Meet Fiifi Abban – the spoken word poet using his voice to change conversations

For many creatives, poetry is an art form. For Fiifi Abban, it is a lifeline—his lens for understanding society, confronting uncomfortable truths, and amplifying stories that often go unheard. Since 2015, the Ghanaian spoken word poet has steadily built a reputation for using performance poetry as a tool for questioning norms, challenging social structures, and encouraging reflection among young audiences and the general public.

“Spoken word poetry is not just something I do—it is how I make sense of the world. It is how I question, remember, heal, and speak truth,” he says.

That belief has shaped his journey from his early experiments with rap to becoming one of the emerging voices using poetry to engage national issues and cultural conversations.

How it began: from rap rhythms to spoken truth

Fiifi Abban’s relationship with language started long before he stepped onto a stage. As a college student, music—particularly rap—was his first medium of expression. He was drawn to rhythm, storytelling, and the emotional force behind spoken words.

“I was fascinated by rhythm, storytelling, and the emotional pull of words when spoken aloud,” he recalls.

This fascination evolved into spoken word poetry, a form that allowed him to slow down, think intentionally, and address issues that mattered to him and the society in which he lives. Spoken word became a space for depth, introspection, and truth-telling.

A poetic voice enters national discourse

In 2016, during Ghana’s general elections, Fiifi Abban published his first spoken word poem—a turning point that revealed to him the impact his voice could have in public conversations.

“It showed me that poetry could live in public spaces, engage national conversations, and respond directly to political and social moments,” he explains.

Since then, his work has explored a broad range of topical issues including child rights, child marriage, mental health, love, self-identity, politics, money, and self-confidence.

According to him, these themes are not distant concepts.
“They are lived experiences—stories I have seen unfold, struggles I have witnessed, and questions I continue to ask through my work.”

Stages, screens, and national visibility

Performance remains central to his craft. Over the years, he has graced numerous stages, performing at institutions such as the University of Education, Winneba; the University of Cape Coast; Valley View University; churches; and several public events across the country.

For Fiifi, each platform carries the same duty:
“To be honest, to be present, and to leave people thinking long after the applause fades.”

Beyond live performances, his poetry has reached wider audiences through Ghanaian television and radio. He has been featured twice on the TV3 Morning Show and has appeared on major platforms such as ETV Ghana, Mx24 TV, HSTV, Zylofon TV, Max TV, and various radio stations nationwide. These opportunities, he says, affirm that spoken word belongs in mainstream media—not just niche art circles.

The academic foundation behind the craft

Fiifi Abban is a graduate of Foso College of Education and Valley View University, where he studied the English language. This academic grounding, he says, has deeply shaped his understanding of writing and performance.

“My training has sharpened my understanding of language—its structure, power, and flexibility—and continues to influence how I write, perform, and communicate.”

To him, poetry is both artistic expression and disciplined craft.

Building spaces for others to grow

Outside his personal poetry career, Fiifi Abban has invested in projects that nurture emerging talent. He is the CEO of Peacock Entertainment House, an event and creative arts company dedicated to supporting creativity across Ghana.

Through this platform, he runs Pixelle Afrique, a photo modelling reality show, and KidsStar Talent Show, which focuses on identifying and developing young talents.

He explains, “These projects reflect my belief that creativity should be shared, supported, and sustained.”