Oni the Haitian Sensation's new title: Author photo: Aaron McKenzie Fraser

Oni is recounting memories from her days living in a high-rise building in South Central Los Angeles in 1997. She was lured from her home in Ottawa to L.A. by the hope of a glamorous relationship. "I was expecting 90210, and I got 9-1-1," she jokes. "The dude I lived with threatened to kill me if I left. I escaped with my two babies, and one in my belly. I had one bag. I came back to Ottawa with nothing."

The pain of her experience prompted Oni to start writing again, something she had set aside for a few years when she first became a mom. "It set me free. It was cathartic and it gave me something to look forward to. Poetry saved my life." That poetry has finally been published in what is likely a first for Ottawa. As far as the XPress, Oni and the National Library and Archives were able to discover, the publication of Oni's first poetry collection, Ghettostocracy, makes the Haitian Sensation the first African-American woman to be published in Ottawa.

THE GODMOTHER OF CANADIAN SLAM

Oni became known around town as the Haitian Sensation for tying her poetry tightly to her ancestral roots. It's almost been 10 years since her L.A. days, but now, with her more recent notoriety in slam poetry, she's starting to consider herself the "Godmother of Canadian Slam." The name arises from her accomplishments: She's been commissioned to write poetry for UNESCO, the CBC, Ottawa's Winterlude and the Bytown Museum, and she's also directed Canada's first National Poetry Slam as well as the Canadian Spoken Wordlympics. If these sound unfamiliar it's because slam poetry is relatively new to Canada.

Dating back to 1978 in Chicago, slam took its inspiration from professional boxing rings. Instead of fists, poets flung poems at one another, round after round, cheered on, heckled and sometimes booed by the audience, much in the same way as debates, turntable or freestyle (rap) battles are conducted. Nothing is off-limits in slam. Poets take on racism, sexism, religion, government, love and relationships. Slam is in your face, brutally honest, unafraid and intense. The adrenalin rush is addictive. It's that combination that fuels Oni: "I am hopelessly devoted to poetry," she admits about her craft.

GHETTOSTOCRACY

Oni's devotion to poetry has been her guiding light over the past decade, one that's been filled with her fair share of trials. Poetry solidified Oni's roots in Ottawa, led her around the world to the European slam poetry circuit, as well as a tour of Australia and the USA. Oni's passion for the spoken word was also the impetus for her first CD, called The Bedside Booty Book. However, her most outstanding achievement to date has been the recent publishing of Ghettostocracy.

From the bold Warhol-esque cover art by local photographer John W. MacDonald to the collection of poems, this debut publication is bold and gritty. Oni's mentor, University of Toronto professor and poet George Elliot Clarke, calls Ghettostocracy "an unforgettable book by an inimitable, drop-dead gorgeous artiste."

Unforgettable - completely. Ghettostocracy is the essence of Oni. It's sexy, fierce and angrily witty. Whether taking on "politricks" (politics), "the ghettostocracy" (ghetto nobility) or the men that owe her child support, Oni pulls no punches and apologizes to no one.

Ghettostocracy will be launched on Friday, December 15, at the National Library and Archives (395 Wellington) at 7:30 p.m., $7.

 
 

		Write your comment on this article!

Oni: Licking Lint Off Her Shoulders...............     I want some of that bedside booty too Oni. Doesn't she remind you of Queen Latifah when she first hit the scene with her no-holds-barred approach to telling it like it is and not really listening to the comments or the flack? "Sexy, fierce and angrily witty." That's my kind of sassy-mouthed kitty. "Godmother of Canadian Slam." I love the outspoken work of Oni and for a mild-mannered place like Ottawa, wake us all up with some Ghettostocracy. Too bad she wasn't a politician, they could charge money to watch her perform in the House of Commons and spice up the doldrums within the Hansard. The Haitian Sensation should be on everyone's station.
Steve Landry	{19 votes}	December 15th, 2006
PERSONAL REVIEW @GHETTOSTOCRACY (GHETTO-NOBILITY)     Oni is truly outspoken, her nobility to speak openly with poetic morality about her personal struggles of life, is profound. Creating a foundations for all to stand while looking good doing it. Black and proud is an under statement, she shows that a women has no borders or orders to abide by. A true Godmother of slam poetry, who had no limits of suffering. She overcame and used her negatives to teach others positives, a true rare species..
Terrance Slaughter		November 9th, 2009
The Queen of Spades     Any poet/reader/Canadian worth their salt must own a copy of this amazing book. As vibrant as the cover art, her poetry bursts off the page- an impresive feat for spoken word poetry! A born entertainer, Oni mesmerizes the crowd in her live performances. Unashamedly honest, she makes her spectators laugh and cry and most importantly, think. Her book, Ghetostocracy, will hopefully have the same impact on readers everywhere.
Sarah Fitzpatrick		January 15th, 2007
Oni, Is a Mind Blowing Artists..That Deserves Nothing But The BEST!!!     I would like to congratulate Oni on her up coming {best selling book Gettostocracy} I wish her nothing but, success... Oni is a mind blowing artist that, deserves nothing but the best. She's educated, she's real, she's motivated to educate others, she's a mother, she's a Phenomenal women! I truly am blessed, to have had the privilege of knowing her. I wish her all the best and nothing less...for true success...and may God Bless...Love Ya Gurl... Jennifer McTavish
Jennifer McTavish	{3 votes}	December 19th, 2006
Oni !!!!     This book is fab!! Oni is a friend and has sent this book to me. It is thought-provoking, funny, sad, honest. A great conversation piece. She is a very intelligent, multi-dimensional, dynamic, beautiful woman. Everyone should read this huge piece of her soul. Amazing!
Katherine Gordon	{3 votes}	December 19th, 2006
Oni's Powerful Energy Goes Beyond The Arts Community     Oni is well known in slam poetry and arts circles in Ottawa....but what about her activism? What about the many ways she uses her creativity and brilliance to raise awareness about violence against women, HIV/AIDS, racism and poverty? The wonderful appearances of Oni the Haitian Sensation inspire people of many communities in Ottawa to use art as a tool for social change. Did anyone see her last year in the V-day (Vagina Monologues) production that was a fundraiser for the Sexual Assault Support Centre? She brought the house down with her passionate, shameless, no holds barred monologue, reclaiming the "C-word". Picture 900 people in the Bronson Centre theatre, applauding, laughing, screaming their approval of Oni's fabulous performance. Oni has also brought women together at local events that raise awareness about violence against women, such as the Take Back the Night March, the December 6th vigil and International Women's Day. In short, Oni knows poetry, Oni knows art as activism and Oni knows how to build community and bring people together with a better vision for this world.
Jessica Carfagnini	{4 votes}	December 18th, 2006
Run Don't Walk...     Get out to the next Slam event and witness in person the great talent of Oni. From the Aloha Room to the Canadian Spoken Wordlympics you can always find yourself enjoying a great performance from Oni. She can bring a room together with her spoken words. From politics to love her poetry ignites you both in mind and soul. I will be picking up her bookand placing it amongst my Leonard Cohen and Margaret Atwood ! Cheers to the Xpress for a great article! Kudos to AMF for the great photo collage on the front cover as well!
Mike Smith	{5 votes}	December 17th, 2006
Miss Hurricane     With the release of Ghettostocracy, Oni has truly placed herself among the likes of d'bi young and Afua Cooper as a trailblazing Afro-Canadian woman bringing dub and spoken word poetry to the literary forefront. This book marks a massive benchmark for Ottawa: not only is it a giant leap forward for female Afro-Canadian writers in the area, but it also shows the ripening our our local spoken word scene. Oni's in-your-face bluntness mixed with her benevolent charm is a special dichotomy that makes her work so infectious. And it truly does have universal appeal - I mean here I am writing this and I'm a white teenager in Suburbia. What wasn't mentioned in the review was her penchant for sizzling erotica - for those who truly want to see what an otherwise B-list genre can amount to, Oni is your woman. And yes, while some poems loose some of their bite when converted from the stage to the page, I truly recommend everyone pick up this as a smoking stocking stuffer this season. And make sure to pack a raincoat cus they don't call her the hurricane for nothing.
Jordan Tannahill	{4 votes}	December 15th, 2006
A talented lady     I've had the pleasure of seeing Oni perform a few times. If the book manages to capture even half of her on-stage personality, it will be well worth the purchase. She is truly one of a kind in Ottawa.
Alex Morrison	{3 votes}	December 14th, 2006

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