Post by wicary35 on May 21, 2012 21:24:42 GMT -5
William Cary
Hello Everyone. I would like to welcome you all to this poetry expo, but even more so I would like to welcome our esteemed guest, Sekou Sundiata.
Sekou Sundiata was born just a few miles away in Harlem, New york. He began writing and performing his art work in the 60’s as a young man. Fresh after graduating from the City College of New york in 72 and Master’s Degree in English form the City University of New York he continued to pursue his artistic endeavors.
Harlem played a really strong role in shaping the man Sekou became He talks frequently to his home town of Harlem almost as if it were his own mother. Harlem, being a rough neighborhood to live in, exposed a Sekou to a dangerous lifestyle that ultimately brought key issues of revolution to his mind and of political activism. When he writes to Harlem he effectively calls them to arms and tries to reawaken their political edge stating, “You don’t belong to Byrd or Billy anymore/ You don’t belong to Malcolm or Langston anymore.”
Even from a young age he knew his future would be in the artistic world with performances in the late 60’s of pieces called Blessing the Boats that tackled issues such as heroin addiction and reaching adulthood in Harlem. He also had to deal with a kidney transplant form a friend after a car crash which he discusses.
In the late 90’s Sekou Sundiata decided to record his works. Unlike all those standard conventional poets who put their words on paper Sekou chose to stand out and put his works on cd. With a style that can only be described as a combination of a beat poet at his finest and the musical abilities of a true genius Sekou sought to spread his message through song and poetry blended into one. By combining the two mediums Sekou was even nominated for a Grammy in 1997 for his first cd The Blue Oneness of Dreams.
His second CD Long Story Short was also a true success and he toured the country alongside student Ani DiFranco in her Rhythm and News tour bringing their messages across the nation.
Sekou’s work has had a truly everlasting impact on the artistic world. Perhaps one of his most powerful works yet, his newest piece, The 51st (Dream) State, tackles the national tragedy of 9/11. In a short untitled piece from the 51st (Dream) State Sekou states My Schoolboy faith/ in that lyrics/ So that I could no longer sing/ with the voice of praise/ as if it was my own/ O Beautiful for spacious skies” that is telling America straight to its face about own personal disappointment.
He writes with a well versed hand that is willing to hold a true mirror up to society even in their darkest times. In his own words, “In the course/Of human events /There are no/Guarantees/Only prisons/Of hope.”
Well I cannot really continue talking about Sekou in a way that would do him more a service that bringing him on stage to talk himself. Please join me in welcoming Sekou Sundiata.
Hello Everyone. I would like to welcome you all to this poetry expo, but even more so I would like to welcome our esteemed guest, Sekou Sundiata.
Sekou Sundiata was born just a few miles away in Harlem, New york. He began writing and performing his art work in the 60’s as a young man. Fresh after graduating from the City College of New york in 72 and Master’s Degree in English form the City University of New York he continued to pursue his artistic endeavors.
Harlem played a really strong role in shaping the man Sekou became He talks frequently to his home town of Harlem almost as if it were his own mother. Harlem, being a rough neighborhood to live in, exposed a Sekou to a dangerous lifestyle that ultimately brought key issues of revolution to his mind and of political activism. When he writes to Harlem he effectively calls them to arms and tries to reawaken their political edge stating, “You don’t belong to Byrd or Billy anymore/ You don’t belong to Malcolm or Langston anymore.”
Even from a young age he knew his future would be in the artistic world with performances in the late 60’s of pieces called Blessing the Boats that tackled issues such as heroin addiction and reaching adulthood in Harlem. He also had to deal with a kidney transplant form a friend after a car crash which he discusses.
In the late 90’s Sekou Sundiata decided to record his works. Unlike all those standard conventional poets who put their words on paper Sekou chose to stand out and put his works on cd. With a style that can only be described as a combination of a beat poet at his finest and the musical abilities of a true genius Sekou sought to spread his message through song and poetry blended into one. By combining the two mediums Sekou was even nominated for a Grammy in 1997 for his first cd The Blue Oneness of Dreams.
His second CD Long Story Short was also a true success and he toured the country alongside student Ani DiFranco in her Rhythm and News tour bringing their messages across the nation.
Sekou’s work has had a truly everlasting impact on the artistic world. Perhaps one of his most powerful works yet, his newest piece, The 51st (Dream) State, tackles the national tragedy of 9/11. In a short untitled piece from the 51st (Dream) State Sekou states My Schoolboy faith/ in that lyrics/ So that I could no longer sing/ with the voice of praise/ as if it was my own/ O Beautiful for spacious skies” that is telling America straight to its face about own personal disappointment.
He writes with a well versed hand that is willing to hold a true mirror up to society even in their darkest times. In his own words, “In the course/Of human events /There are no/Guarantees/Only prisons/Of hope.”
Well I cannot really continue talking about Sekou in a way that would do him more a service that bringing him on stage to talk himself. Please join me in welcoming Sekou Sundiata.