Now, there has never been any real doubt that this Island has produced its fair share of phenomenally talented individuals.

I mean to satisfy Bermudians a performer must be a top class talent (at least) in whatever field they ply their trade. Everybody knows that Clay Smith and Albert Steede are very gifted athletes (sorry footballers, its Cup Match time) and most of us agree that Patricia Podgeson and Suzie Harvey are extremely creative artists.

But how many of us have any idea about the state of local poetry -- I mean, do you have any idea how many incredible young poets we have right here in Bermuda? Well I do, and I owe that knowledge in no small part to Neno Letu, a cozy little spoken word event that is destined to become the next big thing! It happened last Thursday night that a modest gathering of Bermudian poetry lovers congregated at Hubie's Bar and created a new space for artistic expression in Bermuda.

This was not the first event of its kind, Flow Sundays had been enjoying spoken word success for two years already, but this particular event became somewhat of a coming out party for many of this Island's ridiculously talented young writers.

Twenty-something after twenty-something stepped up to the mic and wowed the crowd with lyrics of fury, joy, pain and love. If anything, this was a very inspiring evening - even I got up and did a little diddy on the little stage/ dropped a little rage but then I picked it back up it was mine, what's up? I ain't got rage to waste so I just gave 'um a little taste of my skill/but for real/right it was truly a beautiful night.

Neno Letu is a Swahili phrase meaning "our word'', and on the night, every single artist that stepped up left their word emblazoned on the audience's collective psyche.

This was an uncensored event, so there was a small risk of someone being offended, but by the end of the night, everyone left with a smile and a promise to return.

But let me tell you about the show. Neno Letu featured a live Jazz band as well as a DJ (none other than the dredlocked word wizard beatmaster Beatnik - big up kid). And if there seemed to be a generation gap existing in the outside world that night, there was no such gap inside Neno Letu... the elders were out in force to support the fledgling artists.

Led by the masterful congas of Mr. Gene Steede (yes that Gene Steede -- there really is no other), the last minute Jazz band lit up the night with an infectious rhythm and a refined `big people' sound.

At one point I looked up at the stage and discovered a mambo that would make Tito Puente blush! While the word was made the beat played on... and on... and on, as Alan Lottimore beat the Jazz drums Quito Swan put punch beside Mr. Steede's congas with his djembe and the beat played on.

The sweet melody was completed by the scorching strings of Milton Robinson on guitar and Danny Rowling on Bass, with Mr. George Symonds joining in on the second set. Beatnik remained unchained and played the cool jazz of reality in the 90's... D'Angelo and Erica provided the Baduism.

The night was on all accounts a resounding success, from awkward beginning to too early end. .. Neno Letu was the lick! Which brings me to the group that staged this organised rage (just because it kinda rhymed, that's all): Neno Letu was a Loquat Jam Slam, which leaves me with only one small piece of advice for you... keep an eye out for future Loquat Jam Productions events. It's that simple.

Vejay Steede