Passing the Mic: Into the Multiverse

×

Expand

omai.wisc.edu

The First Wave Hip Hop Theatre Touring Ensemble members for 2021-22 include (clockwise from top left) Sarah Abbas, Zachary Lesmeister, Jackson Neal, Marjan Naderi and Azura Tyabji.

The UW Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives hosts “Passing the Mic,” an intergenerational, intersectional recurring dialogue on hip-hop performance, education and activism. Performances and conversation feature guest artists Mahogany L. Browne and Jive Poetic (both writers-performers and educators based in Brooklyn, New York), and members of the First Wave Hip Hop Theatre Touring Ensemble (for 2021-22 including Sarah Abbas, Zachary Lesmeister, Marjan Naderi, Jackson Neal and Azura Tyabji). Register here for this free event.

media release: Passing The Mic (PTM) is an intergenerational dialogue on hip hop arts, education, and activism hosted by the award winning Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in partnership with the DDEEA Diversity Forum, School of Education, Arts Division, Interdisciplinary Artist Residency Program, Jenny Holzer, and the Wisconsin Book Festival.

2021 Theme: The Multiverse is where the dimensions of past, present and future all intersect on the same timeline. If the last two years have taught us anything, they have emphasized the importance of now. The urgency of honoring real histories, real present pressing matters, real futures filled with hope and yet at stake. The 15th Annual Passing the Mic Intergenerational Hip Hop Festival is the Multiverse where these planes meet; where we bridge the gap between generations and silos; where we use song and poems, multi verses, movement and media, to demand radical documentation, collaboration, and celebration. Join us for a weekend of showcases, concerts, panels and workshops all dedicated to this conversation: where have we been, where are we going, what will we make possible and how in this Multiverse?

This event is a showcase of performances and conversations by PtM Youth Participants, First Wave Scholars, FW Alum and Internationally-acclaimed guest artists, Mahogany L Browne and Jive Poetic. Enjoy a night of amazing music, great art and insightful talk backs with our guest artists and First Wave Touring Ensemble!

*Face coverings are required regardless of vaccination status, and social distancing will be encouraged to keep our community safe!*

Mahogany L. Browne is the executive director of JustMedia, a media literacy initiative designed to support the groundwork of criminal justice leaders and community members. This position is informed by her career as a writer, organizer, & educator. Browne has received fellowships from Agnes Gund, Air Serenbe, Cave Canem, Poets House, Mellon Research & Rauschenberg. She is the author of recent works: Chlorine Sky, Woke: A Young Poets Call to Justice, Woke Baby, and Black Girl Magic. Browne is the founder of the diverse lit initiative, Woke Baby Book Fair; and is excited about her latest poetry collection. I Remember Death By Its Proximity to What I Love is a book-length poem responding to the impact of mass incarceration on women and children). She is based in Brooklyn and is the first-ever Poet-in-Residence at the Lincoln Center.

First Wave Touring Ensemble: The First Wave Hip Hop Theatre Ensemble (FWTE) is a groundbreaking collective of spoken word poets, emcees, dancers, singers, actors, and activists from across the United States. FWTE represents the First Wave Hip Hop & Urban Arts Learning Community at UW-Madison, the world's first and only full tuition scholarship for Hip Hop and urbans arts. They create works that unpack the personal narrative as a route to academic engagement, artistic productivity and community engagement. 

They have performed in England, Mexico, Panama, Africa, Australia, and Jamaica as well as across the USA including featured performances on Broadway and annual performance keynote at the Boys & Girl Club Keystone Conference.  Touring Members host workshops and performances in local and regional high school and community spaces.

FWTE Members for 2021-22 are Azura Tyabji (Seattle), Jackson Neal (Houston), Marjan Naderi (DC), Sarah Abbas (St. Louis), & Zachary Lesmeister (St. Louis).