171 speeches. 10 contact hours. 64 training hours.
Paragon Rhetorica isn’t just a competition — it was a living, breathing workshop in rhetoric; a modern-day Progymnasmata — the ancient sequence of exercises that trained great orators to think, feel, and persuade with precision.
Hosted by Debate Institute Africa, the second edition took participants through a structured journey of voice, intellect, and imagination — where each challenge wasn’t just a task, but a lesson in mastery.
The Art of the Modern Progymnasmata
Across five competitive rounds, participants engaged with exercises that mirrored the timeless stages of rhetorical training — from emotional storytelling to logical persuasion and visionary pitching.
Each round echoed one layer of the Progymnasmata, adapted for a contemporary stage:
- 🪞 Heartfelt Monologue — Fable & Narrative: Confronting one’s younger self in raw honesty, transforming personal reflection into universal truth.
- ⚡ Taskmasters’ Challenge — Chreia (Moral Reflection): Exploring courage and risk through lived wisdom — from caution to conviction.
- 💼 Steve Jobs Elevator Pitch — Refutation & Confirmation: Building persuasive logic under pressure, aligning passion with precision.
- 🎯 Snap Speech — Commonplace & Impromptu Reasoning: Thinking fast, speaking clearly, and seizing the moment with rhetorical agility.
- 🌞 Solar Energy Pitch — Encomium & Argument: Persuading skeptical investors with vision, balancing logic and ethics in the pursuit of innovation.
Each stage reflected not only performance but progression — a rehearsal of the mind and soul in the true spirit of rhetorical gymnasia.
Impact in Numbers
- 🗣️ 171 Speeches Delivered
- ⏰ 10 Contact Hours
- 🎓 64 Training Hours
- 🏅 30+ Medals and 3 Trophies Awarded
Every voice that took the stage became part of a larger movement — one that proves that rhetoric, in its oldest form, still has the power to train thinkers, shape leaders, and move hearts.
Results and Recognition
The results of Paragon Rhetorica 2.0 are now live!
👉 View the full results here (PDF)
Congratulations to all the speakers, schools, and adjudicators whose brilliance lit up the stage and redefined public speaking excellence.
The Journey Continues: Paragon Rhetorica 3.0
The next chapter of this rhetorical renaissance begins on 28th March 2025 — Paragon Rhetorica 3.0.
A new theme, new voices, and new challenges await those ready to sharpen their art of persuasion.
As Progymnasmata taught the ancients, skill comes from practice — and in Paragon Rhetorica, practice meets passion.
The stage is open. The next generation of orators is rising.
#ParagonRhetorica #DebateAfrica #YouthVoices #Progymnasmata #PublicSpeaking #EducationForImpact
