Given the name KaNikki, being interpreted as “great writer” at birth, KaNikki is living up to her name. KaNikki Jakarta is the First Black Poet Laureate of Alexandria, Virginia. With three decades of writing and performing and over twenty-five years on the poetry scene, she has opened for Jill Scott, Raheem DeVaughn, and Lyfe Jennings.
Ms. Jakarta has been interviewed and featured in newspapers and magazines to include Alexandria Times, Alexandria Gazette, Patch, and Northern Virginia Magazines. She’s been featured on podcasts, radio stations and TV stations to include WUSA9, Comcast and NBC.
Her poems have been featured on the trolleys and buses in Alexandria, Virginia. She has toured the US and the UK and as a result, KaNikki’s spoken word performances, hosting talents, and facilitating skills are sought after by fans all over the country.
Her first spoken word cd is an introduction to the voice that strives to uplift and inspire. The cd, entitled THE INTRODUCTION OF KANIKKI JAKARTA sold hundreds of units three days before the said release. She is featured on Busboys and Poets’ collaboration cd entitled Ain’t You Heard. She has a collaboration cd with Internationally Known Spoken word Recording Artist, 13 of Nazareth entitled Subject Matters. Incorporating American Signed Language into her poetry sets; KaNikki J is a success at multi-tasking, a queen of many traits, and a master of many.
Founding, facilitating, and hosting 15 presentations in the last 15 years, ranging from open mics, award ceremonies, conferences, workshops, and online writing groups, this award winning poet, author, facilitator writes and recites what she calls, “real life fiction” that touches her listeners to the core. She writes fiction that mirrors real life, and facilitates workshops/conferences that changes lives.
As an author, KaNikki Jakarta published a book of poetry entitled: THE SKILLZ OF A SISTAH illustrated by Bobbie Brient Jr. three novels: IN REAL LIFE, THE COLOR BLUE, & THE OTHER SIDE OF PRETTY and featured an on-going readers series entitled BURNING BRIDGES, published by Experience Reality Magazine. A memoir entitled A PEACE OF MINE, How to be the Wife of an Epileptic, Honor Your Vows and Honor Yourself. Most recently she released a short story and poetry collection entitled: ALABAMA GIRL, VIRGINIA WOMAN and the co-author of an Amazon Best Seller: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SELF HEALING VOLUME II.
As a facilitator, KaNikki Jakarta co-founded a women’s conference entitled FAB (Friend About Business). She is the Founder of NUSPA (National Underground Spoken word Poetry Awards). She founded and facilitates a quarterly workshop entitled: WRITE LIKE A WOMAN in Alexandria, Virginia, a virtual, a monthly workshop entitled PREP TO PUBLISH, and offers KANIKKI FOR KIDS, a virtual ASL and Affirmation class for children ages 6 – 11. She presents POETS AND PLATFORMS under the umbrella of a weekly, online womyn led artistic experience entitled KEEP THE MIC ON where she is the co-founder.
As a consultant, KaNikki Jakarta offers one-on-one consulting for those who need specific resources and information outside of her workshops in her expertise of Publishing, Marketing, and Human Resources.
She’s an advocate for the art of poetry and spoken word and strives to create platforms of safe spaces to highlight the talents of other artists. She hosts 1st Monday’s Open Mic Night entitled KANIKKI HARMONY at Busboys and Poetry in Virginia and an Open Mic and Spotlights, a bi-monthly open mic that she co-hosts with fellow poet, Laura Di Franco. Whether in-person or virtually, KaNikki strives to create a forward movement in the art of poetry.
If you think that something she says on the microphone might change your life; you’re probably right!