For Ezikel Alleyne, storytelling is a means of advocacy
Ezikel Alleyne started his journey as a storyteller during his primary school years. Much of his formative experiences were influenced by his time spent in Berbice and Essequibo, where he listened to oral folklore from his grandmother and other family members. Amidst the storytelling tradition, he found himself engaged in a friendly competition for attention with his seven siblings.
Reflecting on his childhood, Alleyne remembers using his storytelling as a means to capture his mother’s attention. In a bid to stand out among his siblings, he would craft imaginative stories and read them aloud to his mother daily. These stories, coupled with his earnest desire for approval as a young child, played a pivotal role in shaping his imagination. Now at the age of 21, Alleyne continues to write and read his work for his mother. “Til to this day, she [his mother] makes it feel as if it is the first time I am writing or the first time I am reading to her,” he said, while adding that she is a great confidence booster.
For Alleyne, reading to his mother holds significant importance, but his writing serves an additional purpose of reclaiming aspects of his identity. He recalled that teachers and parents had always urged him to “speak properly”, and how this changed his idiolect. Today, one of his proudest moments is having crafted a short story in the third person and seamlessly incorporating creole into the narrative. Alleyne explained that crafting this story was fulfilling because of the pressure to assimilate.
Alleyne emphasised the importance of using creole in his writing as a means of preserving a Guyanese cultural identity. In this way, his writing becomes a vehicle for the representation and conservation of Guyana’s linguistic culture.
The art of crafting stories has played a transformative role in Alleyne’s personal
development, evolving from short stories to a predominant focus on writing and performing spoken poetry. Embracing the philosophy of “less is more,” he attested that his poems embody this principle, allowing him to convey a wealth of emotions with precision. This focus saw him cop the top prize at Merundoi’s Youth Slam Climate Change competition and also receive the Olato Sam award for the most inspiring piece.
Performing and inspiring others did not come without its struggles for Alleyne. In his adolescent years, expressing emotions was challenging, leading him to discover
solace in spoken word poetry. This became instrumental in overcoming the struggles he faced with communication. During his school years, Alleyne grappled with shyness, to the extent that he contemplated homeschooling to escape social interactions.
Alleyne’s journey as a performer facilitated a remedy to this problem. He explained that connecting with like-minded individuals through shared interests and passions has become the cornerstone of his social interactions. The evolution from a reserved and shy student to an active participant in socialising reflects an improvement in his ability to communicate and connect with others. As he expands his social life, Alleyne embraces new beliefs and ideas, affirming the power of storytelling and spoken word poetry in shaping his personal growth.
Discovering his voice through spoken word has not only been a personal journey for Alleyne but has also become a platform for advocating on behalf of those he believes are misrepresented and marginalised. He emphasised he has a strong commitment to challenging negative stereotypes associated with individuals of lower socio-economic status, aspiring to create more authentic and nuanced portrayals of their experiences.
This dedication to addressing the concerns of the underprivileged traces back to Alleyne’s childhood, where he observed his grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles actively engaging in community initiatives and protests for the betterment of society. These protests also came with risks, and it might have robbed the world of Alleyne’s talent. His mother’s head was grazed by a bullet from a police officer when she was pregnant with him during a protest, causing considerable struggles during her pregnancy. She fought through and Alleyne was born. Drawing from these influences, he has embraced a mission to amplify the voices of those often overlooked or misunderstood.
Alleyne’s writing decisions are also guided by empathy, a principle that he sees as essential in fostering a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by others. Reflecting on his own opportunities, he posed the question: “If I didn’t have the opportunity, I probably would want somebody to speak for me... If I can’t talk or see, would someone lead me?” This empathetic perspective underscores his commitment to using his creative platform to advocate for those whose voices may otherwise go unheard, emphasising the power of storytelling as a tool for social change and representation.