The Day of Orature
July 18 @ 11:00 am - 7:30 pm
Every story deserves a stage. Every voice carries a tradition. This summer, the public square of Syracuse becomes the place where young voices carry ancient wisdom forward — and where that act is formally recognized, celebrated, and rewarded.
The Day of Orature is presented by the Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Foundation to mark the third anniversary of the passing of Professor Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo — Kenyan poet, playwright, feminist thinker, and former Chair of the Department of African American Studies at Syracuse University. Professor Mũgo believed that the spoken word is not a relic of the past, but a living instrument of justice, memory, and community. This festival is her legacy made public — brought into the streets she walked for three decades.
What Is Orature?
Orature encompasses spoken poetry, storytelling, proverb, song, call-and-response, and oral performance — the forms of human expression that predate writing and carry the history, identity, and wisdom of communities across generations. It is, in the words of Professor Mũgo: “not a thing of the past — it is a living, breathing, transforming body of expression.” This competition is a formal declaration that those traditions belong to young people today.
Youth Orature Showcase & Competition
At the center of the day is an open-call, adjudicated performance competition inviting students from Grades 3–12 across the Syracuse metropolitan area and greater Central New York region to submit performances in one or more of five Orature categories. A Screening Panel of distinguished reviewers selects finalists from digital audition videos; finalists perform live on the main stage, where a Live Jury of experts in Orature, African and African Diaspora literature, and the performing arts determines prize winners.
The competition is designed to be joyful and affirming — a platform, not a gauntlet. Every participant, finalist or not, receives formal recognition. Every young person who steps to the microphone steps into a tradition that has always belonged to them.
| Tier | Grade Range | 1st Place (per category) | 2nd Place (per category) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier I — Young Storytellers | Grades 3–5 | $150 | $75 |
| Tier II — Developing Artists | Grades 6–8 | $200 | $100 |
| Tier III — Emerging Practitioners | Grades 9–11 | $300 | $150 |
| Tier IV — Adult Practitioners | Grade 12 | $400 | $200 |
All finalists receive a formal Finalist Certificate signed by Foundation leadership, recognition by name from the stage during the Awards Ceremony, and inclusion in the Day of Orature Finalist Honor Roll. A special Foundation Award for Outstanding Orature ($500) may be awarded by unanimous jury decision to one exceptional performer across all categories and tiers. Total maximum prize pool: $5,625.
Day-of Schedule
The Day of Orature is a festival, not an auditorium competition. Finalist performances are woven into a full day of live music, community gathering, and cultural celebration.
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11:00 AMDoors Open — Festival grounds open; contestant check-in and backstage orientation begins
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12:00 PMOpening Ceremony — Welcome from Foundation leadership and the City of Syracuse; land acknowledgment; introduction to Orature and Professor Mũgo’s legacy
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12:30 PMYouth Orature Performances — Round One (Tiers I & II: Grades 3–8)
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2:30 PMMusical Guest Performance — Live musical act in the spirit of Orature
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3:00 PMYouth Orature Performances — Round Two (Tiers III & IV: Grades 9–12)
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5:00 PMMusical Guest Performance — Second live musical act
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5:30 PMJury Deliberation — Live jury convenes; community programming and festival activities continue on stage
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6:30 PMAwards Ceremony & Closing Celebration — All finalists recognized; category winners announced; cash prizes awarded; closing remarks
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7:30 PMEvent Closes
Competition Timeline
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NowInformation & Outreach PeriodCompetition materials distributed to schools and youth-serving organizations across CNY
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Monday, May 4, 2026Submissions OpenCompetition portal goes live at miceregithaemugofoundation.org — entry is free
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Friday, May 29, 2026Final Submission DeadlinePortal closes at 11:59 PM EST — no late submissions accepted; all documents (video, info sheet, consent form) must be complete
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June 1–12, 2026Screening Panel ReviewDistinguished reviewers evaluate all complete submissions across all categories and age brackets
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Monday, June 15, 2026Finalist Notifications SentAll contestants notified — finalists invited to confirm attendance and receive stage preparation guidance
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Saturday, July 18, 2026The Day of OratureFull-day festival at Clinton Square · Live finalist performances · Awards Ceremony · Cash prizes awarded
Competition Resources & Links
Review all competition documents before submitting your audition. Questions? Contact us at info@miceregithaemugofoundation.fluid22.dev