[youtube id=”YiGAmJr4wgY”] Sekou Sundiata was a poet, professor and Grammy-nominated performer from Harlem. Sundiata’s work deals with identity, politics, rhythm and slavery. “Come On And Bring On The Reparations” examines compensation for the descendants of ex-slaves for past labor and ongoing cultural contributions that are never truly acknowledged by society. Sundiata appeared on the first episode of Def Jam Poetry Jam’s 2003 season two. It was one of two times that Sundiata read his poetry on the show. “Bring On The Reparations” was one of many works where Sundiata questioned the value of Blackness. In addition to being a poet, he was an activist and educator becoming the first Writer- in- Residence at The New School. His 1997 debut album The Blue Oneness Of Dreams was nominated for a Grammy. Ten years later Sundiata passed after suffering a heart attack. In 2013, MAPP International produced Blink Your Eyes: Sekou Sundiata Revisited a seven-month retrospective in NYC in partnership with 17 cultural organizations and educational institutions.

R.I.P. to the one of the coolest poets and teachers who walked the planet. One day back in ’97 when I was his student he missed a class because of a kidney problem and I could tell by his tone of explanation it was serious. But it didn’t stop him from putting one of the best shows together that combined one if not the last public performance of Allan Ginsberg with a hodgepodge of super-talents like Nona Hendryx, Craig Harris, Regina Carter, Ntozake Shange, Danny Glover Amiri Baraka and others. In addition to that memory I can never forget the year the Black Rock Coalition did the blaxploitation songbook and Sekou read a poem about “that mess on Monica’s dress” referring to the Republican-pitched scandal that Bill Clinton happily walked into that year.
He made his transition last week but his words and sound are still resounding
throughout the world. Vernon Reid shares his memories of Sekou here.