KALONJI CHANGA

Somewhere between an ambitious pavement poet and the dynamic El-Hajj Malik Shabazz, you will find the fiery, passionate orator-Kalonji Changa. Voted one of Departure Magazine's "Leaders of the New School " and one of The Street Legends "2006 Hip Hop Activists of the Year", Kalonji Jama Changa has quickly risen to become one of the most sought after lecturers, hosts and motivators in the country. This people's advocate can be found organizing around the clock, either in a neighborhood near you or at one of the many HBCU's or Ivy League Universities that he has incited. Under Kalonji's direction as Founder/National Chief Coordinator of the FTP Movement, programs such as Feed The People, Siafu Youth Corps, MOBB (Mothers of Black and Brown Babies) and the FTP Artists Collective, have matured and developed. Partially due to his uncompromising position, ability to move the crowd, and muscle in his voice, Kalonji has become known as "The Riot Starter". He has been featured on the Ride or Die; Poets 4 Political Prisoners and Organize the Hood Tours, in addition to hosting a weekly radio show on Harambee Radio. The high demand for Kalonji Changa has earned him the honor of hosting both Black August Commemoration Concerts in Oakland, California and Atlanta, Georgia, annually. In 2007, Kalonji was instrumental in the launching of the Cease Fire: Stop Police Terrorism Campaign, a national crusade that amalgamated Community Organizers and the Hip Hop Community to tackle issues of Police Brutality. Endorsers of the Cease Fire Campaign include The National Political Hip Hop Convention, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and former Political Prisoner Dhoruba Bin Wahad to name a few . In addition to his effective organizing and electrifying microphone skill, Kalonji is also a talented revolutionary writer whose work has appeared in San Francisco Bay View, The Source and Frontline Magazine. Upcoming projects include a film-Why We Say FTP and Contraband Newspaper.