Ayodele Nzinga

Ayodele Nzinga is the first poet laureate of the city of Oakland, California. She’s an arts and culture theoretician/ practitioner working at the intersections of cultural production, community development, and community well being to foster transformation in marginalized communities. Nzinga holds a Masters in Fine Arts in Writing and Consciousness and Doctorate of Philosophy in Transformative Education & Change; she resides in Oakland, CA. Described as a renaissance woman, Ayodele is a producing director, playwright, poet, dramaturg, actress, performance consultant, arts educator, community advocate, and a culture bearing anchor. 

Books

Incandescent (2021 from Not a Pipe Publishing)

Performing Literacy: A Narrative Inquiry into Performance Pedagogy in a Marginalized Community

Singles

 “Don’t Call Me” – J. Definitely

“Bigger Picture” – Inspire

“Hood Affair” – Playa Righteous

“Look n the Glass” – Playa Righteous

“WordznBulletz” – We Inhale

“Freedom” – Hairdoo

“Pocket Full of Cowries” – Wolf Hawk Jaguar

“Prosperity Movement” – Wolf Hawk Jaguar

“Water” — Oshunfemi Njeri

Compilations

 “Lower Bottom Playaz Hood Mix” – Compilation-We Inhale

Albums

The SorrowLand Rebellion – Black Apes Music