Poets

Tara Ngozi

Tara Ngozi was born and raised in Florida but she considers herself a Jersey girl.  In 2001, at the age of 25, she became a widow and single mother.  It was then that she recieved her calling to speak and write.  “In my mother’s womb, he knit me in.  He knew me, and gave me a love for words and a story to tell…”

Tara is currently writing and recording Why Women Have Hips,  A Collecton of Poetry, Prose, and Introspections, to be released in the Summer of 09.

I came here with gifts that I carried on my hips when my shoulders weren’t enough.  For little girls who considered Jesus when this world got too tough!”

-From Why Women Have Hips
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Ebony Janice

Ebony Janice is a black girl loving sister girl that loves having “nappy” hair and pretends to dance like she’s a part of Alvin Ailey dance troupe… even though she can’t. She loves Jesus and is clearly not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ as she will pray “in Jesus name” in a room full of atheists. She is bold. Even when she is silent. Writer, dramatic worshiper, and poet – Ebony Janice uses words to get peace. And when the words won’t come the way she wants them to she is known to cry, dance, draw, sing, shout… anything to get it out! She is the mighty woman of God and believes that she is “the called.” Did I mention she loves the Lord. Apparently he heard her cry and pitied every groan. She is the author of a book of poems entitled: Young Black Girl (belle noire publishing) and founder of Belle Noire Ministries ( a young women’s ministry), monthly contributor to the monthly black interest news paper: The Advocate, and teacher of a curriculum she designed called – Black Girl Curriculum (which includes her 10 Things Every Black Girl Should Know list). Ebony Janice works full time as an editor and is pursuing her dreams of owning her own publishing company. She is a fiction author and believes that she will co-pastor an awesome ministry with her husband one day soon. She’s in love with a man. Clearly she feels that’s noteworthy. Mostly she loves the God in him. II Kings 4:8-37 is her favorite story in the Bible. She is the Shunamite Woman.
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Oraia

She’s deep, she’s fierce, she’s packed with passion she is… Miss Oraia! From the streets to the stage, this dynamic writer/performer/motivational speaker has made it her mission to take a message of freedom and hope to those outside the four walls of the church.. “Through media and the arts, you capture the hearts of those who dare not enter a house of worship. I have an example of a man who forsook fame to dwell amongst some down and dirty folks he just happened to love. Till his last breath he chose relevance over prevalence and I’m ready to follow suit”. Born Katherine Coffman, she began as a child penning sweet lyrics and melodies she heard only in her head. This songwriting would develop and continue into her adulthood where she wrote under the stage name “Oraia” which is Greek for lovely. (A tribute to her late grandmother) For eight years, Oraia lived in one of the roughest parts of Brooklyn, New York where she served fulltime on the staff of “Metro Ministries”, the largest inner-city children’s work in North America. Throughout her tenure, she would serve as a teacher, mentor and eventually the writer and co-host of their weekly television show “In the Crosshairs with Bill Wilson”. Certainly you’ll find that the raw realities of such an experience have left their mark on both her writing and her life. “Metro Ministries is a beautiful ministry that’s making a difference in a place most would rather act like doesn’t exist! My heart will always be there.” Though she’s known for her versatility in writing, Oraia has become most recognized for her ability to captivate an audience through the art of Spoken Word. A profound lyricist with a distinct flow, when you close your eyes and listen, you’ll swear the Word was just made flesh! Whether performing in front of a vast audience or on a bitter Bronx block, please believe… she always spits fire and brings the heat! Though she’s done it all, if you ask her what she writes on any given day she’ll probably reply, “I write HISTORY!” Whether speaking or performing at churches and events across the country, writing a screenplay or hanging out at the women’s shelter, Oraia is proving to the world that when given a vehicle, the raw message of Christ breaks down every wall of culture and shines best…when taken to the dark!

BNJMN

I’ve been writing song lyrics for over 10 years. I believe that God (The Father) is Love defined, that God (The Son) is Love personified and that God (The Holy Spirit) is Love empowered. My desire is to pursue, receive, personalize then share this Love (my Muse) through my art and life to the best my gifts, talents and abilities. My lyrics are a product of that desire. I find it very liberating (and therapeutic!) to write lyrics on any given topic that comes to mind from the perspective of a life that has been profoundly affected by the incomparable Love of God. You be the judge. I believe that the Love encoded into each lyric will resonate with you in a way that is both clear and relevant.

Missterious Janette…ikz

It’s been a long time comin’! But no better timing than God’s timing. I’ve been blessed to have worked with many different artists, known and unknown however, instead of spittin names and tawkin ’bout what I’ve done or who I’ve worked/collaborated with, I’d rather let my music/spoken word tell the story of this journey and let my lyrics paint that picture. The one that you walk by in an art gallery and it feels all too familiar. Like that artist spent time in your window and watched excerpts from your life.
I’ve found, that what it all comes down to is… LIFE is LIFE…so who do you live for? What do you represent? As for me….I’ll let my life, words, & music do the talking of who I am, where I’ve been, and most importantly, where I’m goin’. I believe that God in his divine purpose allows us to go through many times for the sake of others…and I believe we should speak, write music, and be honest about where we are and what we’ve been through. Its the REAL testimony that will help, change, encourage & equip others. So I plan to tell it! From years of molestation to being beaten so badly I was unable to attend school for a week and a half!
THIS IS WARFARE BABY…Struggle separates those who TALK from those who WILL…Trial separates the REAL from the CARBON COPIES…I know and understand if im faced with whatever IT may be…then He has equipped me with enough to handle IT…In Corinthians Paul calls it LIGHT AFFLICTIONS.
I simply want to encourage you to press past the hurt, the frustration, the weariness, and the unseen…EXPECT THE ATTACKS! Don’t be surprised, the enemy is supposed to be ANGRY! But in the meantime… THIS RIGHT HERE!!! This is for those whose phone just got cut off, this is for those with tooth aches and no insurance, this is for those on assisted living only by the grace of GOD! This is for all those who feel as though go from one struggle to the next, REMEMBER… THIS IS FOR YOU… cause this is….ME.