Hundreds honor the late Nikki Giovanni through music, dance, and poetry
The retired Virginia Tech professor passed away in December.
She was a passionate professor, a renowned poet, a spirited speaker, a nurturing mother-figure, and a faithful friend.
Hundreds gathered at the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech on June 8 to remember the legendary Nikki Giovanni for her influence on their lives in multiple ways. It was the day after the late poet’s 82nd birthday and seven months after her passing last December.
Award-winning authors, well-known entertainers, and Virginia Tech alumni and faculty sang, played music, read poems, and danced in memory of Giovanni, who is known around the world for her words that delve into social issues and give readers a window into the Black experience.
Sunday’s performers included W. Kamau Bell, a comedian and television host; Jericho Brown, Pulitzer Prize-winning author; Javon Jackson, saxophonist; and Sweet Honey in the Rock, a female African American a capella ensemble. The memorial event was organized by Kwame Alexander '90 and Renee Watson, both New York Times bestselling authors.
Other speakers included Virginia Tech President Tim Sands and BK Fulton, past member of the Board of Visitors and former student of Giovanni’s.
On the same day as the memorial, Virginia Tech faculty unveiled the "Nikki Giovanni Immersive Experience," featuring recordings of Giovanni reading two of her poems. The exhibition took place in the Cube at the Center for the Arts. More of Giovanni's poems will be added to it by the end of the year.
Visit the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Facebook page to view more photos from the celebration of life.
Black Love is Black Wealth: A Celebration of the Life and Works of Nikki Giovanni. Photo by Andrew Adkins for Virginia Tech.
