Literary Consultant

"Your training style provided guidance for me when I started the Afrocentric Book Expos. Thank you for being a friend. " - Ms. Judine B. Slaughter, Takoma Park Library, 2003

"Ms. Abney always a pleasure to see and hear of your community great works. "- Mama Sandy Morgan - Poet, Writer & Storyteller

"Ms. Abney, thank you for your commitment, love and enthusiasm for the children of the District."- Anonymous

“....Ms. Afrika Abney was a very dedicated tutor to the fourth grade student with whom she was paired. She was always prompt, and in fact frequently came early in order to prepare for the lesson Ms. Abney was going to teach that day. She was very committed to building a relationship with her student and brought in materials that appealed directly to the student’s interests and worked to connect her lessons with these interests. Ms. Abney is passionate about children’s literacy and that passion was very evident in her work....”- Emily G., Regional Site Coordinator with Reading Partners

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​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.