Today we’d like to introduce you to Uwazi Zamani.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born in Longview, Texas but consider myself a native Houstonian. My talent and passion for slam poetry, dance, theatre and visual art manifested itself at an early age. I was deeply moved by the speeches of Malcolm X and Huey Newton. The poetry of Langston Hughes and later Saul Williams. Inspired by the candor and power of actors like Denzel Washington and Angela Bassett and the visual art of Robert Colescott and Basquiat.
I’m told I have an old soul and that I was born in the wrong era. While I love that I was born in the 90s, eras like 60s, 70s, and early 80s are what move my spirit; given my appreciation of the music and art that was born in those decades, I’m a lover of the black creations that came before me. My vehicle for evoking change has always been my art.
Please tell us about your art.
Well, the meaning of my name explains a lot. Uwazi means openness in Swahili, and Zamani means “old” or “of the past. In many African traditions when you are given a name, you must live up to it. I aim to do that with my art.
Much of my art uses mediums spoken word and dance to explore and unravel the complexities of being a Black same gender loving man; exploring topics of race, sexuality, and politics. It is through this exploration that I am able to deliver artfully unapologetic experiences through movement and spoken word. I firmly believe in creating a pallet of work vested in truth, healing, and transparency. The premise of my art has always been history and exploration of the human condition.
What I hope people take away from art is the profound act of living in your truth and testifying even though it may be dangerous, With dance, I’m giving myself permission to live in my body and express a guttural feeling that probably won’t have a description until I’m older. For me, my art is a way to purge cramped feelings and emotions but to also evoke intentional dialogue and change.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
No one is going to take you seriously if you don’t. The quality of your art suffers when you do not study and invest in what you want to be good. Raw talent is great but raw talent coupled with being knowledgeable and convinced that there is purpose in your work is even better. I see so many artists in the same place because they do not invest in the evolution of their art. Art is about deliberate self-practice. You should experience your art everyday of your life.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I’m currently an Artist in Residence with Dance Source Houston and will be performing my 20-minute solo-work “In Memory of When I Cared” at MATCH June 21st and 23rd,
“In Memory of When I Cared” is an autobiographical work that microcosms of being a same gender loving black man navigating through childhood trauma, love, and survival. The piece offers an honest, gritty and in-depth retrospective of my life and utilizes the poetry of Essex Hemphill to intentionally address concurrent themes that affect black same gender loving communities. The work will feature the artwork of Houston painter/muralist Mark Arceneaux.
Check it out!
Contact Info:
- Phone: 9799226789
- Email: n.muckleroy91@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @uwazi_zamani
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uwazi.zamani
- Twitter: @UwaziZamani
- Other: $NickMuckleroy
Image Credit:
1st Image- Photo Credit; Ismail Glosson
2nd Image- Photo Credit: George Cuillen
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