KEABLES FORTNIGHT
January 23 - February 3, 2012

Mali, one of the most well-known poets to have emerged from the poetry slam movement, lives and works in New York City.  He is one of the few people in the world to have no job other than that of "poet." Articulate, accessible, passionate, and downright funny, Mali studied drama in Oxford with members of The Royal Shakespeare Company and puts those skills of presentation to work in all his performances. He has appeared on the HBO series Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry and was the "Armani-clad villain" of Paul Devlin's 1997 documentary film SlamNation.

In the tradition of Harold Keables, he defends the richness and beauty of the English language through his work. Although Mali is best known for his performance poetry, he is the author of two books of poetry, The Last Time As We Are (Write Bloody Books 2009) and What Learning Leaves (Hanover 2002). He received a New York Foundation for the Arts Grant in 2001 to develop "Teacher! Teacher!" a one-man show about poetry, teaching, and math. The show won the jury prize for best solo performance at the 2001 U. S. Comedy Arts Festival.

Mali is a passionate advocate for teachers and the nobility of teaching, having spent nine years in the classroom teaching everything from English and history to math and S.A.T. test preparation. He has performed and lectured for teachers all over the world and has a goal of creating 1,000 new teachers through "poetry, persuasion, and perseverance." Read more about the teachers he has recruited here.

Mali will teach classes at 'Iolani School and perform at school and community events from Jan. 23-Feb. 3, 2012.

(Profile information from Blue Flower Arts. Photos by Peter Dressel.)