BASED ON A TRUE STORY
The Life of Olu Butterfly Woods
Renaissance Woman or Public Enemy?
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Was it her being an only child, excessive relocation, a unique and intense exposure to cultural arts, or not being allowed off her granma’s porch in North Philly the summer of ’84 that led her to be a writer? Both Olu Butterfly’s writing origins and her obsession with the sky may have begun as early as a previous incarnation as her own grandfather, Charles Thomas, a brilliant journalist-pilot. Do not sleep. It was definitely the thrift store clothes, all those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a kiss from Dizzy Gillespie, and the embracing local hip hop scene that colored just what kind of wordsmith she would become.
Olu was born during FESTAC in Abeokuta, Nigeria, at which time she was infected by the sharp simplicity of Fela Kuti, an activist-artist whose precise critique of the present government incited an all out bombing retaliation. The soul rebel in the making then moved to St. Croix, VI at the age of one where she was influenced by the spirit of Queen Mary, who had burned half the island in a labor uprising a century prior. “So?” and “I know” were her favorite terms while growing up.
Though she resisted her calling for a while, Olu was firmly rooted in her writing career by the age of five when she was forced to journey to mainland U.S.A. Her middle school teachers lined up to make sure they would get an autographed copy of her first book whenever it was published. Although she was at the top of her class, a varsity athlete, and very active in the arts in high school, her headwrapping, nose-pierced melanin-ated seriousness was not met with enthusiasm by the authorities. She left to go to college a year early. So much for prom.
The Butterfly aspired to a career as a psychologist astronaut and part-time soul singer. Attempting to double major as an environmental engineer and historian, she eventually settled for graduating with honors as a Mechanical Engineer, thanks to her late-night Mountain Dew-chugging compadres. After doing time with Baltimore City and County Public School Systems, as well as dough-topping at Papa John’s Pizza, fate could no longer be ignored.
Olu was always a team playa, so naturally she found a way to use poetry to encourage community by banding with other renegade vagabond word warriors in the name of Poetry for the People Baltimore, inspired by the phenomenal June Jordan. Harnessing the power of poetry, they have a history of doing subway tours, spoken word theater, youth workshops, and other forms of intimate dopeness.
This West African ballet dancer and funky philosopher can currently be seen sporting The Revenge of Dandelions on mics around the world. Comfortable in front of audiences from 1,500 patrons to 20 children, she is a leader in Baltimore’s soul scene and a champion of independent art everywhere. Olu B is a negotiator in turbulent times, a bridge between the tidal wave of youthful unrest and elderly wisdom, out of respect for the continuum of beauty.
The Final Chapter as the emerging rockstar farmer and principal of her own village school has not been written yet. This magician will be one of the most prolific masterminds with breakthroughs in science and widespread influence with her poems. Children in the street will chant her name and quote her in their hand rhythm games. Olu Butterfly Woods- genius among genius people.
Her influences include Rumi, June Jordan, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Paul Simon, Bob Marley, Ntozake Shange, John Steinbeck, Vaughn Benjamin of Midnite, De La Soul, Bjork & Cheikh Anta Diop.
Olu Butterfly Woods is currently working on her second book: Jupiter Memoirs: a collection of afro-fantasy musings in collaboration with visual artists, John Ashford and Darian Robbins.
To contact/book her email: olu@blackoutstudios.com or call (410)358-6484
Or write BlackOut Studios 6023 Greenspring Ave, Baltimore, MD 21209
