About Dasan
Dasan Ahanu is a public speaker, organizer, workshop facilitator, poet,
spoken word performer, songwriter, writer, emcee, and loyal Hip Hop
head. Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Dasan has used his
southern roots to craft his own brand of creative expression. In
addition to performing, Dasan has hosted many poetry, jazz, Hip Hop, and
cultural arts events across NC. Performing with a number of notable
emcees, poets and writers, he has amazed audiences from the underground
to academia in cities from St. Louis to Texas. As an actor, Dasan has
been a cast member of the hip-hopera, "Right is Right" and a Harlem
Renaissance production, "Images", which was produced by National
Ensemble Theater and featured at the 2001 National Black Theatre
Festival. He is one of the founders of Black Poetry Theatre (BPT) and
has been a cast member in five of its six productions. In addition to
writing and co-directing the BPT productions, "Herstory of Love" and "Definition of a Hero", Dasan also recently developed and starred in a
one-man theatre production entitled "Confessions of a Lounge Singer".
Since finding a passion for slam poetry, Dasan has competed regionally
and nationally since 2005 as a founding member of the Bull City Slam
Team out of Durham, NC. In June 2010 the Bull City Slam Team won the
Southern Fried Southeastern Regional Poetry Slam, the largest regional
poetry slam in the country. The team also finished 3rd in the nation at
the 2010 National Poetry Slam. A lyricist with a thirst for being on
stage, Dasan is truly an artist with presence....(more)
The Innovator
"The Innovator" is a collection of poems from NC poet Dasan Ahanu. Inspired by a 2005 chapbook of the same name, this offering features some of Ahanu's signature poems. Full of emotion, sincerity, passion, and social commentary, Ahanu's unique perspective is on display. Not only an inside look into this poet's mind, "The Innovator" is a critical analysis of the world we live in.
The jim crow jackson experiment
"The Jim Crow Jackson Experiment" offers the world of Spoken Word and Rap something fresh and innovative. The first single, "It's So Good" featuring L.E.G.A.C.Y. proves to be an impressive forecast of the brilliance to come. The album is a combination of Spoken Word, Hip Hop, Blues, Jazz, Reggae, and Soul. Showcasing great writing and excellent collaborations, the album is a force to be reckoned with and it's only the beginning.
Freedom Papers
"I'm
a punchline...words beaten into a page. I'm a hyperbole...a gross
exaggeration of what blessings I deserve. I'm alliteration...repetitive
mistakes with the first smile that follows an "I need you". I am
personification...my mother's prayers given human characteristics. I am
nothing but a literary device. So I write.
This book is a
collection of thoughts, observations, inspirations, and declarations
about life. It is about the freedom of the human spirit. It is about
freedom of speech and free thought. Each poem is intended to reflect the
lives we live, the obstacles we face, and the victories we claim. In
it, I hope that the reader finds reasons to be outraged, encouraged,
inspired, shocked, touched, and engaged. I also hope that these poems
inspire other voices to find their way to the page.
Write Free, Speak Free, Live Free!"
