Tauhi Awards 2025

The Tauhi Awards at Eastside Arts Alliance was a phenomenal event hosted by Paradise Free Jah Love. I walked in as he was pouring water for Casper Banjo. What a lovely man and artist. He was know for his brick wall imagery. I used to see him on AC Transit. We'd ride together. He attended my daughter, TaSin Sabir's curated art shows when she was a student at the California College of Arts and Crafts (now CCA).

When I met Paradise, he was known as Richard Moore. We immediately bonded around spoken words or poetry. He'd studied at Xavier University. He was a basketball star whom I believed also played professionally overseas.

Later, when I met him, he was caregiver for his grandmother at the Senior Center on Adeline where Sister Makinya Kouate organized many community teach-ins, most involving heath practices for longevity.

Saturday, October 18, found Paradise in regal finery: white brocade with matching shoes. Even his face mask glittered. Honored were pioneering cultural warriors like Naru, Karen Mims, Leon Williams, Korise, Gene Howell, Jr., and others who layed deep institutional foundations for the ground so many walk on today. 

What I enjoyed most were the Ancestral role call that proceeded the honorees. I knew most of the inductees. Present in the audience were Reginal Locket's daughter and mother. I recalled Reginald as the unofficial Poet Laureate of Oakland, California. He published Words Upon the Waters, A Poetic Response to Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago. This book and the fundraiser and art auction ar LA Pena Cultural Center raised funds for Katrinia Survivors. We collaborated with the director of the Center for Independent Living who joined us at the fundraiser. Our focus was on the more vulnerable survivors, people with disabilities and the elderly. Assistive technologies such as walkers, wheelchairs, etc., were shipped to Texas and Louisiana where many were relocated. Many poets honored at the Tahuti Awards participated like Lee Williams.

Lee was at our update. Every year for ten years we hosted an update. Many survivors relocated to California. Many of these survivors were in Northern California. The San Francisco Bay View Newspaper has a columnist who kept us up-to-date as her husband tried to rebuild so his family could return home. I had students who were survivors; however, everyone suffered loss.

Given the fact that I am a New Orleans native my new work shared at the Awards ceremony spoke of the Great Flood, Maafa Hurricane Katrina.

Paradise gave me special honor. My award says:

The Tahudi Awards (for Community Service, welcomes) Wanda Sabir. She who Moves with Purpose

Poetry Celebration, MAAFA, West Oakland to West Africa into The International Black Writer's & Artists and Bay Area Black Hall of Fame, October 18, 2025.

I was also a member of Black Poets with Attitude, an all women spoken word ensemble that featured Avotcja, Abimbola Adama and Beverly Jarrett. 

I hosted Café Poetry at La Pena Cultural Center the last Wednesday of the month for at least ten years. Paradise hosted fourth Wednesdays and offered me the fifth Wednesdays. I took it. During my tenure I invited special guests from my college classes at Contra Costa College and later Laney College and elsewhere. I was a Road Scholar and my office was the back seat of my Dodge Colt. 

Piri Thomas mentored me as did the poets in Black Poets with Attitudes. I remember when Beverly Jarrett told me I had a unique writing voice. I hadn't known our words sing silently from the page. I was writing for the Montclarion at that time and I'd get published yet not always see the article(s). She read the article which she said sounded like me and then she looked at the by-line and it was me. 

I thought that both funny and amazing. Beverly had also steered me towards a job at the Volunteer Center of Alameda County. She knew I believed in service to the community and thought it perfect.

I don't remember who told me about the internship program at Peralta Community Colleges, but that was how I became a teacher there. I still taught at Contra Costa. Later I would teach at Chabot and even Holy Names College. I was teaching at a different college for every day of the work week which sometimes included weekends. 

I had two dependents to support. Funny how when a person divorces, the custodial parent foots the majority bill while the parent with the often greater income only provides a pittance. Where is the justice in that.

I just loved reflecting on our cultural ancestors. I don't know if Michael Lange or Slim was mentioned before I arrived. I also didn't hear Kamau Seitu's name called. I would perform with the African Rhythm Ensemble's open mic at Sade's Kafre's on Sunday afternoon in West Oakland. 

I remember the bassist, Al, asking me what I wanted him to play. I'd never thought about what key I wanted to accompany me. 

When Leon Williams and I performed together I let him offer suggestions. I think I later developed a language to describe what I wanted. Charles Blackwell would hear certain melodies when I shared work with him and I would write his suggestions on the poem in parentheticals so I'd remember if such an opportunity presented itself.

Ah, memories. Paradise is so generous. I will never forget how he helped me with the African American Celebration through Poetry. He put out a call and Black poets came. This is how I met Darlene Richards, President of the International Black Writers and Artists local in San Francisco. I also loved the other Black Writers organization. I remember we'd have poetry readings where food was served and the businesses wouldn't appreciate our residency without patronage. Most of us were hand to mouth, so our tenure was short lived. 

Bookstores were better and libraries the best. Gene and I hosted a writing workshop at the West Oakland Library. I hosted family literacy summer writing workshops there too. 

The Tahuti Awards ceremony was a success. I hadn't been to Eastside Arts Alliance in years. There is a large housing complex at the center of the block the street narrowed with two lanes. As I walked from 22nd Avenue I had to walk in the street. People were playing with a pitbull unleashed. There was feces in the center of the sidewalk. I crossed to the other side of the street as I returned. Broken glass was along the curb. I pit a quarter in the meter which swallowed without a belch. 

I couldn't get into my car until the light on East 12th was red. I was in a dangerous zone. Cars racing uphill too close for comfort. 

Brother Tahuti had my back and other ancestors my side. Together they got me safely home. Ase.