FOR THOSE WHO WERE PLANNING ON ATTENDING MY SHOW AT TOURETTES WITHOUT REGRETS AT THE OAKLAND METRO ON THURSDAY NIGHT, UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS CANCELLED. HOLLA!
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Anis Mojgani is the 2006 and 2005 National Poetry Slam Individual Champion, one of two Storm Poets to hold the title and one of only two people to win the competition consecutively. At the 2007 World Cup Poetry Slam, Anis took first place becoming the first winner of the new competition and at the 2007 Individual World Poetry Slam, he took 2nd. He is louder then he realizes. He likes kickball. He likes sitting in movies alone. He used to ice cupcakes for a living. Now he makes tents out of bedrooms and bedsheets.
A sixth season Def Poet for HBO's Def Poetry Jam, he has shared the stage with such performers as Jill Scott, Beau Sia, DMX, Sage Francis and Buddy Wakefield. His work has appeared on NPR, in the literary journal Rattle, and in the recent anthology, Spoken Word Revolution Redux, alongside Poet Laureates Ted Kooser and Billy Collins. The 2006 Seattle Grand Slam Champion, Anis is also one of the subjects of the documentary, Slam Planet: War of the Words (www.slamchannel.com), and holder of the longest eyelashes you've ever seen.
Anis was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. A little man, he was born in a teacup and raised by doormice, before he set out into the world with only a mouthful of pomegranate seeds to find out what he sounded like from the inside. A visual and performing artist, Anis made his way to Georgia where after planting seven years of himself there, he graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in comic books and (99.3% of) an MFA in performing arts. He has written and performed spoken word for nearly 10 years, competing with poetry slam teams from New Orleans, New york City-Urbana, and Seattle.
Taking his words from coffeehouses to bars to crowds of thousands filling Nashville convention centers, and back inside the living rooms of Lincoln, Nebraska, Anis continues to funnel whatever beauty he finds in others to pour into his words to reflect it back towards them, reminding us of who we are and can be. Anis has written and published four books of poetry and produced the spoken word album aeroplane. He heavily dislikes possums, has skinny arms, and is a Baha'i. He currently lives in Portland, Oregon, in a white house with three friends and a cat named Ivan, where he is drawing a book with poems about a boy and a whale to be published by House of Parlance Media.
"I watched Anis win the 2005 Individual National Poetry Slam Championship. He did it with Truth, not gimmick. Damn that's inspiring." --Buddy Wakefield
"Mojgani is not your typical national poetry slam champion. He possesses all of the insight and passion one would expect, but very little of the formulaic anger. The playfulness, startling originality, and lyric optimism are all gravy. He's simply the best there is right now." --Taylor Mali
"Anis Mojgani is the only name that comes to mind when I'm reminded of what spoken word should be, and specifically, where it is headed for the better. Knowing that he is out there performing for the world eases my thoughts, and pushes me to write and perform more, better and effectively. He is a very beautiful person doing beautiful things."
--Mike McGee
There is an unwritten law that the whole of the Western Cape should adhere to this Saturday night - the 10th of May at The Albert Hall in Woodstock...
The law follows that if one is to be happy...One should attend CAT STRING THEORY's DEBUT GIG even if one is preparing a pleasant Mothers Day for their Matriarch...
A letter of a sort to distort the familiar rarity. Simmer in the parity of the barren lands, tearing apart the heart of the plan. Are we damned? Is this the end? A question condemmed. Rising from the ashes, views of sanctomony. But our anatomy sickens when they laugh at me. The last straw, the last stand. A vision of the people who quention raising their hands. Life times have passed and more will follow. And the truth, the truth keeps getting harder to swollow. Starting to reconize the taste of all the lies. Falling victim to our country is no longer a surprise. The most honest beings are at the bottom of the pole. Getting trampled by the greedy fools who like to re-write rules. How about playing by my rules. The ones I wrote just for this generation. Rules that can question in open presentation. Rules that are not visions of the futures shape. Rules that can help dissapate hate they aid in to create. My rules are fuck rules. Just take care of your brothers, your sisters, your fathers, and your mothers. And make sure to love life or life won't love you. -Familiar Fiction- NAS
I hadn't written in (too embarrassing to say how long) and this quiet dispassionate excuse-making had me feeling rotten. Thanks for the direct orders, your work is inspirational.
Amazing show at Seattle U, Anis. I love your new material, can't wait to see more of you. Thank you for continually inspiring. I know that I mentioned to you I made it to the youth poetry slam finals, but I forgot to tell you, I just picked up slamming about two months ago, after watching some of your videos off of youtube. It brought me to tears, it was incredible.
Yeah Brother I would Love to help!! Just let me know!! Troy really is not a big University, but I kn0w people will come. Just let me know how I can help ya..
You, sir. just Rocked Spokane three times in one day. Thank you so very much and we all can't wait until the fall to see the Ghost Revival. Take care and safe travels
you are incredible! i wish i would have had the nerve to tell you in person but i feel very fortunate i heard you speak in everett. you're words are extremely captivating and motivational. you're one person who i think puts emotions, thoughts and feelings into words and poetry that so many people can relate to, so thank you for giving so much of your heart, soul and mind to so many strangers.
richie is one of my really good friends and i know you have inspired us both a lot. i thought it was really cool to see that you guys got to hang out :) i hope that i see you again.
It's from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. One of my favorites. It calms me down when I feel too ambitious. It played a big part in the book I was reading at the time (Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams). I hope your life is going very well!
Thanks for the magical performance in Caldwell. Did you bring the rain with you? The rain on the roof was a nice addition to the dramatic moments of your words. I've written a little each day since I saw you. Thanks.
i got an idea for a bank job for you and me. let's just say it involves a large trenchcoat, shoulder-sitting, and the words "i am the dwead piwate wobewts!"
