akeem olaj

Akeem Olaj is a Poet, Actor, Playwright, Architect, Martial Artist and Activist born and raised in, New Orleans, Louisiana now based in Austin, TX. He was the Co-founder and coach of Slam New Orleans Poetry Slam Team. As a Poet and Coach with Slam New Orleans , affectionately nicknamed Team SNO, he's achieved 3 National Poetry Slam championships ( 2010 Group, 2012-13 Team) And 4 regional Titles(The 2016 -17 Southwestern Regional Champion,2017 Redstick regional champion , 2016 Southern Fried poetry slam champion). With Slam New Orleans He has also opened for Shriver's Row, Amanda Seals, Kendrick Lamar and P Diddy and the family. 

​

Individually, Akeem was featured in Russell Simmons presents All Def Poetry Media in 2015 and 2016. He has also opened for Big Fredia, Alfred Banks, Ledsis, Tank and the Bangas and Adia Victoria. He wrote and starred in a one man play centered on The Louisiana Reconstruction period for the National Reconstruction conference held in New Orleans in 2014.  And he is the 2019 Individual of the World Poetry Slam Champion. And the 2021 Juslissen Queer Poetry Slam Champion .

​

He also is the Austin Poetry Slam Grand Slam Champion 2019 and a member of the Austin poetry Slam team 2019. He's a 3 time New Orleans Grand Slam Winner. And in 2014 Akeem was listed as one of the top 40 people under 40 to know in New Orleans.

 He Has performed at The Essence Fest, the New Orleans Fringe Fest, New Orleans Jazz Festival, At the New Orleans Arena with the Pelicans, Get lit Festival-LA, Harvard, Tulane, LSU, UNO, Texas AM, TSU, BERKLEY School of Music, etc. 

 

As a speaker/activist Akeems has spoken at many conferences across the United States on topics ranging from domestic violence, HIV awareness, LGBTQ Rights, Louisiana Reconstruction time period, and Southern Art. He has been featured on CBS tonight News, USA Today, Button Poetry, Write About Now and Blavity.