Abiodun Oyewole – Founder of The Last Poets

The Bridgeport Public Library is excited to host Abiodun Oyewole to read his poetry and discuss his life and career.

Mr. Oyewole is a founding member of the American musical spieling group, The Last Poets – originally formed during a poetry reading in honor of Malcom X. The group’s message, deeply rooted in Black Nationalism, became well recognized in African American society and part of the Black Arts Movement. The Last Poets along with the artist Gil Scott-Heron are credited as having had a profound effect on the development of hip-hop music. Their spoken word albums preceded politically laced Rhythm and Blues projects, such as Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, and foreshadowed the work of hard-hitting rap groups like Public Enemy and Dead Prez.

Oyewole earned his doctorate and taught at Columbia University.  He rejoined The Last Poets during its 1990s resurgence and the group  released a new album entitled Holy Terror in 1995 and a book called On a Mission: Selected Poetry and a History of the Last Poets in 1996.