Friday, October 30, 2026
| 8:00–10:00 PM
📍 Busboys and Poets – Columbia
$100 CASH PRIZE
Free and open to the public • All ages welcome
Get ready for a night of spine-chilling tales and bone-chilling performances at the Spoken Horror Slam!
Step into the shadows for a night where poetry meets terror at the
Spoken Horror Slam — a chilling competition hosted
by the electrifying Black Chakra.
In honor of spooky season, we’re summoning the boldest voices to the
mic for an evening of bone-chilling bars, haunting stories, and
lyrical nightmares that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.
Poets will have up to 3 minutes (plus a 20-second
grace period) to share their scariest, most creative work — from
Halloween-inspired tales to spine-tingling confessions, monsters,
and metaphors that haunt.
👻 The Rules
- The piece must contain horror elements —
fear, anxiety, monsters, or dark imagination are welcome.
- Poems, monologues, and short stories are all fair game, as long
as they fit within the 3:20 limit.
- Only 12 poets will be allowed to compete.
- Arrive 30 minutes early, at 7:30 PM, to sign
up and compete. Spots are limited, so
first come, first served!
Whether you’re performing or just coming to vibe, this slam
promises to be a frightfully good time.
🎟️ Free and open to the public | All ages welcome
🪩 Costumes encouraged. Nerves of steel required.
MEET YOUR HOST
About Black Chakra
Black Chakra is an award-winning spoken word
artist, emcee, and educator from Baltimore, Maryland, whose
explosive delivery and powerful storytelling have made him a
force in the national poetry scene. A two-time
Southern Fried Poetry Slam Champion,
National Poetry Slam Champion, and
Brave New Voices Coach Champion, Chakra blends
razor-sharp lyricism with deep emotional truth.
His work explores themes of Black identity, mental health,
masculinity, and social justice — often laced with humor, grit,
and undeniable stage presence. Beyond competition, he has
performed on stages across the country, from HBO’s
Brave New Voices to the National Museum of African
American History and Culture, using his art to heal, educate,
and inspire revolution through rhythm and word.
