Poets:
Jovana Tankou (She/they)
Jovana Tankou is a first-generation Cameroonian-American from the San Fernando Valley who uses words to cement her own existence. The 20-year-old artist got her start in high school writing about cultural identity for the literary non-profit Get Lit-Word Ignite. She’s an award-winning poet with her work featured in the Young Arts Winners Anthology, Los Angeles Poetry Anthology, and the LACMA’s Portraits of Radical Generosity production. Her true passion, however, is her community. She is currently studying Sociology and African-American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, and is involved in organizing work outside of school.
Jovana Tankou is a first-generation Cameroonian-American from the San Fernando Valley who uses words to cement her own existence. The 20-year-old artist got her start in high school writing about cultural identity for the literary non-profit Get Lit-Word Ignite. She’s an award-winning poet with her work featured in the Young Arts Winners Anthology, Los Angeles Poetry Anthology, and the LACMA’s Portraits of Radical Generosity production. Her true passion, however, is her community. She is currently studying Sociology and African-American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, and is involved in organizing work outside of school.
Nicole Crawford (they/she)
Nicole is a poet, revolutionary, and creative seeking to speak life healing into the Afrikan diasporic community and the greater world in all that they do. They are the Editor-in-Chief of NOMMO (the Afrikan Magazine at UCLA) and majoring in political science and sociology here at UCLA. Outside of school, they are the chapter lead of Community Movement Builders Los Angeles, a national nonprofit organization that aims to unite the Afrikan people of the diaspora in the collective struggle for autonomy and liberation through mutual aid programs and political education. Additionally, they have a podcast called Rawest Forms and they are currently writing their first book of poetry: Liquid Light.
Dancers:
Mary Camilla Polhemus (sHE/HER)
Mary Camilla Polhemus is a dancer, actress and choreographer born and raised in Venice, CA. She graduated this past year from UCLA studying dance, theater and Biology. Her versatile training in Hip Hop, West African, Modern and Ballet has awarded her with a vast range of opportunities. She was given full scholarship to study Russian language and ballet in Moscow, toured at local schools and prisons with a west african dance parks and recreation program, performed in Kigali with Rwandese pop star Platini, and lead in a Hollywood fringe festival Hip-hop production that challenged the notion that women are expected to be quiet and agreeable. Mary is passionate about spreading joy through her work while simultaneously expressing raw realities, addressing controversial issues and inspiring people to make a difference in society. She aims to improve representation for mislabeled communities by telling stories of disenfranchisement and marginalization that resonate with communities throughout the world.
Rachael Odebunmi
Rachael Odebunmi, a senior studying dance and musicology, delves deeply into the choreographic exploration of the rich intersections of dance, music, and cultural identities through her studies. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she has performed in and choreographed numerous dance projects within the city’s vibrant art scene. While Rachael feels most at home doing contemporary and modern movement styles, her versatile training also encompasses ballet, jazz, hip hop, and various other dance genres.
DJ:
Lucas Druz (He/Him)
