Diasporic Diction ft. Ayokunie Falomo and Loyce Gayo

Slam New Orleans and Noirlinians present Ayokunle Falomo and Loyce Gayo at 7 p.m. on Sunday, February 5, at the Ashé CAC (1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd). Admission to the event is $10. The event will also feature an open mic.

Ayokunle Falomo is: a Nigerian. a poet – who uses his pen as a shovel to unearth those things that make us human. a lover: of almonds. the color blue. hymns. grapes. conversations. and turkey bacon. a TEDx speaker. an author (of the collection of poems – “thread, this wordweaver must!” – which serves as a reminder that your stories matter, and is also an invitation for you to share them.) & of “kin.DREAD” (#kinDREADbooktour-books available at this event) – an upcoming collection of poems and thoughts that seeks to explore the relationship between our fears and those closest to us.) a dreamer. an American. He enjoys walking. & talking to himself (sometimes in third person actually)…a lot.

Loyce Gayo is a Tanzanian born slampoet, singer, teaching artist and activist who is currently based in Houston, TX. Gayo is profoundly influenced by her experience in the African Diaspora and uses her craft to celebrate the journey of a people dispersed. She also uses her voice to advocate for the empowerment of marginalized people by supporting local efforts and organizations. Gayo was the slam champion of the UT Spitshine poetry slam team who won the 2014 Collegiate Union Poetry Slam Invitational (CUPSI). Her work has been featured on Button Poetry, Write About Now, Badilisha Poetry, and PBS. She also teaches creative writing for Writers in the Schools, Houston.