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James Bongo—known to many across Merseyside as Bongo Bongo—is far more than a poet. He is a humanitarian, spiritual thinker, filmmaker, mental-health advocate, and one of the driving forces behind Liverpool’s modern spoken-word movement. With a voice rooted in truth, resilience, and lived experience, Bongo continues to inspire communities through poetry, performance, activism, and creative storytelling.
A Poet of Belief, Freedom, and Conscious Expression
Performing regularly at spoken word events across Liverpool and the UK, James Bongo captivates audiences with poetry that speaks to the soul. With more than fifty original poems, his work explores spiritual freedom, conscious living, and the liberation of the mind. Rejecting religious and societal “isms,” he instead embraces God, the Universe, and the unifying energy of love.
His poetry confronts themes of social unrest, forgotten history, and awakening:
“We are born free, we enslave ourselves in the mind prison. We need to free the mind and free the soul.”
These ideas shape the backbone of his performances, his community events, and his creative mission.
Liverpool Roots, Loss, and the Journey to Sobriety
Born in Liverpool city centre and raised in Croxteth, James was the youngest of eleven children in a large, loving Catholic family. The loss of both parents left a deep emotional void, which he attempted to soothe with alcohol:
“I hit the wall with the booze.”
Realising the damage it caused to himself and those he loved, James overcame alcoholism with the support of his partner and family. Now celebrating twelve years of sobriety, he channels his healing into creativity, community work, and family life. Together with loved ones, he co-runs Practical Magic Vintage, a vibrant, artistic family business with locations in Aigburth and the city centre.
Self-Education, Ancient Wisdom, and Conscious Writing
Instead of attending university, James devoted himself to independent study, diving into ancient texts including Sumerian writings, the Gospel of Thomas, the Bible, the Quran, and global symbolic traditions. His work critiques systems of control—religious, political, and educational—and challenges people to question what society has “force-fed” them.
His major text, The Failed Indoctrination of a Broke Entrepreneur Gospel, According to Jimmy Bongo, reflects his lifelong exploration of truth, belief, and freedom.
James also writes deeply about growing up in Liverpool during Thatcher’s era—the impact of poverty, addiction, and the resilience of working-class communities.
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Mental Health Advocacy and Addiction Awareness
Beyond poetry, James has become a powerful advocate for mental health, suicide prevention, and addiction awareness. Over the past several years, he has performed at around fifty mental-health events, including suicide-prevention nights, trauma-recovery gatherings, and sober-living community projects.
During lock-down—when many struggled silently—James organised sixteen live and virtual events, using poetry, discussion, and music to support people’s well-being. He performed not only in Liverpool, but also in London, Manchester, Leeds, Bolton, and Glasgow, using his voice to remind people they were not alone.
Even after losing an old social media account due to his outspoken views on the mental-health effects of lock-down, he continued to create, connect, and support communities in need.
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Building Community Through Spoken Word: Freedom of Mind
James is a central figure in Liverpool’s spoken-word community, organising events that amplify unheard voices. His flagship event, Freedom of Mind, is both a creative showcase and a form of social activism—bringing together poets, musicians, filmmakers, and misfits searching for truth and healing.
He also hosts regular fundraisers for Out of the Corner, a domestic-abuse charity founded by Dr. Karen Johnson. These events fuse poetry, music, and activism, raising awareness and offering support to survivors of abuse.
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Film making: Telling Stories Through Poetry, Music, and Memory
During lock-down, James taught himself how to make short films—transforming poetry into visual art. He now regularly collaborates with Liverpool musicians, using their music in films that explore mental health, creativity, and community.
His body of film work includes:
- Recorded footage of many spoken-word and mental-health events.
- Are You Mad? All the Finest People Are (two-part series) – a powerful look at how writing and art have saved lives.
- Freedom of the Mind – a documentary exploring mental slavery, artistic liberation, and the spoken-word community.
- Family Film (1959–Present) – a multi-generational documentary tracing his grandmother, all eleven siblings, and the evolution of the family into the present day.
James is also writing his memoir, Tales of a Crocky Rock Star, a raw and reflective look at growing up in Croxteth, surviving addiction, and finding spirituality and purpose through art.
He hopes to share his films and poetry through talks in schools, prisons, and colleges, using storytelling to inspire the next generation.
Friendship, Support, and the Power of Community
Supported by lifelong friends—including Peter, his technical right hand—James continues to build spaces where creative people can express themselves freely. His journey from hardship to healing, from addiction to activism, makes him one of Liverpool’s most authentic cultural voices.
A Lasting Legacy of Truth, Healing, and Creative Freedom
Today, James Bongo stands as a conscious poet, humanitarian, filmmaker, and community builder. His mission is simple but profound: awaken minds, open hearts, and give people the courage to free themselves—from fear, from addiction, from mental slavery, and from stories that don’t belong to them.
Through poetry, performance, films, and activism, he is reshaping Liverpool’s cultural landscape—one truthful word at a time.
Want to use poetry as a means of escaping life trauma, take a look at The Emergency Poet, An Anti-Stress Poetry Anthology.
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