Ajanaé Dawkins: The Soul of a PoetTheologian
Photo credit Matthew Pitts
By Dr. Elaine Richardson aka Dr. E-Inspirational Soul Queen, performance activist, professor, non-profit Board Chair, Education Foundation for Freedom, director Columbus Women & Girls’ Fest
Ajanaé Dawkins is an award-winning poet, educator, performer and theologian. She teaches poetry for the Empowering Young Voices Arts Mentoring Program, preparing her mentees to present and perform their poetry showcase at the upcoming Columbus Women & Girls’ Fest, Aug. 25 at the Maroon Arts Box Park.
Dr. E: What got you interested in poetry?
Ajanaé: I started writing when I was really young, and I loved reading. I grew up in the Tumblr era and at a time when YouTube was becoming a part of our daily lives. I had already been writing as a form of personal expression and had even stapled printer paper along its center in an attempt at writing a book in sixth grade. I saw my first Def Jam video on YouTube and was immediately like, “That’s what I do!”
Dr. E: Who has most influenced you as an artist?
Ajanaé: My fad is an artist. He’s a lyricist and emcee. Two of my great grandmothers wrote poetry. My grandfather is a pastor. My aunt is a nail tech. I grew up in the studio with my dad, watching him write, sing and rap. When he found out I was interested in poetry, he took me to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. I watched my grandfather carefully research, write sermons and preach on Sundays. I sat in barber + beauty shops with my aunt, watching her make intricate designs on women’s nails. My biggest and earliest influences were my family, watching them move language and art, even when not traditionally artists.
Photo credit Matthew Pitts
Dr. E: What’s the best thing about the Columbus art scene right now?
Ajanaé: I’m deeply moved by the organizing, community building and the art being done by Black artists in the city. I sometimes feel like I’m watching a renaissance or Black arts movement. I’m thinking about Scott Woods and his work at Streetlight Guild and beyond. Sherri Neale and Marshall Shorts with Maroon Arts Group. Tyiesha Radford Shorts in her leadership with the Giovanni Collective (shameless plug). CarolineInspires and her work with youth artists in Columbus, connecting them with folks in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Iyana Hill and Christopher Hearn and their work with Irrepressible Soul. Matthew Pitts’ work with Matty With the Cam Films. Geoff Anderson and Matthew’s work with Diverses. I know that I’m leaving so many people off of this list because the work being done is so expansive, but Black artists in Columbus are just making art, they are building things that work and exist beyond themselves.
Dr. E: What are some of the artistic endeavors in which you are currently involved?
Ajanaé: I’m currently the artist-in-residence at Urban Arts Space. I have an exhibition up called No One Teaches Us How To Be Daughters [through Aug. 3, 2024], along with an exhibition that I curated as well as an exhibition from an artist I invited. My chapbook, BLOOD-FLEX is forthcoming from New Delta Review. I’m also a part of the Giovanni collective. I’m also a theology editor at the EcoTheo Review.
Dr. E: How do these different aspects of what you do fulfill you as a poet and or artist?
Ajanaé: The exhibition work has allowed me to play with a new medium and think about how people might experience my work beyond the page or performance. My chapbook will be my first published collection of work. In many ways, it’s a precursor to other projects that I’ve been working on that meditate on matrilineal. My work as a theologian deeply shapes my art and practice as I believe that I create by the Spirit.
Photo credit Matthew Pitts
Dr. E: What music artists are you interested in or who you currently listen to?
Ajanaé: I could listen to Jamila Woods all day. Beyoncé. Kendrick. Hilary Duff’s early albums because they help me keep my inner child intact. Ebri Yahloe. Zhalarina Sanders. Rich Robbins.
Dr. E: What advice would you love to share with someone that is wanting to pursue the life of a poet?
Ajanaé: Few things have made this life worthwhile like the people who sit with me, stirred, tender, open and near spiritual encounters over what language can do. Over how the Black writers before us wielded it. What worlds and realities they built. Anyone who wants to pursue the life of a poet should as earnestly as they can, surround themselves with other poets and artists.
See Ajanaé and her mentees perform their poetry showcase at the upcoming Columbus Women & Girls’ Fest, Aug. 25 at the Maroon Arts Box Park.
This article is part of a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council as part of the Art Makes Columbus campaign. Explore a calendar of events, public art database and artist stories at columbusmakesart.com. To learn more about GCAC grants visit gcac.org.