Because of my background in Drama (Secondary School and University), comfort in large crowds (seven years in a mixed boarding school), and natural rapport with kids (my Mother owns a nursery where I worked as a youth), I consider myself a rather versatile performer.
Although I have performed at a lot of venues (see list), I am still a student. I continue to learn the art of performance by watching those I admire like Talaam Acey, and El Crisis at work and getting advice from some of the most talented and humble poets in the business like Georgia Popoff, Stazja McFayden, Peter Kalu (my first mentor) and Atukwei Okai (Ghana's foremost performance poet).
As a natural transition, I help teach others. I run and facilitate several worshops in the UK and in Ghana and I am always happy to be involved in new projects.
BOOKINGS:
If you would like me to work with youth or help support a charity please
e-mail me. I will be glad to
discuss how I can help. This also applies to events that are intended to
improve opportunities for poets in general.
For other bookings please e-mail my agent.
Venues I have performed at include:
Bassline, Accra
The Golden Tulip Hotel (Jazz Club), Accra
Union Square, Merrick, NY
The Poetry Cafe, London
The Bristol Poetry Festival 2002 (UK)
Bethel Arts Junction, Connecticut
The Paddington International Poetry Festival 2002 (UK)
The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), London
The Royal Festival Hall, London
The Frog & Bucket Comedy Club, Manchester
The Nuyorican Poets Cafe, New York
St. Pauls Carnival, Bristol 2003
Martin Luther King Library, Washington DC
The Green Mill, Chicago
The Blue Cat Cafe, Manchester
Apples & Snakes @ The Battersea Arts Centre, London
speakeasy @ the green room, Manchester
The Austin International Poetry Festival 2003 (Texas, USA)
The Glastonbury Festival 2003 (Somerset, UK)
content © Nii Ayikwei Parkes 2001 - 2006.