| Imani Woomera |
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'Imani is Swahili for Faith' BORN on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii, and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Imani Woomera is a spoken word poet/vocalist/ radio host. She is the author and recording artist of book and album Morning Rain; the Poetry of Imani; and founder of Amplified Tongues; a non-profit organization that uses spoken word poetry as tool to empower youth communities throughout the world. She is currently a radio presenter on Nairobi's biggest radio station Capital FM hosting the World Groove Show, where she plays music from around the world. Imani has been writing poetry since before she can remember, but it was not until she heard spoken word poetry in the year 2000, while studying Audio Production and Recording in Minneapolis, MN that she discovered her true passion. Performing came naturally to Imani, and after her first time on stage it instantly became a way of life. For the years to come she worked with many talented local Minneapolis artists, and collaborated on several efforts with the Minnesota Spoken Word Association (www.mnspokenword.org). Over the next 3 years in Minneapolis Imani spent a great deal of time attending spoken word workshops, hosting open mic's, mentoring youth, performing at SLAM events, writing, recording, and collaborating. On her return to Kenya in 2004, Imani immediately began spear heading the importance of spoken word poetry by beginning and hosting numerous poetry events and workshops, including the famous Open Mic at Sikiliza in Village Market, Nairobi which kicked off the spoken word poetry movement in Kenya. She is the host of the popular Poetry Club in at Nu-Metro, and is a highly appreciated performer at Africa's underground artist's platform; British Council's WAPI where she performs frequently and most recently hosted in April 2008 on the theme Self Mastery. A devoted Capoerista, Imani, spent the early months of 2008 in Brazil training capoeira, and studying the Portuguese language and Afro-Brazilian culture. Imani has lived in Kenyan for so long, short of being a native; Kenya is her home. Imani's poetry topics exhibit great diversity; focusing on themes ranging from global social situations, relationships, knowledge of self and everyday life. She has illuminated stages in cities across the globe including the legendary Nuyorican Poets Café in New York City, Chicago, Amsterdam, Bangkok, London, Paris, Salvador-Bahia, Cape Town and Johannesburg. She has represented the United Nations in Nairobi and at the 3rd World Urban Forum in Vancouver, BC – Canada in 2006 and is scheduled to lead workshops and performances in October 2008 at the upcoming 4th World Urban Forum in China. At the moment Imani's schedule is pressing with performances and poetry workshops in Kenya and around the world, as well as working on her highly anticipated second album and book scheduled for release later this year.
Imani's links:
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