Spoken Word Poet Ngoma + The Werdsman & 20-Slot Open Mic w/ Host/Def Poet Gemineye

The Inspired Word presents one of the great institutions on the New York City spoken word scene, Ngoma, plus up-and-comer The Werdsman and our amazing 20-slot open mic open to all types of artists (comedians, musicians, storytellers, fiction/nonfiction writers, as well as poets and spoken word artists). Hosted by Hbo Def Poetry star Gemineye.
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BIOS:
Ngoma is a performance poet, multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter and paradigm shifter, who for over 40 years has used culture as a tool to raise sociopolitical and spiritual consciousness through work that encourages critical thought. A former member of the Spirit House Movers And Players with Amiri Baraka and the Contemporary Freedom Song Duo, Serious Bizness, Ngoma weaves poetry and song that raises contradictions and searches for a solution for a just and peaceful world. Ngoma was the Prop Slam winner of the 1997 National Poetry Slam Competition in Middletown, CT and was published in African Voices Magazine, Long Shot Anthology, The Underwood Review, Signifyin' Harlem Review, Bum Rush The Page/Def Poetry Jam Anthology,Poems On The Road To Peace (Volumes 1,2 & 3)-Yale Press and Let Loose On The World:Celebrating Amiri Baraka at 75. He was featured in the PBS Spoken Word Documentary, "The Apro-Poets" with Allen Ginsberg. Ngoma has curated and hosted the slam at the Dr. Martin Luther King Festival of Social and Environmental Justice Festival (Yale University-New Haven, CT) since 1996. His newest C.D "Poetry from a Smart Phone is a series of poems and music that were all written during the National Poetry Month 30/30 Challenge of 2011. All music and poetry written and performed by Ngoma known nationally,internationally and intergalactically as"Ngoma's Not Your Average String Thing "featuring Ngoma on -Vocals,Bamboo Flute,Electrik Violin,Acoustic Guitar,Yidaki (Didgeridoo) & Garage Band Tracks
The Werdsman is the stage name for poet David Lewis, who resides in New York City. The name The Werdsman means the "extraordinary words of man". The host of an open mic series Extraordinary Words which is every 4th Monday of the month at Caribbean Soul restaurant. He is also the owner and founder of his own performing arts organization called Werds of Art which produces annual showcases showcasing prominent and up and coming artists in the community. He also has two spoken word albums, two chapbooks and an array of publications through various magazines and newspapers. In 2011, he became part of a group called the D.N.A project which stands for The David and Abraham project along with fellow spoken word artist Honest Abe. The debut group album is expected to be completed by the summer of 2012.
 
***** Produced by: Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word
http://inspiredwordnyc.blogspot.com/
***** When: Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012 Where: 116 116 MacDougal Street (between Bleecker Street and Minetta Lane) Downstairs Lounge Manhattan, NY 10012 (212) 254-9996 (917) 703-1512 By subway, take the A, B, C, D, E, F to West 4th Street-Washington Square. Doors open for open mic sign-up @ 6:30pm Show starts @ 7pm Cover Charge: $10 No Age Limit. "The Inspired Word isn't just a series, it's a movement."