Monique Ngozi Nri

This first book of published poetry by Monique Ngozi Nri with artwork by Ellington "Jayne" Bliss explores the profound impact of the Biafran war on her identity and the themes of displacement, home, freedom, feminism, and deep connection. She aligns herself with a school of writers and poets dedicated to changing the world, including John Oliver Killens, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Ntozake Shange, and Lucille Clifton. Monique Ngozi Nri, a writer of Nigerian, Barbadian, and British descent, was born in Coventry, England. She spent her early years in Nigeria until the age of 9, regularly visiting Barbados since childhood. For the past 30 years, she has resided in the People's Republic of Brooklyn, New York. Monique's writing probes her nomadic life. In addition to her writing, Monique is married to Ahmed Abdullah, a trumpeter and leader of the band Diaspora (Dispersions of the Spirit of Ra), with whom she collaborates by singing music of the African Diaspora and Sun Ra, presenting her poetry. A proud mother to Tara, Shahid, and Rashid, Monique has actively contributed to community development and activism for many years. Currently, she serves as the director of CUNY EDGE at Brooklyn College. As a partner in Melchizedek Music Productions with Ahmed, she strives to reintegrate the music of the spirit into Brooklyn's community, ensuring its preservation in our hearts and minds. Nri earned her MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in poetry from Brooklyn College in 2021 and now teaches in the English department. Her writing has been published in the literary journal And Then, The Brooklyn Review, The Marbled Sigh, Black Arts in London, Artrage, Pure Jazz, and The New York City Jazz Record.