Category Archives: North American African Perspective

So THIS is transformation–

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

I know my role. I am an interlocutor .

I am a craftsperson, an artisan. I create. My tools are word and story. I am an interrogator I listen. I speak. I question. I hold our place in conversation. It is my gift, my task, my purpose in this awareness. Continue reading →

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True North: Me and Wilson

Posted on September 29, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

When you are on a quest there are some things in your control and others that are left to fate. There are things you can bring to the journey but the more important things are those you take away. One … Continue reading →

Posted in arts scholarship, August Wilson, belonging, Black Arts, journal, non fiction essay, North American African Perspective, Performing Arts, Tales of Iron and Water, warrior art | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

In Search of A Song

Posted on September 23, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

Every Wilson play I have directed is about Africans finding their song.  The search for our lost song is a part of a conversation about movement literal and figurative both voluntary and involuntary. We have indeed lost our song and we often … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Arts, journal, non fiction essay, North American African Perspective, Performing Arts, Theater | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

X

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

  living in legend feared revered removed your corpse a sign of contested resistance pouring  oil on paths to cold realities spiritual uprisings and songs of salt water you are forever living dead in myths of truth subverted held in … Continue reading →

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Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

In the sorrowful funk and divine fury of the music there is a delicately etched study of humanity for us to consider if we want more than entertainment from our theater. Continue reading →

Posted in Black Arts, Craft, North American African Perspective, Performing Arts, Theater | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A room full of broken birds

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

the new born still talk to the dead the dead go as the new are born entering and exiting a room full of broken birds called life we are born dying the young man said it life brimming in his … Continue reading →

Posted in Craft, I'm Just Saying!, journal, Life., North American African Perspective, Poetry, spokenword, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

New Page

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

mornin dawnin new day upon us sun rising sun shine brand new page get cha news i’m on it brand new day sun rising day dawin brand new day brand new page & if ya reading this ya on it … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Arts, journal, Life., North American African Perspective, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Happy Cul-du-Sac: A Personal Deconstruction of North American Holidays.

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

I do believe in the New Year. I like how it involves reflection, resolutions and comes with a clean slate like the turning of a page. My birthday is January 4th so the Year for me personally really begins then. This is all very personal. But I don’t think I am alone in the generality of repurposing American Holidays by North American Africans. Continue reading →

Posted in Black Arts, I'm Just Saying!, journal, Life., non fiction essay, North American African Perspective | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Blessing are Due: A Thanksgiving Reflection

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

I have learned to appreciate the ease of that time with my mother. She taught me to cook

without ever writing down a recipe. I still measure my prowess in the kitchen by my mother’s.

We talked about things we never talked about at any other time. Continue reading →

Posted in Black Arts, I'm Just Saying!, Life., non fiction essay, North American African Perspective | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

99 Swang / That New Millenium Dime

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Ayodele Nzinga, MFA, PhD

99 sheep woke up/came in from the toxic fields/in search of a song/full of tic bites/wolves against no walls/on a come up/calling bluffs/tea parties full of donkeys&elephants 99 sheep/infiltrated/media affiliated/99 sheep awake/from a long slow dance/a tango w/existence insistent on voicing the relevant/trying … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Arts, North American African Perspective, Poetry, spokenword, That New Millennium Dime, Uncategorized, work in progress | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments