NOMMO African American Speaker Series

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Since 2004, the NOMMO African American Authors Series has brought national and regional authors to broad and diverse audiences in the Twin Cities.

In 2020, NOMMO was renamed the Archie Givens Jr. NOMMO African American Speaker event. NOMMO is a Dogon word meaning “the magic power of the word.”

NOMMO finds a lasting legacy in the University Libraries’ Givens Collection of African American Literature, while providing a powerful platform for African American cultural leaders. Prior to 2020, NOMMO was sponsored by The Givens Foundation for African American Literature, the University of Minnesota Office for Equity and Diversity, and the University of Minnesota Libraries.

Below is the list of past NOMMO speakers. Links are provided to those that were recorded.

Angela Davis
2004

Nikki Giovanni
April 28, 2007

Amiri Baraka
Oct. 12, 2008

Randall Kenan
Feb. 7, 2008

Lucille Clifton
April 24, 2008

Sonia Sanchez
Nov. 8, 2008

John Edgar Wideman
Feb. 5, 2009

Ntozake Shange
April 23, 2009

Ishmael Reed
Nov. 11, 2009

Quincy Troupe
April 28, 2010

Patricia Smith
Nov. 3, 2010