Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival: Panel Discussion - Music and Poetry, why the fashion to blend them together?

Panel - Norman Warwick, Dr Shirley Dent, Rania Hafez, Akala and Mike Gary

MOBO award winning musician Akala was a member of a panel discussing the issue of poetry and music, as part of the Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival. The discussion spoke about the relationship between poetry and music and if the two can ever be seen as the same.

The panel was hosted by Manchester Salon, a group which hopes to engage individuals through discussion and debate.

Chairing the panel was Rania Hafez, the director of the professional network, Muslim Women in education. She was joined by Norman Warwick, compere for the Literature and Ideas Festival and a writer and poet based in Rochdale. Dr Shirley Dent also sat on the panel. Dr Dent was communications director for the Institute of Ideas before taking up a communications role in the telecoms industry. Akala was the only musician on the panel. The 26-year-old hip hop artist is often seen as a driving force in a new generation of British music. Completing the panel was Manchester performance poet Mike Garry. Mikes work focuses upon the beauty and the ugliness of the city and its people.

As the discussion started, each panelist was given up to seven minutes to state their case and argue their points. After their arguments were presented, audience questions were invited to provoke further discussion and debate.

Norman wasn’t too sure where he stood in the debate and said: "Everything works in harmony. Lyrics and poetry can be the same and can be used together. Music can enhance the poetry."

Dr Shirley Dent then offered her view that there is a difference between poetry and music. She said: "Lyrics should be cherished and enjoyed whereas poetry should be about engaging the reader. Poetry can often demand in a way that lyrics can't."

Musician Akala then gave his position: "Not all lyrics are poetry and not all poets are good. Poetry was once written to be performed and hip hop now offers that relationship between oral and spoken traditions."

Akala also spoke of a task he has done with people which involves them reading a hip hop song lyric and a line from a Shakespeare poem. They then have to identify which is poetry and which is music. "No one can tell the difference so when you take the context away, it is not absolutely clear," added Akala.

Finally, poet Mike Garry agreed with Norman Warwick and couldn’t find a side of the debate to fall on. He added: "I haven’t got a clear idea between the two but this debate offers the opportunity to grow our ideas. It comes down to perceptions in our own heads and what we think of things. Each art can come down to a personal perception."

The debate, which also included audience participation and comments, continued to discuss the idea of music as poetry and created a lively debate between the panel.

The discussion lasted an hour and a half and is the only debate event to take place during the festival.