14, Blessing began to feel disconnected whilst singing at church. She wanted to think about what worship meant to her and decided to start writing her own songs. They were so long and didn’t mirror what I saw in school to be poetry but they were poems. Not long after finding her own way of expression Blessing went down a rabbit hole of American spoken word and battle rap that led her to discover artists like Jackie Hill Perry; one of her biggest inspirations today. What are some of your memorable moments? Blessing has had the opportunity to work with both Hackney Empire and the Royal Court Theatre. Her experience working with these organisations helped shape the performer we see today and highlights how crucial initiatives like these can benefit creatives in different ways. Hackney Empire helped me grow as a performer and writer. Joining the Royal Court Young Writers group gave me the chance to write and shoot my first screenplay. Winning our Best Spoken Word Performance award was another significant milestone for Blessing. Not because she had just achieved something amazing as a spoken word artist, but because her winning poem touched upon her family dynamics; a topic she was always taught not to share publicly. Her poem showcased what breaking barriers looked like and it was wonderful for our audience to witness. I hadn’t performed from memory in a long time and was filled with fear and self-consciousness, but I did it anyway. That piece ended up resonating with so many people and it opened the door to where I am now. What can we look forward to in 2026? 2026 will see Blessing writing more across different areas. The poet and musician is working on both a poetry album and a musical EP which she is really excited about. In addition, Blessing recently launched her hosting platform called Blessing Occasions for events that need that added special touch. I’ve been rocking the mic in more ways than one. I’m getting more involved in MC’ing and hosting. It doesn’t stop there. We can expect a full length one woman show and more as she explores her love for theatre and film. If you haven’t already, you should check out her latest single ‘Wanted’ out now across all streaming platforms. It’s safe to say that Blessing is one to watch this year and we look forward to seeing what’s next on her journey to greatness. Writer: Tannika Taylor Photographer: Tannika Taylor Editor: Shariar Graphic Designer: Torrin Westerman
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Exploring the Creative Aura of Deborah Conteh
When we talk about the aura of an individual when they enter a room we have to talk about the stunning Deborah Conteh. The creative and poet scooped our Best Spoken Word Newcomer award at last year’s Wordplay Awards with her heartfelt piece ‘I’m From’, and has been inspiring young Black girls to own their stunning aura’s too. Her entrance into the writing world started at a young age where she would write stories, however what really sparked her love for poetry was a crush on a guy that also wrote poetry. Whilst she worked on trying to impress her new love interest she found that writing poetry was an art she wanted to take seriously for herself. As she became older Deborah’s experiences as a young Black girl in school became a common theme for her later writings. I’ve also been inspired a lot by the church and my faith. Practicing dictation was a form of expression for me. By day, Deborah works in a prison delivering creative courses and teaching podcasting. Prisoners are able to get involved in arts such as photography and music whilst building a foundation for future rehabilitation. Recently the wordsmith has discovered the immense pressure that comes with writing and performing poetry at weddings. Expressing the emotion of love and romance through poetry is how Deborah fell into her craft and it is wonderful to see her tap into those themes again in a unique way for others. I would have to say one of my proudest achievements is performing at my managers wedding; that I was trusted with their special day. Deborah recently launched her new initiative, Little Girl Big Dreams, which aims to recognise the barriers that young Black girls face in society and encourage participants to explore their identity in unique ways. With a strong focus on practical and creative skill-building, Deborah has designed a series of workshops that aid in the development of self-confidence, communication, and public speaking. As part of the initiative, Deborah facilitated her sold out exhibition for 14-15 year old girls that showcased images and letters that they wrote to their younger and older selves. Held at the FirePit Art Gallery, the success of Little Girl Big Dreams shows that creativity can build culture and culture can build community. We look forward to seeing what is next for Deborah Conteh and you should feel the same. Creative Direction: Tannika Taylor Photographer: Tannika Taylor Editor: Shariar Graphic Design: Torrin Westerman