‘Poetry Jazz: Wax & Gold’ brings together poetry, language and sound experiments around Addis Ababa’s popular art form of poetry jazz, which combines poetry and live music.

With the help of ‘wax and gold’, a lyrical form of expression, the poetic encryption of dissent and critique succeeds. The superficial, literally understood layer of ‘wax’ conceals a core of ‘gold’.

The book documents six poetry concerts, which took place alternately in Addis Ababa and Berlin and gives voice to the artists in Amharic, English and German.

It offers a glance behind-the-scenes at a compelling and resistant practice that addresses questions of importance across continents and suggests subversive methods to challenge threats to the freedom of expression.

English, German and Amharic text.