SIAM’s Biography

 

SIAM, after completing his studies at Aenon Bible College, and Ohio State University, went on to complete his Master of Theological Studies degree from the Harvard Divinity School in 1976. This Mystic Poet is known both for his poetry as well as his work in theater. 

 

SIAM has appeared, read, and performed his art, taking his energy and light to institutions across the nation and abroad. Such notable places include, but are not exclusive to Ohio University; Central State University, Xenia, OH; Wilberforce University; Chillicothe Correctional Institute; The Columbus Stage Center, (Ohio); Wexner Mershon Auditorium at Ohio State University; the Karamu Theatre; The Human Race Theatre; The Chapel and The Braun Room of The Harvard Divinity School; The Apollo Theatre; The Brooklyn Academy of Music; the Kenya Science Teachers’ College, Nairobi; Aynou Rahmati in the Holy City of Touba, Senegal, West Africa; and inside the Kings Chamber of The Great Pyramid of Cairo, Egypt. He has also read his work and performed on the stages of The Warren Performing Arts Center, The Phoenix Theatre, The Madame Walker Urban Life Center, Marion County Public Library Atrium, Arts in The Garden, Write On The Poetry Spot, Midtown Arts & Coffee Lounge, The Indianapolis Civic Theatre, and the Indiana Repertory Theatre. 

 

His art and writings have appeared in magazines and periodicals such as Our Choking Times, Kuwas, The Escutcheon, The Midtown Writer, NUVO, Ain’t No Frost On This Pumpkin – New Hoosier Poets, Vibration, Proud Black Images (the OSU quarterly publication of poems, essays, and photography which he formerly co-founded and co-edited), and The Flying Island. His poetry has also appeared in the provocative intercontinental Best-Seller, Galilee Flowers, The Collected Essays of Israel Shamir.

 

SIAM's work has also been read on television stations in various cities; and, articles about him as an actor and poet have been published in newspapers such as, The Columbus Call & Post, The Columbus Dispatch, and The Dayton Daily News, all in Ohio; The Harvard Crimson, The Indianapolis Star & News, and The Indianapolis Recorder. 

 

Most recently, SIAM’s poetry has appeared on the Internet at distinguished websites such as http://www.williambowles.info/guests/siam.html and http://www.israelshamir.net/friends/index.shtml and as a judge in the First Annual Indiana Black Expo Poetry Slam.

 

SIAM was the second African-American in Indiana history to be a recipient of a $5,000 Fellowship from the Indiana Arts Commission for his work in theater. He also received standing ovations and accolades on behalf of his poetry from notable poets such as Norman Jordan, Delbert Tibbs, Etheridge Knight, Eugene B. Redmond, and Imamu Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones).  He has often been asked what SIAM means? The poet responds by saying:

 

SIAM is like unto IAM – the continuous eternal verb to be;

it is the ever new me of being and becoming endlessly evolving

into new and more beautiful construction and art forms. SIAM

is not only that new creative name for my talent and the place

it comes from. SIAM also stands for my spiritual and

human station in life (my mission). SIAM is...

Shaikh Ibrahim Al-Jahizz M'Backe