Ugochi Nwaogwugwu
Ugochi Nwaogwugwu is a multidisciplinary creative. She weaves in and out of the roles of professional poet, singer, songwriter, author, composer, internationally renowned musician, poetry instructor, teaching artist and founder of Spirit Speaks, Inc, seamlessly. Ugochi has executive produced, written and co-arranged three album projects; African Buttafly, Afro Soul Effect (A.S.E.) and Love Shot. Her poems have been published in Storm Between Two Fingers (Flipped Eye Publishing, 2007) and Too Young, Too Loud, Too Different, (Corsair Poetry, 2021) both international anthologies released in the UK. Golden Shovel Anthology, (The University of Arkansas Press, 2017) honoring Gwendolyn Brooks, The Eternal Year of African People, (Frontline Book Publishing, 2020) and Wherever I’m At, (Published by The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame in partnership with After Hours Press and Third World Press, 2022) released nationwide. Ugochi, a beloved member of her poetry community in Chicago and a member of Malika’s Poetry Kitchen in London, England, has created an original pan African poetry form called, Ike, (pronounced EE kay) #Ikepoem, paying homage to her Igbo heritage of Nigeria and fostering black appreciation worldwide. She has also written newsworthy blogs and essays for publication including, Not My President, published by Third World Press. She released her first book of poetry & prose entitled Seasons of Separation (S.O.S), in 2023. The work had its world premiere at the Manchester Literature Festival and the London Literature Festival. Ugochi has shared the stage with several established musical artist ssuch as Common, Eric Benet, John Legend, Femi Kuti, Edwin McCain, Seun Kuti, Maxi Priest, Umphrey’s McGee, Richie Stephens, Blitz the Ambassador, Yellowman, J. Ivy, Queen Ifrika, Luciano, Wayna, Femi Kuti, Shaggy, Richie Stephens, Queen Ifrika, Vieux Farka Toure, Tony Allen, Bushman, Fatoumata Diawara, Capleton, Baby Cham, Wayne Wonder and Stephen Marley, King Sunny Ade, Lizz Wright, Me’Schell Ndegeocello and more. Ugochi’s music, rich with poetic harmonies and uplifting ideas, have taken her to many countries around the world, including Paris, Amsterdam, London, Leeds, Italy as well as Nigeria, Ghana, Brazil, France, Jamaica and Cuba. Ugochi and her band, African Soul Ensemble (A.S.E.), were named “Best African Entertainer 2005, 2022 & 2023,” by the Chicago Music Awards. Ugochi is a board member of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame (CLHOF), a playwright, activist, Treasurer of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) and Recording Academy Chicago Secretary.
