kwame nkrumah (if you haven't read him, you haven't begun to understand the institutions of poverty and exploitation), stevie wonder, wulomei, wyclef jean, a.b. crentsil (you really should check this guy out!), patrice lumumba, ?uestlove, sunrise, efua sutherland, marcus miller (a true don!), james baldwin, kakaiku, nightfall, fela, nesta marley, joni mitchell, mos def, egya koo nimo, langston hughes, aerosmith, osibisa, donny hathaway, atukwei okai, bobby womack, satchmo (po from earth, rose with the weed smoke, funded mlk, master in the art of subterfuge...), roy ayers, mazisi kunene, nina simone, kontomire aka palaver sauce (go to a GH restaurant and order some - i promise you'll write a dope line afterwards), guy warren, tribe called quest, brendan behan, erykah badu (mama's gun & live are my albums), jewel ackah, bessie smith, charlie mingus, muhammad ali, kwegyir aggrey, w.b. yeats, ayi kwei armah (crazy plots!), aretha franklin, pat thomas (another highlife genius), minnie ripperton, groundnut soup, marvin gaye, sekou sundiata, matsuo basho, prince, john coltrane, bill withers
new mid-section:people whose voices i love and would buy their albums even if they sang the list of dead us soldiers from iraq aretha franklin, luther vandross, jeffrey osbourne, natalie cole, rachelle ferrell, john lee hooker, erykah badu, prince, donny hathaway, dee dee bridgewater, anita baker, robert cray, george benson, nina simone, cassandra wilson, lizz wright, smokey robinson, marvin gaye, nat king cole, dianne reeves...
i'll continue in my head but i'll end here for now...
Nii Ayikwei Parkes writes poetry, lyrics, prose and articles. Former Poet-In-Residence at the Poetry Café, he is the author of three poetry collections; eyes of a boy, lips of a man (1999) and M is for Madrigal (2004) and the self-published shorter (2005), which is a vehicle to raise money for a writers' fund in Ghana. Nii also co-edited the groundbreaking Tell Tales Volume I short story anthology with Courttia Newland and regularly edits x magazine.
A versatile performer who is not afraid to 'act the fool' on stage, Nii has performed all over the world on major stages like the NuYorican in New York, The Royal Festival Hall in London, Java in Paris and Paradiso in Amsterdam as well as at festivals such as the Lancaster Literature Festival and the Austin International Poetry Festival. He completed a sell-out six-week tour of the United States in 2002, followed by a US West Coast tour in 2004. His accolades include finalist in the 2000 Unisong International Songwriting Competition for his song "The Sweetest Minute", sung by Yaa Asantewa Ofori, a 2003 Arts Council Award for his just completed novel, The Cost of Red Eyes, the 2003 and 2004 Farrago Best Overall Poetry Performance Award, and a high commendation in the 2004 New Writer Short Story Prize for his story, "Scotch Bonnets."
Nii is a former associate Writer-In-Residence on BBC Radio 3 and is the featured face for poetry in the 2004 Time Out London Guide. His novel 'Tail of the Blue Bird, will be released in June 2009 by Jonathan Cape.
Hi friend! Thanks for accept me. So amazing, great and original music. Absolutely marvellous, I love it and listen over and over again! You're terrific! All the best in your music career. Best regards from Poland, Marika
rakokuuuuuuun !!!! how do you do???? here it's a mess... cold makes our brain freezing... cannot think anymore... probably we're de-evolving step by step...
how about you? everything allright? tnx for being friends stay cool and keep in touch!!!
Just stopping by to check out your page. Congrats on all the literary activities and successes. I'm proud to have been acquainted with your work for more than 10 years (wow, has time flown!).
Hey guys, thanks for the add. Just thought I would share this with you all.
Better Then - FREE download
The inspiration behind this song, is the loss of my brother, Andile James Makiwne, who died in a car accident in '06. I know that there are people who lost someone they loved through street crime, accidents, wars, and death as a whole that will relate to what I felt when I lost my brother. I kept this song to myself for years but hope this acoustic performance of it would touch someone. ,,
You can download the song for FREE on http://www.myspace.com/briantemba
Respect Nii on your dedication to poetry, very inspirational buddy, and great to see you blogging again. University is good and the Media is tricky along with English Language, however I remain positive. Just popped by to read your new post and wish you well. Best wishes Rob B.
Hi Nii, It was great meeting you at the Hague! I finally received my "eyes of a boy, lips of a man" (I had to order it from the UK since its not sold here in holland) Now I have read it I love your work even more.. Keep on writing, keep on performing!
Hello I was reading this months "The Liberal" and was very moved by your writing. Thank you... and I hope you are well.
For anyone who hasn't read the Liberal Nii's words from Ballast V are as follows,
Quite simply, genetic memory made metaphor, musical time stretched like currents, songs escaping to ribbon the sky; like a whipped hem of waves laying claim to the shore.
Hey Nii. Read your short story in African Writing. I've got myself a little book review there as well. Good to know you are so busy. Look forward to next AWE, November right?
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