Presenting Poetry At Its Hippest During AileyCamp Boston Summer Camp Session
Poet ‘Mr. Culture’ Ome’kongo Dibinga joins dance troop’s annual camp to deliver poetry to children. Among the pirouettes and pointes, children are sure to learn about stanzas and sonnets at the AileyCamp Boston, which introduces a new two-week poetry series as part of its popular yearly six-week summer camp.
Boston, MA. (PRWEB) July 14, 2005
Ome’kongo Dibinga, an educator, activist and spoken word artist also known as ‘Mr. Culture’ will introduce poetry in partnership with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and Bank of America at AileyCamp Boston when the 2005 summer camp season begins this week at the Boston Renaissance Charter School, 250 Stuart Street.
For some, the experience of hearing, writing, reciting, and examining poetry, will be the campers’ first foray into reading lyrical prose and speaking poetic language as a form of self expression. The poet selected to deliver the poetry component is Ome’kongo Dibinga, an educator, activist and spoken word artist also known as ‘Mr. Culture’ for his poetry performances in English, French, and Swahili and for his broad range of poetry written with African and African American history and experiences imbued within his writings. Dibinga anticipates delivering a two-week series which will be an affirming and life long appreciation for poetry for the students, so much so that each child who completes the camp will leave with a new perspective about how to view situations and opportunities and with a fresh perspective not always evident in popular culture and entertainment packaged for children and teens. Dibinga, whose resume and accomplishments belies his 29 years with bachelor and master degrees under his belt and recently accepted as a PhD student, leverages his own youthful experiences and love for poetry to discourse on political and current events in beat and tone that children and teens will resonate with and find meaningful.
“Poetry can be expressed in as many ways as there are expressions,” Dibinga said. “My way of expressing myself is through rhythmic prose often using music to deliver some strong messages many of our emerging poets are writing and speaking about in the ‘New Poetry Movement,’ meaning that poetry in the 21st century is just as lyrical as the more traditional poets like Yeats or Whitman were," said Dibinga. “My poetry is all about those same qualities, and the passion. When honesty and clarity are present in the context of current issues and conditions, then everyone can relate, especially our young people who have an important stake in the future, but few outlets to express them in a way which is holistic and affirming,” he said.
DibingaÂ’s camp curriculum will cover use of language as a means of thought, creativity, reflection, learning and self expression. It also will equip students to know how to tap into language as a tool for personal growth, social interaction and for developing relationships within the communities in which they live.
AileyCamp Boston is sponsored by the Bank of AmericaÂ’s, Celebrity Series, an education and community service program that brings a variety of national and international talent from theater, dance, classical and jazz music, directly to students from public school each summer throughout the country.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to be part of an incredible organization like Alvin Ailey Theater, and impart my life around poetry to young people,” Dibinga added.
About the poet:
Ome’kongo Dibinga (www. omekongo. com) is an activist, educator, spoken word artist and Founder and CEO of Free Your Mind Publishing in Boston. Ome’kongo is a first generation Congolese-American who writes and performs poetry in English, French and Swahili and has occasionally used Wolof in his writings. He has released two spoken word CDs: A Young Black Man’s Anthem: Love, Afrika and Revolution Revisited; and Signs of the Time. Ome’kongo is the recipient of the 2003 Cambridge Poetry Award for best CD. He has performed extensively throughout the United States and within in numerous African, European, and South American countries. Ome’kongo has also performed on stage with Amira Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, and Dennis Brutus and has appeared on television and radio stations broadcast to 30 countries. His book, ‘From the Limbs of My Poetree’ was released in November 2004.
From the Limbs of My Poetree
By OmeÂ’kongo Dibinga
Free Your Mind Publishing
ISBN: 0-97 60056-0-3
Publication: November 2004
Black Goddess Communications www. blackgoddesscommunications. com is a full service Strategic Communications and Public Relations firm based in Oakland, California; they can be reached at (510) 710-5951.
###
