In the vibrant tapestry of Detroit, emerges Imani Ma'at AnkhmenRa Amen Taylor—an artist of resonance, a maestro of movement, a steward of ancient rhythms. Immersed in the dance of existence, Imani orchestrates symphonies of movement and rhythm. Her canvas is a mosaic, interweaving the echoes of Dunham's wisdom, the rawness of improvisation, the daring of experimental forms, the pulse of hip-hop, the elegance of modernity, and the sacredness of West African traditions. Within this kinetic tapestry lies the sanctuary of communion, where souls converge and consciousness elevates.
Threads of healing and resonance with the vibrational pulse of the universe run through the sinews of her creations, etching stories of social justice and venerating ancestral echoes. She's not a mere creator; she's a shaman of expression, seeking to stir spiritual rebirth and ignite inspiration through her versatile artistry.
Her odyssey traverses continents, echoing the footsteps of masters like Youssouf Koumbassa, Alseny Soumah, Mouminatou Camara, Makeda Kumasi, Colette Eloi, Penny Godboldo, and The Omowale Cultural Society. Within these encounters, she gathers fragments of global dances, weaving them into her own profound narrative.
During her three years as a master's student, Imani Ma'at not only excelled academically but also blazed trails, earning recognition as the first graduate student in the University of Michigan's history to teach traditional West African drumming and dancing, dismantling historical notions of racism associated with the campus in Ann Arbor. Amidst this groundbreaking journey, she garnered an impressive array of accolades, including the Emerging Artist Fellowshipfrom the Knight Foundationin 2022, marking her ascent as a Summa Cum Laude MFA Graduate at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Her exceptional dedication and contributions were further acknowledged through awards such as the U of M SMTD Graduate Anti-Racism Award spanning 2021-2022, Rackham International Research Awards also in 2021-2022, and the Rackham Conference Travel Grant in 2021. Notably, her pioneering spirit earned her recognition with the U of M Center for World Performance Studies Fellowship Award in 2020 and The Gupta Values Scholarship in the same year. Additionally, she received the Rackham Conference Travel Grant in 2020 and was a recipient of the Course Connections accolade spanning 2019 to 2022. Imani's academic journey was marked by the honor of the Rackham Merit Fellowship: Rackham Master's Award (RMA) in 2019-2020, solidifying her commitment to excellence throughout her tenure at the University of Michigan.
Imani Ma'at's pursuit of knowledge and immersion in traditional African drumming, dance, music, customs, and culture has led her on an odyssey across the globe. She embarked on in-depth studies in Montego Bay, Jamaica; Conakry, Guinea; Puerto Rico; Oaxaca, Mexico; Cairo, Egypt; Accra, Ghana; Kumasi, Ghana; Cape Coast, Ghana; Casablanca, Morocco; and Trinidad & Tobago."
For the past two years, Imani has been a dedicated instructor at the Detroit School of the Arts, imparting the essence of West African drumming and dance. Her profound expertise extends beyond the school's walls as she now extends her African-centered curriculums and holistic teaching methods across the school districts in Detroit, shaping a cultural landscape that resonates far beyond the classroom.
Enter the enigmatic world of Imani Ma'at AnkhmenRa Amen—a realm where each movement is an invocation, each beat a manifesto, and dance is an ever-evolving scripture of existence.
