Poetry & Spoken Word
Exploring cultural narratives and spiritual connections through the power of words
The Poetic Voice
Dr. Nedra T. Williams is not only a visual artist but also an accomplished poet and spoken word performer. Her literary work extends and complements her visual art, creating a multidimensional approach to storytelling and cultural expression.
Through poetry and spoken word, Dr. Williams explores the same themes that inspire her collage work: African heritage, spiritual connections to the Orisa, cultural identity, and the experiences of the African diaspora. Her performances are known for their rhythmic intensity, vivid imagery, and powerful emotional resonance.
"Words and images are different languages that speak to the same truths," Dr. Williams explains. "Sometimes a story needs to be told through visual composition, and sometimes it demands the rhythm and cadence of spoken word. Often, they work together to create a more complete expression."
Featured Poems
"Ancestral Whispers"
Excerpt from "Ancestral Whispers" (2021)
They speak in patterns,
these ancestors of mine.
Their voices woven into cloth,
carved into wood,
painted across time.
I listen with my hands,
piecing together their stories
in fragments of color and texture.
Each layer a sentence,
each composition a conversation
across centuries.
The Orisa guide my fingers,
as I conjure memory from paper,
as I collage the sacred
into new forms of remembering.
"Patterns of Becoming"
Excerpt from "Patterns of Becoming" (2022)
I am a woman made of patterns,
geometric certainties and fluid possibilities.
My skin a canvas for ancestral mathematics,
my voice an echo of rhythms
that preceded my birth.
The Orisa dance through my veins,
Yemoja's waters,
Oshun's honey,
Shango's thunder.
I am their canvas,
their instrument,
their living collage.
With each word spoken,
with each image created,
I piece together the fragments
of a scattered divinity,
making whole what was broken
by the Middle Passage.
Performances & Readings
Spoken Word Events
Dr. Williams regularly performs her poetry at cultural events, gallery openings, and literary gatherings throughout the Bay Area. Her performances often incorporate visual elements, creating immersive experiences that engage multiple senses.
Recent Performance Venues
- •Oakland Museum of California - "Words & Images" Series
- •African American Museum & Library at Oakland - Poetry Night
- •Nedra Williams Gallery - Exhibition Openings
- •Museum of the African Diaspora - "Voices of the Diaspora" Series
Collaborative Projects
- •"Rhythms & Patterns" - Poetry with live jazz accompaniment
- •"Spoken Images" - Multimedia performance with projected artwork
- •"Ancestral Dialogues" - Collaborative performance with dancers
- •"Words of the Orisa" - Spiritual poetry and traditional drumming
Publications
Dr. Williams' poetry has been published in various literary journals and anthologies focused on African American literature, spiritual expression, and the intersection of visual and literary arts.
Selected Publications
- •"Patterns of Memory" - Collection of poems and visual art (Self-published, 2020)
- •"Bay Area Voices: Contemporary African American Poetry" (Anthology, 2019)
- •"The Orisa in Words and Images" - Essay and poetry collection (2021)
- •Regular contributor to "Diaspora Arts Quarterly" literary magazine
The Integration of Art Forms
For Dr. Williams, poetry and visual art are complementary expressions of the same creative vision. Her artistic practice deliberately blurs the boundaries between these forms, creating a rich dialogue between word and image.
"My collage work often begins with a poem, or a poem emerges from the process of creating a visual piece," she explains. "They inform and inspire each other in a continuous conversation."
This integration is particularly evident in her exhibition installations, where poems are often displayed alongside corresponding visual pieces, inviting viewers to experience both the visual and verbal expressions of a single artistic concept.
In her workshops and educational programs, Dr. Williams encourages participants to explore multiple forms of expression, demonstrating how different creative languages can access and communicate different aspects of experience and memory.
Experience the Spoken Word
Join us for upcoming poetry readings and spoken word performances by Dr. Nedra T. Williams. Check our events calendar for dates and venues.