Poetry Place: In the Beginning

[IN THE BEGINNING] is The Poetry Place’s showcase launching Black History Month and celebrating World Poetry Day. This landmark event brings together the most culturally shifting contemporary voices of our time, in Griot Gabriel and Maureen Onwunali bridging ancient oral traditions of the spoken word with an uncompromisingly modern edge. Through raw lyricism, visceral storytelling and sharp social critique, these boundary pushing poets act as the living architects of our collective memory, embodying heritage, survival, and radical joy. By placing their distinct perspectives in direct conversation with one another, the showcase fosters a rich tapestry of diasporic identity that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. Amplifying this dynamic synergy, the night will also feature a live musical performance from rapper Oneda, bringing a raw, powerful energy to the stage.