The creation of Smile like a baby came to me shortly after giving birth. It first emerged as poetry — words combusting out of me. Spoken word had long captivated me, not as something I aimed to perform, but as a form of honesty, rhythm, and truth I loved listening to.
When I returned to my home country of Nigeria in 2017 for the first time, my heART was set ablaze. The music, dance, and style of everyday life — the long bus journeys, the daily hustle — created a flow inside me I could not contain. That same abundance of expression returned after giving birth and continues to evolve through projects, books, workshops, commissions, and albums.
As a poet and spoken word artist, I craft pieces that resonate with both children and adults, exploring themes of the heart and our shared human connection. Through my words, I aim to inspire listeners to stay true to themselves, embrace joy, and follow their hearts. By weaving dance into my performances, I create a dynamic, expressive experience that encourages audiences to move, feel, and shine.
I have collaborated with other artists, musicians, and dancers to create interdisciplinary performances that blend spoken word with movement and music, deepening audience engagement and impact. Public performance has been central to my journey, allowing me to share my voice and connect meaningfully with communities. I have performed at numerous festivals and cultural events throughout London and beyond, sharing my poetry and spoken word with diverse audiences.
My article featured in BRAND YOU Magazine. Edition 33 October/November 2024. The article is titled 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗧: 𝗔 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 and includes a spoken word poetry piece called Rhythms of the heART. Thank you Olivia Marocco.
Repost @TinyIdeasOxford
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We’re thrilled to launch our first commission of 2023! India SHINE is a free audio movement yoga story created by multi-talented dancer and writer Celestina Banjo and inspired by her daughter. Listen to it on our website here: http://bitly.ws/Egzw #tinyideas2024.
India SHINE audio Yoga Movement Story
Medicinal Movement & Spoken Word
A space of release and renewal — move, let go, and allow that heART riddim to flow. 🌊🎤💫
Riddim is in everything, in WORD, rhyme, music and of course movement! I show this connection when facilitating medicinal movement & spoken word workshops. Gently guiding participants back to essence, back to heART. Click this link to read an article about my workshop. Spoken Word Poetry
Thank you for supporting. All bookings can be done through email: Settheheartfree@smilelikeababy.be
Testimonials
"I recently attended one of Celestina's workshops, not knowing what to expect. As a wheelchair user, there is always a fear about not being included in everything. However I had nothing to fear. Celestina's enthusiasm for dance and movement was obvious to see from the moment we started. High energy and so much fun and a real opportunity to see that anything is possible. Being given complete freedom to dance and also write about whatever is in your heart is an amazing feeling and one of the most uplifting experiences I've had.
—Tracy, Participant, Medicinal Movement & Spoken Word Workshop
"Thank you soooo much for joining us Celestina for a poetry workshop led by you.
Celestina was fabulous and everyone loved her and the workshop. 26 people attended, people with dementia and their carers, as well as a handful of helpers who also enjoyed the fun afternoon.
Celestina began by using music and dance to help people to open up and give free expression of themselves through movement, which then transferred to the poetry writing.
Their poetry made us both smile and weep as people expressed themselves freely.
Even those with dementia who speak the least, managed to write something and move us all deeply.
Celestina was gentle, fun, colourful, encouraging and so open.
It really was a great afternoon and what Celestina did was perfect. Her whole approach brilliant.
I can't thank her enough.
Obviously those of us who work with that group all the time know the people extremely well and were very moved by the responses made in dance and written word.
Thank you for all you do and are.
Every blessing in your life and work."
—Revd Lynn Hurry, Vicar & Leader of Friends & Memories Group for people with Dementia and their Carers
"It was so great to meet you and be invited into a very safe inspiring creative space. You have a tremendous gift God bless you and all you do."
—Julia Sheffield, Participant, Friends & Memories Group for people with Dementia and their Carers
"Thank you so much for the session on Friday. It was superb having you come along to the dementia group. All of us there really got something out of it I loved it."
—Revd Becs Challis, Assistant Curate, Friends & Memories Group for people with Dementia and their Carers
"Thoroughly enjoyed today, thank you so much. Also the exercise done me good. Made me stop and think about letting myself go and expressing myself in any way I choose. It doesn't matter how, don't be afraid or embarrassed, once again it just does not matter."
—Margaret, Participant, Friends & Memories Group for people with Dementia and their Carers
Collaborations include
