Literary Consultant

​Ms. Afrika Abney is influenced by E. Ethelbert Miller, Eloise Greenfield, Nikki Giovanni, Langston Hughes, Gil Scott - Heron and Lucille Clifton. She has performed her original poetry at variety of venues in the Metropolitan region. Some of them include Market 5 Gallery, Starbucks Coffee - Chinatown, Joe's Movement Emporium, Cultural Cafe, Josephine Butler Park Center, Islander Caribbean Restaurant and Lounge, SisterSpace and Books, WPFW, Starbucks Coffee - Georgetown,Yogi Records, Kaffa House, Bintumani Restaurant and Club, Franklyn's CoffeeHouse, Bohemian Caverns, Mangos, Teaism, Riverside Baptist Church, Plymouth Congregational Church, Market 5 Gallery, Mt.Pleasant Library, Washington Art O Matic 2002, and Martin Luther King Library.



Additionally, Ms. Abney has shared the stage with many phenomenal poets such as Sylvia Dianne Beverly "Ladi Di", Kwame Alexander, Joy Alford "Sistah Joy", Billye Okera, Michelle Sewell, Kim Bey, Regena Anderson, Avery Lanier, Bomani Armah, Laurelle Blair, Gregory T.Boykin, Charisse Carney-Nunes, Jeffrey Duarte, E-Baby, and many more.



Furthermore, she has appeared on the air waves of WPFW 89.3 FM, WHUR 96. 3 FM. Ms. Abney also has also appeared in several newspapers and community newsletters.



She has served as a guest host for Summer is Magic Artist's Reception on July 17, 2003 at the Martin Luther King Library,The Poets Den (Kaffa House) on July 26, 2001, Word of Mouth on March 13, 2003 held at Bossa Bistro, Open Mic held at John Nelson Gallery on November 8, 2003, and A Night of Poetry on February 19, 2004 at Trinity College, Cullivy Lounge. Ms. Abney was the host of 1st Thursday Poetry Open Mic Fest sponsored by Cultural Development Corporation and Starbucks, managed by Desho Productions.



She has designed, coordinated, hosted, sponsored and produced numerous events that took place in the Metropolitan region. Some of them include The Spirit Through Us, Poetry Fest, Night of Poetry, Mothers Day Celebration, Cultural Fair, Women's History Month Poetry Seminar, Poetry and Music Open Mic, Summer Festival and Fundraiser, A Family Affair, Celebration of Love and History, Poetry for Peace, Ancestral Celebration and Building Self - Esteem Through Self Awareness, Youth Poetry Open Mic, Open Mic, Royal Words Poetry Lounge and Poetic Beats. She also was co-coordinator of Provisions Poetry Fest and Free the Peace.



In 2003, she created, designed, and hosted her own literary workshop which was funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. It was entitled: Enhancing Our Imaginations.



Ms. Abney had the wonderful opportunity to serve as a Reading Tutor for Emily Gaynor in 2013 for Reading Partners which took place at Center City PCS - Brightwood Campus. Additionally, she had the opportunity to read to numerous elementary school students at schools and DC Public Libraries.


Also, Ms. Abney has promoted numerous literary related events. 




​Selected Accomplishments

● Designed, hosted, coordinated, sponsored and produced numerous poetry and literary events

● Managed, directed and conducted several literary workshops

● Recipient of the Young Artist Grant from the DC Commissions on the Arts and Humanities in 2003


Selected Professional Experiences


Reading Tutor. Reading Partners, Washington, D.C. January 2013 through May 2013.​Provided specialized instruction and academic assistance to students in 3rd through 5th grade, using the Reading Partners program and curriculum.


Guest Host. Summer is Magic Artist's Reception. The Martin Luther King Memorial Library, Washington, DC. July 17, 2003


Guest Host. The Poets Den (Kaffa House), Washington, DC. July 26, 2001


Guest Host. Word of Mouth. Bossa Bistro Lounge, Washington, DC. March 13, 2003


Guest Host for “Open Mic”. John Nelson Gallery, Maryland. November 8, 2003


Guest Host. A Night of Poetry. Trinity College, Cullivy Lounge, Washington, DC. February 19, 2004


Host. 1st Thursday Poetry Open Mic Fest sponsored by Cultural Development Corporation and Starbucks, managed by Desho Productions. 2001 - 2002


Coordinator. Open Mic.Islander Caribbean Restaurant & Lounge, Washington, DC. 2001


Co-coordinator. Provisions Poetry Fest and Free the Peace.Provisions Library, Washington, DC. 2002


Host. Youth Poetry Open Mic. Kick Off Youth Poetry Week. Saturday, April 10, 2004. Mt. Pleasant Library 3160 16th St NW (Corner of 16th and Lamont St. NW) Washington, DC(basement). 


Literary Events


The Spirit Through Us, Poetry Fest, Night of Poetry, Mothers Day Celebration, Cultural Fair, Women's History Month Poetry Seminar, Poetry and Music Open Mic, Summer Festival and Fundraiser, A Family Affair, Celebration of Love and History, Poetry for Peace, Ancestral Celebration and Building Self - Esteem Through Self Awareness, Royal Words Poetry Lounge

and Poetic Beats


Literary Workshops


Enhancing Our Imaginations funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Takoma Park Library, Washington, DC. 2003


Children Literary Workshops. Mt. Pleasant Library, Washington, DC. 2013 - 2014


Literary Performance Credentials (Partial Listing)


Market 5 Gallery, Starbucks Coffee - Chinatown, Joe's Movement Emporium, Cultural Cafe, Josephine Butler Park Center, Islander Caribbean Restaurant and Lounge, SisterSpace and Books, WPFW, Starbucks Coffee - Georgetown,Yogi Records, Kaffa House, Bintumani Restaurant and Club, Franklyn's CoffeeHouse, Bohemian Caverns, Mangos, Teaism, Riverside Baptist Church, Plymouth Congregational Church, Market 5 Gallery, Mt.Pleasant Library, Washington Art O Matic 2002, and Martin Luther King Library.

Selected Literary Events:


​Discovering Me..Without You" Essay Contest, Writing Institute for Teens, Teens Authors Talk, Understanding and Overcoming Fatherless Daughter Syndrome, The Power of Poetry in You, Women Are Poetry in Motion Every Day in Every Way, and Kaleidoscope: A Writing Club.