About — Vendeur De Cola

About — Vendeur De Cola (VDC)

A brief introduction to the artistic journey, identity, and creative vision of Vendeur De Cola (VDC), Malian poet and spoken word artist.

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Biography

Vendeur De Cola (VDC) is a Malian poet, slam artist, spoken word performer, and cultural promoter whose artistic practice bridges poetry, performance, and social memory. His work explores themes of identity, solidarity, migration, and the emotional landscapes of African communities. Through a unique blend of slam poetry, spoken word, and poetic narration, he creates performances that are both intimate and universal, carrying the weight of lived experience and the rhythm of oral tradition.

VDC is the first Malian slam artist to be selected among the francophone laureates of a Slam Master project, performing his first live show after winning the Slam Master Class FILO 2017 in Ouagadougou. In 2018, he was awarded in Paris as part of the international literary project Poètes À l’Honneur (Éditions MAP), contributing to a global anthology of francophone poets. In 2019, he won the international trophy of “Slam RIO” in Abidjan, a cultural project gathering young artists from the eight UEMOA countries.

He was also selected in the FUSA program (Fonds d’Urgence et de Soutien aux Artistes) by the Fonds Maaya in Mali, recognizing his artistic impact and cultural engagement. Today, he continues to develop his artistic journey across Africa and beyond, preparing new performances, an EP, and a spoken word album rooted in memory, identity, and contemporary African expression.

Artistic Vision

VDC’s artistic vision is rooted in the belief that poetry is a space where memory breathes and where words carry the weight of silence. His work seeks to amplify voices, preserve collective memory, and build bridges between cultures through the power of spoken word. He blends rhythm, storytelling, and emotional depth to create performances that resonate across borders and generations.

His approach to slam and spoken word is both intimate and political: intimate because it draws from lived experience, and political because it speaks to the realities of African communities, migration, resilience, and solidarity. For VDC, art is a tool of connection, healing, and transformation.

Achievements

• Winner — Slam Master Class FILO 2017 (Ouagadougou)
• Laureate — International literary project Poètes À l’Honneur, Éditions MAP (Paris, 2018)
• Winner — International trophy “Slam RIO” (Abidjan, 2019)
• Selected Artist — FUSA Program (Fonds Maaya, Mali)
• Only Malian slam artist selected among francophone laureates of a Slam Master project
• Contributor to a global anthology of francophone poets

Cultural Engagement

Beyond the stage, VDC is deeply committed to cultural development and youth empowerment. He works as a trainer, mentor, and facilitator, using slam and poetry as tools for education, expression, and community building. His initiatives promote artistic literacy, creative confidence, and social dialogue among young people across West Africa.

Through workshops, performances, and cultural projects, he fosters spaces where voices can rise, stories can be shared, and communities can reconnect with their own narratives. His work embodies a vision of art as a catalyst for solidarity, memory, and collective empowerment.