(photo
by James Harding)
SIAM,
after completing his studies at Aenon Bible College, and Ohio
State University, went on to complete his Master of Theological
Studies degree from the Harvard Divinity School in 1976. SIAM
is the author of one book of contemporary verse, A Word For Black
Emotion, with two unpublished manuscripts, Invocation For The
Mentally Insane, Excerpt Poems For The Lost And Found Who Collect
Old Pictures of UFOs and Your Image on the Wall, on the
poetical alter for possible sacrificial oblation to the present
and future restless native species inhabiting Planet Earth and
Multiverse.
This Mystic Poet is known both for his poetry
and his acting. SIAM has read and performed his art, taking his
energy and light to institutions across the nation and abroad.
Such notable places include, but are not exclusive to Ohio University
(Athens); Central State University, Xenia, OH; Wilberforce University
(Ohio); Chillicothe Correctional Institute (Ohio); The Columbus
Stage Center, (Ohio); Wexner Mershon Auditorium, Columbus, OH;
the Karamu Theatre, Cleveland, OH; The Human Race Theatre, Dayton,
OH; The Chapel and The Braun Room of The Harvard Divinity School,
Cambridge, MA; The Apollo Theatre, Harlem, New York; The Brooklyn
(New York) Academy of Music; the Kenya Science Teachers College,
Nairobi, Kenya; Aynou Rahmati in the Holy City of Touba, Senegal,
West Africa; and inside the Kings Chamber of The Great Pyramid
of Cairo, Egypt. He has also read his work and performed on the
stages of local churches, schools, and notable theatres such as
Phillips Temple C.M.E. Church, The Central Avenue United Methodist
Church, The Warren Performing Arts Center, The Omega Conference
Center, The Phoenix Theatre, The Madame Walker Urban Life Center,
The Indianapolis Civic Theatre, and the Indiana Repertory Theatre.
SIAM was a recipient of a $5,000
Fellowship from the Indiana Arts Commission for his work in theater.
He also received standing ovations and accolades on behalf of
his poetry from notable poets such as Norman Jordan, Delbert Tibbs,
Ethridge Knight, Eugene B. Redmond, and Imamu Amiri Baraka (LeRoi
Jones).
His art and writings have appeared in magazines
and periodicals such as Our Choking Times, Kuwas, The Escutcheon,
The Midtown Writer, Nuvo, Aint No Frost On This Pumpkin-New
Hoosier Poets, Vibration, Proud Black Images (the OSU quarterly
publication of poems, essays, and photography which he formerly
co-founded and co-edited), and The Flying Island. SIAM's work
has also been read on television stations in various cities and
published in newspapers such as, The Columbus Call & Post,
The Columbus Dispatch, and The Dayton Daily News, all in Ohio;
The Harvard Crimson (Cambridge, MA), The Indianapolis Star &
News, and The Indianapolis Recorder.
He has recently been asked what SIAM means?
The poet responds by saying:
SIAM is like unto IAM - the continuous eternal
verb to be; it is the ever new me of being and becoming endlessly
evolving into new and more beautiful construction and art forms.
SIAM is not only that new creative name for my talent and the
place it comes from. SIAM also stands for my spiritual and human
station in life (my mission). SIAM is...
Shaikh Ibrahim Al-Jahizz M'Backe