Little Rock spoken word artist Oya will be featured at this week's Wednesday Night Poetry at Kollective Coffee+Tea, 110 Central Ave.
The regular open mic session for all poets begins at 6:30 p.m. Oya will perform at 7 p.m., followed by a second open mic. Admission is free and open to all ages.
Oya is named after the Yoruban Orisha Goddess of the winds of change, storms and destruction, In a news release she said, "I believe spoken word is my machete to destroy the stigma on platitude opening the door for new interpretation. I speak from personal experience creatively as a way of venting on subjects uncomfortable to the majority." Oya is a follower of the Afrikan philosophy of Sankofa. "Because it's in the things we forget we already know, that brings us the change to grow."
She is the founding member of the Little Rock performance troupe, New Wave -- a group of artists, poets, comedians, dancers and singers whose focus is to assist in the connection of arts of all types within the community.
"Whenever New Wave shows up it brightens the show. You can bet with Oya as the feature New Wave will be in town," WNP host Bud Kenny said.
Oya also hosts a biweekly cypher which travels around Little Rock to historic locations open to artists of all types. Every other month she hosts the Battle of the Orisha Poetry Slam.
Oya is an administrative officer at Northern Technical College, and the executive officer for communications for a battalion of the Arkansas Army Reserves.
Email [email protected] for more information.
Entertainment on 10/09/2018