Upcoming Events

Symposium on Afrofuturism and Diasporic Scholarship
Keynote Speaker: Dasan Ahanu
The Symposium on Afrofuturism and Diasporic Scholarship is hosted by the African American Cultural Center (AACC) alongside several key campus partners including the NC State University Libraries, TRIO/McNair Scholars, Interdisciplinary Studies, The College of Natural Resources, The Black Alumni Society and more.
The symposium features diasporic learning, scholarship, and epistemologies through cutting-edge research, storytelling, creative works, discussion circles, and community projects from NC State and the local community. This symposium promotes student success by elevating diasporic scholarship, research, and intellectual rigor.

Poetry & Storytelling Workshop
Join Nationally recognized Triangle-based poet Dasan Ahanu for a unique poetry workshop at NC State’s Teaching & Visualization Lab in Hunt Library.
Writing is more than just text on a page and is as creative and expressive as your imagination. We’ll discuss the relationship of words and images and explore a nonlinear approach to storytelling. We will examine how to convey your work to others, from visual presentation to performance. How we see and think is key in broadening the reach of the work we do. What possibilities can we manifest through our imagination? This workshop examines how to put your thoughts and ideas down on paper and how to make them come alive for audiences. Participants will engage in writing prompts and collaborative design activities that will bring out the power inside them. The workshop will introduce participants to poetry elements, figurative language uses, and the power of creative expression. Participants will be pushed to exercise their reflection, observation, and critical thinking skills in fun and insightful ways.
This workshop is connected to the artistic residency that Ahanu is conducting for the premiere of Saints & Aints at Hunt Library March 28-29. This new work, commissioned by NC State LIVE, is part Sunday service reinterpretation, part juke joint reimagining and part underground dance club escapism. This work invites the audience into a communal celebration of life, faith, resiliency and Black joy.

El’J Dilla Book Release
February 22nd – El’J Dilla Book Release: Join us as LeJuane “El’Ja” Bowens releases his new book. There will be special performances by award winning spoken word artists along with a book reading from the author himself and a Q&A with himself and Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey. Located at 301 Hay Street in Fayetteville, NC.
Tickets and Info!

Black History Month at Christ the King Lutheran Church

NC Child Hunger Leaders Conference
Guest Speaker
The 2025 NC Child Hunger Leaders Conference will take place on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 in Chapel Hill! This annual day of celebration and inspiration is for everyone in our state interested in making sure kids have access to healthy food in schools and beyond.

Wild Seed Slam
Welcome to the Wild Seed Slam featuring Dasan Ahanu!
Join us on Sat, Mar 08, 2025 at 226 The Warehouse, 226 Donaldson Street Fayetteville, NC 28301 for an unforgettable evening of poetry and spoken word.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to experience a night of creativity and expression. Grab your friends and come support the arts at this one-of-a-kind event. See you there!
7pm – 11:30pm

Saints & Aints at NC State University
Nationally recognized Triangle-based poet Dasan Ahanu will be in residence with NC State LIVE for the 2024-25 academic year. During his residency, Dasan will create a new work of theatre called Saints & Aints, which will premiere in the cutting-edge James B. Hunt Jr. Library – a place where Dasan often sits to write his poetry. Saints & Aints is part Sunday service reinterpretation, part juke joint reimagining and part underground dance club escapism. This work invites the audience into a communal celebration of life, faith, resiliency and Black joy. The show features spoken word, music, dance, puppetry, and lots of joy.
March 28 + 29 | Doors 7:00pm, Show 7:30pm
https://live.arts.ncsu.edu/nc-state-live-2024-25-season/dasan-ahanu/
James B. Hunt Jr. Library Auditorium
1070 Partners Way Raleigh, NC 27606