Cynthia Amoah – “Mati Asɛm”: A One-Woman Show

"There was a season when I couldn't find my own language. And in order to find my voice again, I began stitching together found language (in the form of centos) from rooms, conversations, books, performances, billboards, art—experiences and interactions that helped me access poetry as a playground for language. To reclaim my voice, I had to use it too (over and over) and it took much time, devotion, and refinement. “Mati Asɛm” is a dynamic, immersive one-woman performance poetry show that blends the ancient literary art of the cento with live spoken word, visual arts, and multimedia. The performance will explore the concept of intertextuality, giving new life to historical and contemporary works through the craft of creating centos—poems constructed from lines and phrases taken from stories, songs, memories, and texts I’ve experienced. “Mati Asɛm” serves as a reclamation of my voice. It is a conjugated and emotive Twi phrase meaning “what I hear, I keep,” symbolizing both wisdom and prudence. It represents not only the discovery of a new language but the rediscovery of my own. “Mati Asɛm” reflects my journey of making careful, intentional choices in language—of considering what others say, of seeking how the language around me merges with my lived experiences. In this solo performance, I will engage with the audience by performing a collection of centos— reimagining words from the past and present them in a new form, allowing the audience to witness the evolution of language and its power to resonate across time. By blending poetry with projected visual art, sound, and multimedia, “Mati Asɛm” will amplify the transformative power of poetry and language"

-Cynthia Amoah

Tickets: $20

Programming support provided by: Ohio Arts Council

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• Next Saturday, 6th September, 07:00 pm, Persian Percussion: HamAva (Cultural Connections) in Worthington
• Next month, 18th September, 06:00 pm, Exhibition Opening: Quantifying Care; Intertwined; Power of Growth in Worthington
• Next month, 23rd September, 01:00 pm, Michael Hurwitz - Historic Opera Houses and Small-Town Theatres Brought Back to Life in Worthington

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