Funto Omojola is a Nigerian-American writer, performer, and visual artist.
Along with their sister, they are part of the Nigerian vocal duo BABAS, whose music draws from traditional west-african folk melodies and electronic highlife music.
︎ funtofuntofunto@gmail.com
Downlaod C.V.
Along with their sister, they are part of the Nigerian vocal duo BABAS, whose music draws from traditional west-african folk melodies and electronic highlife music.
︎ funtofuntofunto@gmail.com
Downlaod C.V.
Omojola has received fellowships from MacDowell, Cave Canem Foundation, Millay Arts, the Poetry Project, and has done projects with Gladstone Gallery, A.I.R. Gallery, Silver Eye Center for Photography, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, among others. They are the founder of PrayerRoom, a virtual asynchronous prayer circle and participatory art project. Omojola holds an MFA from the Milton Avery School of the Arts at Bard College.
PRESS
Elephant
BOMB Magazine
Hyperallergic
Document Journal
NEWS
︎︎︎ Light Field presents: Expanded Poetry
Sat Mar 29, 8PM @ 2220 Arts + Archives
An evening with five sets of cross-disciplinary performances and readings, featuring new works by Will Alexander, Jessika Kenney, and Eyvind Kang; Tongo Eisen-Martin; Syd Staiti and Jake Lichter; Funto Omojola; and Samuel Breslin and Brendan Glasson.
︎︎︎ Nightboat’s Frontlist Reading
Thursday, March 27, 6-8:30PM @ Stories Books & Café, 1716 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.
Readings by me, Aditi Machado, Aurora Mattia, Bianca Rae Messinger, Dawn Lundy Martin, Eleni Stecopoulos, Julian Carter, Jzl Jmz, Laura Moriarty, Marcus Clayton, Mónica de la Torre, nat raha, Rosie Stockton and Samiya Bashir.
︎︎︎ Singing at AWP, Nightboat booth #335
Thursday March 27 @ 1PM
︎ KGB Monday Night Poetry
Monday, March 24, 2025 - 7 PM @ KGB BAR 85 E. 4th St.
With Gillian Conoley and Julie Carr. Hosted by John Deming, Jada Gordon, Susan Lewis, Tyler Allen Penny and Selena SpierI.
︎ I woke up dreaming
Saturday, February 8, 2025 - 4PM @ A.I.R. Gallery
Held in conjunction with I woke up dreaming., the 16th A.I.R. Biennial, this reading features Aristilde Kirby , Funto Omojola, and Daisuke Shen.
︎ BABAS at Deli Radio, Recess Art
January 17, 2025, 3:00 – 7:30PM
An evening of DJ sets by Elijah Prince and BABAS, and an artist talk by Res Julian.
︎ The 51st Annual New Year's Day Marathon at the Poetry Project
January 1, 2025
I'll be during the first hour, hosted by Stacy Szymaszek and Nicole Wallace, from 1-2pm. During this hour, I'll read with Pamela Sneed, Morgan Võ, Emily Johnson, Marcella Durand, Filip Marinovich, Alex Cuff,Christopher Rey Pérez, Jennifer Firestone, Mariana Valencia, Mónica de la Torre & Hans Tammen, Greg Masters, and Marcos de la Fuente.
︎ Story Story Time Time: Listening and Conversation with Funto Omojola and YATTA
Thursday, December 5, 2024 at CARA
Join us at CARA for the joint launch of If I Gather Here and Shout by Funto Omojola and PALM WINE by YATTA. This evening will include an improvisational performance by both artists, followed by a conversation with writer and radio host Riel Bellow. RSVP HERE.
︎ Upstate book launch: Funto Omojola & Samiya Bashir at Flow Chart Foundation
November 16 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm @ Flowchart
I’ll be joined by the poet Samiya Bashir. We’ll both read from our works, then join in conversation, on the occasion of Nightboat Books publishing If I Gather Here and Shout. Tickets here.
︎ NYC Pre-launch at Molasses bookstore
Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 8pm
Join me for a pre-launch of IF I GATHER HERE AND SHOUT, with Precious Okoyomon and Tobi Kassim.
︎ Carie Mae Weems Remember to Dream: Election Day Reading
November 5, 2024, 3pm - 12am at Gladstone Gallery
I’ll be reading from my book as part of this election day reading organized by Precious Okoyomon, Vincent Katz and Brian Degraw, with Rirkrit Tiravanija + Co. and Spiral Theory Test Kitchen. This all-day event will be a refuge, an oasis, a temporary autonomous zone in the spirit of Hakim Bey. The durational program of readings, live music, and food will materialize through the participation of artists, poets, performers, and composers united by a shared sense of defiance, hope, and purpose. See here.
︎ Beyond Borders Mixtape for Radio Alhara
October 24-27, 2024
As part of a fundraiser for Palestinians, Dolce Stil Criollo has curated a 3-hour mixtape of poetry and sound art. The mixtape will broadcast with Bethlehem-based Radio Alhara on October 26th, at 11am EST and will feature a piece by the BABAS aka me and my sister. And on October 27th, from 11am-5pm, Fouta Harissa and Dolce Stil Criollo will be at Storm Books and Candy in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, with t-shirts and scarves for sale. At 3pm, they will host a small program of performances by Grace Villamil, Andrew Riad, Jordan Topiel Paul, and Funto & Tosin aka BABAS.
︎ CLOSE READINGS: The Flow Chart Foundation
Thursday, February 22, 3 pm (Virtual Event)
I’ll be leading a virtual group thinking-and-reading-through of a poem by Myung Mi Kim followed by a short reading of my own work. Register here.
︎ Ritual & Rupture: A Reading and Conversation
February 22, 12 pm, Center for Intercultural Engagement at Northeastern University
︎ Publishing Expanded: Where Is Africa? Center for Art, Research and Alliances
February 10, 4pm at CARA
Reading and panel discussion with Mikael Awake, Moses Serubiri and Yayra Sumah, moderated by Matthew Shenoda. As a part of CARA’s first Publishing Expanded convening around the release of their new book, Where Is Africa.
︎ It Goes, It Goes: James Schuyler Centenary Celebration
Saturday, November 4, 2023, 5 pm, Dia Chelsea
I’ll be reading alongside Wayne Koestenbaum, Chad Morgan, Eileen Myles, Teline Trần, and others to be announced.
︎ Coney Island “Wavewall”, organized by David Lindsay and Anonymous Gallery
Saturday October 21, 2023 @2 pm
with Geoffrey Mak, Drew Zebia, sgp and Ty Little
︎ Reading at Unnameable Books
May 19, 2023 @7PM
with Pamela Allen Brown, Alexis Gudding, Em Marie Kohl, Francisco Marquez, danilo machado, and Roz Naimi
︎ Reading for Segue Reading Series
April 29, 2023, @Artists Space
alongside writer and critic Jessica Lynne
︎ Poetry Project
April 17, 2023
as part of The Poetry Project’s Spring reading series, alongside Yesenia Montilla, author of the astonishing Muse Found in a Colonized Body, tickets here.
︎ Reading at The Poetry Project’s New Year’s Day Marathon
January 1, 2023, between 10 and 11PM
as part of The Poetry Project’s 49th Annual New Year’s Day Marathon, alongside a host of amazing poets and writers and artists, tickets here.
︎
PRESS
Elephant
BOMB Magazine
Hyperallergic
Document Journal
NEWS
︎︎︎ Light Field presents: Expanded Poetry
Sat Mar 29, 8PM @ 2220 Arts + Archives
An evening with five sets of cross-disciplinary performances and readings, featuring new works by Will Alexander, Jessika Kenney, and Eyvind Kang; Tongo Eisen-Martin; Syd Staiti and Jake Lichter; Funto Omojola; and Samuel Breslin and Brendan Glasson.
︎︎︎ Nightboat’s Frontlist Reading
Thursday, March 27, 6-8:30PM @ Stories Books & Café, 1716 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.
Readings by me, Aditi Machado, Aurora Mattia, Bianca Rae Messinger, Dawn Lundy Martin, Eleni Stecopoulos, Julian Carter, Jzl Jmz, Laura Moriarty, Marcus Clayton, Mónica de la Torre, nat raha, Rosie Stockton and Samiya Bashir.
︎︎︎ Singing at AWP, Nightboat booth #335
Thursday March 27 @ 1PM
︎ KGB Monday Night Poetry
Monday, March 24, 2025 - 7 PM @ KGB BAR 85 E. 4th St.
With Gillian Conoley and Julie Carr. Hosted by John Deming, Jada Gordon, Susan Lewis, Tyler Allen Penny and Selena SpierI.
︎ I woke up dreaming
Saturday, February 8, 2025 - 4PM @ A.I.R. Gallery
Held in conjunction with I woke up dreaming., the 16th A.I.R. Biennial, this reading features Aristilde Kirby , Funto Omojola, and Daisuke Shen.
︎ BABAS at Deli Radio, Recess Art
January 17, 2025, 3:00 – 7:30PM
An evening of DJ sets by Elijah Prince and BABAS, and an artist talk by Res Julian.
︎ The 51st Annual New Year's Day Marathon at the Poetry Project
January 1, 2025
I'll be during the first hour, hosted by Stacy Szymaszek and Nicole Wallace, from 1-2pm. During this hour, I'll read with Pamela Sneed, Morgan Võ, Emily Johnson, Marcella Durand, Filip Marinovich, Alex Cuff,Christopher Rey Pérez, Jennifer Firestone, Mariana Valencia, Mónica de la Torre & Hans Tammen, Greg Masters, and Marcos de la Fuente.
︎ Story Story Time Time: Listening and Conversation with Funto Omojola and YATTA
Thursday, December 5, 2024 at CARA
Join us at CARA for the joint launch of If I Gather Here and Shout by Funto Omojola and PALM WINE by YATTA. This evening will include an improvisational performance by both artists, followed by a conversation with writer and radio host Riel Bellow. RSVP HERE.
︎ Upstate book launch: Funto Omojola & Samiya Bashir at Flow Chart Foundation
November 16 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm @ Flowchart
I’ll be joined by the poet Samiya Bashir. We’ll both read from our works, then join in conversation, on the occasion of Nightboat Books publishing If I Gather Here and Shout. Tickets here.
︎ NYC Pre-launch at Molasses bookstore
Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 8pm
Join me for a pre-launch of IF I GATHER HERE AND SHOUT, with Precious Okoyomon and Tobi Kassim.
︎ Carie Mae Weems Remember to Dream: Election Day Reading
November 5, 2024, 3pm - 12am at Gladstone Gallery
I’ll be reading from my book as part of this election day reading organized by Precious Okoyomon, Vincent Katz and Brian Degraw, with Rirkrit Tiravanija + Co. and Spiral Theory Test Kitchen. This all-day event will be a refuge, an oasis, a temporary autonomous zone in the spirit of Hakim Bey. The durational program of readings, live music, and food will materialize through the participation of artists, poets, performers, and composers united by a shared sense of defiance, hope, and purpose. See here.
︎ Beyond Borders Mixtape for Radio Alhara
October 24-27, 2024
As part of a fundraiser for Palestinians, Dolce Stil Criollo has curated a 3-hour mixtape of poetry and sound art. The mixtape will broadcast with Bethlehem-based Radio Alhara on October 26th, at 11am EST and will feature a piece by the BABAS aka me and my sister. And on October 27th, from 11am-5pm, Fouta Harissa and Dolce Stil Criollo will be at Storm Books and Candy in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, with t-shirts and scarves for sale. At 3pm, they will host a small program of performances by Grace Villamil, Andrew Riad, Jordan Topiel Paul, and Funto & Tosin aka BABAS.
︎ CLOSE READINGS: The Flow Chart Foundation
Thursday, February 22, 3 pm (Virtual Event)
I’ll be leading a virtual group thinking-and-reading-through of a poem by Myung Mi Kim followed by a short reading of my own work. Register here.
︎ Ritual & Rupture: A Reading and Conversation
February 22, 12 pm, Center for Intercultural Engagement at Northeastern University
︎ Publishing Expanded: Where Is Africa? Center for Art, Research and Alliances
February 10, 4pm at CARA
Reading and panel discussion with Mikael Awake, Moses Serubiri and Yayra Sumah, moderated by Matthew Shenoda. As a part of CARA’s first Publishing Expanded convening around the release of their new book, Where Is Africa.
︎ It Goes, It Goes: James Schuyler Centenary Celebration
Saturday, November 4, 2023, 5 pm, Dia Chelsea
I’ll be reading alongside Wayne Koestenbaum, Chad Morgan, Eileen Myles, Teline Trần, and others to be announced.
︎ Coney Island “Wavewall”, organized by David Lindsay and Anonymous Gallery
Saturday October 21, 2023 @2 pm
with Geoffrey Mak, Drew Zebia, sgp and Ty Little
︎ Reading at Unnameable Books
May 19, 2023 @7PM
with Pamela Allen Brown, Alexis Gudding, Em Marie Kohl, Francisco Marquez, danilo machado, and Roz Naimi
︎ Reading for Segue Reading Series
April 29, 2023, @Artists Space
alongside writer and critic Jessica Lynne
︎ Poetry Project
April 17, 2023
as part of The Poetry Project’s Spring reading series, alongside Yesenia Montilla, author of the astonishing Muse Found in a Colonized Body, tickets here.
︎ Reading at The Poetry Project’s New Year’s Day Marathon
January 1, 2023, between 10 and 11PM
as part of The Poetry Project’s 49th Annual New Year’s Day Marathon, alongside a host of amazing poets and writers and artists, tickets here.
︎