Dasan Ahanu is a public speaker, organizer, workshop facilitator, poet, spoken word performer, songwriter, writer, emcee, and loyal Hip Hop head. Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Dasan has used his southern roots to craft his own brand of creative expression. In addition to performing, Dasan is often asked to also host many poetry, jazz, Hip Hop events, and arts festivals across NC. Having performed with a number of notable emcees, poets and writers who are from or have visited North Carolina, he has amazed audiences from the underground scene to the college circuit as well. He has also been a regular in popular venues in cities from St. Louis to Texas. As an actor, Dasan has been a member of the cast of the hip-hopera, "Right is Right" and a Harlem Renaissance production, "Images", which was featured at the National Black Theatre Festival. He is currently a member of Black Poetry Theatre and has been a cast member in two productions, "Black Poetry" and "Herstory of Love: A Stronger Daye" which he also wrote and co-directed. Since finding a passion for slam poetry Dasan has competed regionally and nationally as a member of the Charlotte Slam Team and started the first ever Bull City Slam Team in Durham, NC. A lyricist with a thirst for being on stage, Dasan is truly an artist with presence.
Since falling in love with the stage and microphone, Dasan has also used his talents and connections within the arts circuit to aid in developing the community and pushing for change. He has worked as an organizer on such issues as war, social injustice, workers rights, domestic violence and sexual assault; taught with Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies; conducted creative writing and performance workshops for college and high school age artists; promoted Hip Hop as a tool for literacy with SCALE and it’s campaign with the University of North Carolina; and spent time working with at-risk/court-involved youth. A believer in the power of creative expression, he continues to be involved with cultural arts as a creative consultant and artist resident at the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham, NC and an artist-in-residence at St. Augustine’s College.
Dasan has promoted his own series of shows and collaborated with other promoters to provide some of the best arts and music events in NC. His work is featured often on NPR’s News and Notes with Ed Gordon and in online and print publications. Having signed with NC independent record label Amp Truth Records, he teamed with up and coming music producer Picasso to produce "The Jim Crow Jackson Experiment". Their self-titled debut album is an amazing blend of spoken word, rap, soul, reggae, and blues. The album showcases both artists’ unique talents. This is Dasan's first major release, but his third CD. He released "TPI: Twisted Panoramic Ideology" in 2001 and "The White Experience: Fall into the Page" in 2004. Dasan also self published his first book of poetry entitled "The Innovator" in 2005. Following in the footsteps of artists from the Harlem Renaissance to the parks in Brooklyn, Dasan seeks to create art that tells stories that intrigues people’s minds, touches people’s hearts, and captures people’s attention.
