MNSWA eLETTER • 25 July 2007
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Welcome to the MN Spoken Word Association! You are part of this list because you're either interested in the work of MNSWA, the bridges we are forging, the Spoken Word Community, or are aligned with our community partners. The MN Spoken Word Association is MNÕs premiere Spoken Word organization and attempts to inspire youth leadership and impact literacy through the elevation of the art form of Spoken Word. Its reach is regional, national, and international attempting to nurture and bridge communities by serving as a focal point for collaborative efforts between artists, venues, and organizations
Thank you for your support. - MNSWA
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+ CONTENTS +
(Full show details below)
• MUSICOLOGY: A Spoken Word + Hip Hop Celebration of PRINCE
featuring Edupoetic Enterbrainment, Buss One, Autumn Compton + others
July 25th - Trocaderos - 9:00pm - 18+ - FREE
•QUEST FOR THE VOICE WELCOME BACK
August 3rd - Artist Grind - 3:00pm-5:00pm
2399 University Avenue - Saint Paul
• MNSWA positions now open.
Marketing intern. Outreach intern.
Preferred graduating seniors in high school or college students. Email
[EMAIL PROTECTED] for more details.
+ LINKS +
• Myspace Pages - connect + be a friend.
MNSWA • URBAN GRIOTS • QUEST FOR THE VOICE • SAY WORD! Youth Slam League
• MNSWA eCalendar • MNSWA eLetter • e.g. bailey • SHÁ CAGE
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MN SPOKEN WORD ASSOCIATION | ELEVATING COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ART OF SPOKEN WORD![]()
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MUSICOLOGY - A Spoken Word + Hip Hop Celebration of PRINCE
featuring Edupoetic Enterbrainment, Autumn Compton, Buss One, Younique,
Jayanthi, e.g. bailey with Quilombolas, Devine Words and Truthmaze
July 25th @ Trocaderos
107 Third Avenue North, Downtown Minneapolis
9:00pm-11:00pm - FREE - 18+
Come celebrate the Twin Cities own, and musical genius, Prince in a new and entertaining way. With the great response from the celebration of another Minnesota musical legend, Bob Dylan, we wanted to bring you another exciting night of reinterpretations of the words and sounds of the Purple One. The evening also marks the return of Minnesota spoken word band Edupoetic Enterbrainment. Also sharing the stage will be new buzz artist Autumn Compton, and hip hop artist Buss One, along with a number of other poets and MCs. We're sure it will be a night to remember. And of course, Mix.well will get you groovin all night. Co-sponsored by Tru Ruts Endeavors.
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QUEST FOR THE VOICE WELCOME BACK
We invite the entire community to welcome the Quest for the Voice team back from San Jose
with light snacks, San Jose slide show and of course, poetry from the youth
August 3rd - Artist Grind - 3:00pm-5:00pm
2399 University Avenue - Saint Paul
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Bidding Farewell to a good friend and inspiration to the Twin Cities Poetry Community
SEKOU SUNDIATA
(1948-2007)
We are sadden by the lost of one of the essential griots in the spoken word community, Sekou Sundiata. I first met Sekou at the People's Poetry Gathering in New York, while attending an evening performance with Bob Holman, back in 1999. Carolyn Holbrook had been in contact with him, hoping to connect our spoken word band, Arkology, with the work he was doing, and creating a mentorship. Due to his hospitalization at the time, the project was put on hold, but Sekou was always gracious and welcoming. Though I was just starting out, he welcomed my inquiries and was willing to accept copies our performances for feedback.
The next day, after meeting him, I saw him in a performance with one of his former students, Ani DiFranco. Ani had recently brought him on to her label and released one of his albums. She talked about how important he was to her early development as an artist. She recently stated "(he) taught me everything I know about poetry." One of the Twin Cities youth spoken word artists at the time, Tim Shea, would become a student of his. He mentioned Sekou as one of the primary reasons for attending the New School. These kinds of testimonies, which I would continue to hear from other artists, was a testament to the kind of teacher Sekou was and the influence he had on his students, and artists that came into contact with his work.
Sekou had strong ties to the Twin Cities artistic community and over the years was a frequent visitor to the Cities, often writing about it in his works. His work, Circle Unbroken is a Hard Bop, at Penumbra, which I did not get a chance to see, was a renowned performance in the community here. Udu, his performance piece, focusing on modern day slavery in Africa, was one one of the most beautiful and moving performance I've seen. His candor in blessing the boats was an inspiration to many of us to reach for that level of personal narrative in our work. 51st (dream) state, his most recent work, at the Walker Art Center, set a new standard for many of us, including Truthmaze, J. Otis Powell! and myself, to strive towards in spoken word theatre/performance work. And his Blue Oneness of Dreams is a classic spoken word album, which includes 'Shout Out', a piece that should be an anthem for all spoken word artists.
After the creation of MNSWA, Sekou would always make the time to do a workshop or a gathering with MNSWA artists and youth, when he was in town for a performance or developing a new work. He always challenged us to search deeper for our voice and our truths, and not limit the range and bredth of our work. He was not afraid to question our assumptions of what spoken word was or supposed to be. Regardless of the topic or issue, we were always engaged. In recent years, he was starting to build relationships with the youth spoken word artists of the Twin Cities, cultivating the next generation of our community. We are thankful that we had an opportunity to engage with him and his work. He will be sorely missed. We are currently in the process of organizing a tribute to Sekou, and will keep you inform of the progress.
To Sekou, an original griot and one of the coolest cats of them all, may your soul be free, and we hope to meet you again.
"Here's to the best words/at the right place/at the perfect time/to the human mind/blown up and refined./To long conversations/on the philosophical ramifications/of a beautiful day." -- Sekou Sundiata
e.g. bailey
Executive Director
MN Spoken Word Association
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MNSWA + KMOJ present URBAN GRIOTS Radio Show
Spoken Word Conscious Movement radio show
Changing consciousness one track at a time
Saturdays - 10:00pm - Midnight - 89.9FM MPLS
Hosted by Frank Sentwali, Tiyo Siyolo
Executive produced by e.g. bailey + Sha Cage
Lock-in to U.G. with hosts Frank Sentwali + Tiyo Siyolo, every Saturday for the urban sound of the latest and greatest in hip-hop and spoken word poetics. Artists recently featured on show: Umar Bin Hassan, Talaam Acey, Lupe Fiasco, The Figureheads, I Self Divine, Brother Ali, El Guante, Kevin Covall, Mohagany Browne, Saul Williams, Zell Miller III, Sha Cage, Nas, Mystic, Common, Truthmaze, Idris Goodwin, Roots, and more. The show also features interviews and live in-studio performances.
To get radio play send clean tracks and cds to:
MN Spoken Word Association
1416 Madison Street NE Suite 1A, Mpls, MN 55413.
For more information contact MNSWA at
612 -288-9491 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Check out other radio programs in the Spoken Word Conscious Movement radio format:
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Tehuti <Divine Speech> (KFAI - Mpls)
Sundays - 11:00pm - Midnight - 90.3FM Mpls/106.7FM ST. Paul
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Cipher Zone (WORT - Madison)
Saturdays - 10:00pm - Midnight - 89.9FM Madison
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SPOKEN WORD CONSCIOUS MOVEMENT:
spoken word + hip hop + conscious music
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MNSWA eCALENDARs now online
SPOKEN WORD + HIP HOP eCALENDAR and
ARTIST OPPORTUNITES + COMMUNITY EVENTS eCALENDAR
One of the first online mailing list of the Twin Cities, the MNSWA eLetter was created in 2001 to promote MNSWA events and programs, and to foster the spoken word community in the Twin Cities and beyond. It quickly became the essential source for information about the spoken word community, helping to keep artist and audience connected. It featured information about events, programs, grants and artist opportunities.
In its efforts to continue to innovate and spread the reach of the art form, MNSWA recently created the MNSWA eCalendar, to be able to further support the spoken word + hip hop communities in the Twin Cites, and globally. This will allow us to be able to promote more events and opportunites than we can through our mailing list. The eCalendar can be your go to source to find out about current open mics, upcoming events and artist opportunities; and the chance to connect with some of the artists in the genres and listen to their work.
The Spoken Word + Hip Hop eCalendar will feature spoken word + hip hop events. The Artist Opportunities + Community Events eCalendar will feature poetry readings, grants, artist opportunities, community events and other shows + events that would be of interest to the spoken word artists and community. The eCalendar is also used by the Spoken Word Conscious Movement radio shows to announce upcoming events on the air. We encourage artists to list the eCalendar in their Top 8, and spread the Word. Artists + organization interested in having their events listed on the eCalendar, please email event information to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or send us a message at the eCalendar sites.
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If you are receiving this you are on the mailing lists of the MN Spoken Word Association and it's programs, e.g. bailey or Shá Cage or are connected with the media. We will send out periodic updates + information relating to MNSWA + its programs. If you would like to be removed, please type 'REMOVE' in the subject line. If you receive duplicates, please let us know. Thank you. - MNSWA
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