Kweku Abimbola, the Gambian-Ghanaian-Sierra Leonean poet, has been named a 2025 Poet Laureate Fellow by the Academy of American Poets, receiving a $50,000 award for his community-focused poetry project in El Segundo, California.
Introduction: Kweku Abimbola
In a significant recognition of his literary talent and community engagement, Kweku Abimbola, a poet of Gambian, Ghanaian, and Sierra Leonean heritage, has been selected as one of the recipients of the Academy of American Poets’ 2025 Poet Laureate Fellowship. This prestigious fellowship includes a $50,000 award to support Abimbola’s innovative poetry project, The Land Remembers, which seeks to connect communities, highlight environmental awareness, and amplify marginalized voices in El Segundo, California.
This accolade places Abimbola among an elite group of U.S. poets recognized not only for their artistic excellence but also for their commitment to fostering social and cultural dialogue through poetry. His appointment reflects both his individual achievements and the Academy’s ongoing mission to celebrate the transformative power of poetry in communities nationwide.
The Academy of American Poets’ Fellowship
The Academy of American Poets established the Poet Laureate Fellowship to provide poets with the resources and platform to develop community-based literary initiatives. Each fellowship aims to empower poets to explore pressing societal issues, promote inclusivity, and foster dialogue through the art of verse.
Recipients of this fellowship are chosen based on their artistic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and the potential impact of their proposed projects. By offering financial support and national recognition, the fellowship enables poets like Abimbola to execute ambitious projects that might otherwise face significant resource constraints.
The 2025 cohort consists of 23 distinguished poets from across the United States, representing diverse backgrounds and perspectives. This diversity underscores the Academy’s dedication to amplifying underrepresented voices and nurturing projects that inspire civic participation and cultural understanding.
About Kweku Abimbola
Kweku Abimbola is a multifaceted poet, educator, and performer whose work explores themes of identity, heritage, and social justice. Born to parents with roots in Gambia, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, Abimbola’s writing is informed by his rich cultural background and the histories of the African diaspora.
He currently serves as an assistant professor of literature and creative writing at Loyola Marymount University, where he mentors emerging writers and fosters a love for poetry among students. His literary contributions include the critically acclaimed debut poetry collection Saltwater Demands a Psalm, which was awarded the Academy of American Poets’ First Book Prize. Through his work, Abimbola has consistently demonstrated an ability to bridge personal narrative with broader social and environmental concerns.
Abimbola’s poetry is recognized for its lyrical intensity, social consciousness, and innovative use of form. His work resonates with audiences across diverse communities, highlighting the universality of human experience while remaining deeply rooted in specific cultural and historical contexts.
The Land Remembers: A Community-Centered Project
At the heart of Abimbola’s fellowship is his project The Land Remembers, designed to engage the El Segundo community in a series of literary workshops and public poetry events. The project brings together local writers, poets, and residents, particularly members of Black and Indigenous communities, to explore collective memory, environmental stewardship, and historical narratives often overlooked in mainstream discourse.
The workshops provide participants with the tools to craft poetry that reflects their personal experiences while connecting to larger social and environmental themes. In addition to fostering literary skills, the project encourages dialogue between generations, highlighting the interplay between historical memory and contemporary life.
By combining creative expression with community engagement, The Land Remembers aims to cultivate a deeper awareness of the region’s cultural and ecological heritage. Participants’ works will be compiled into a published anthology, with proceeds supporting local efforts to recover from the ecological and social impacts of recent wildfires in surrounding areas such as Altadena and Pasadena.
Impact on Social and Environmental Awareness
Abimbola’s project exemplifies the potential of poetry to serve as a catalyst for social and environmental consciousness. By engaging local residents in artistic reflection, The Land Remembers addresses urgent issues such as climate change, land stewardship, and cultural preservation.
The project’s focus on Black and Indigenous voices ensures that the narratives shaping public memory are inclusive and representative. Participants gain the opportunity to explore their heritage, confront systemic inequalities, and contribute meaningfully to community knowledge. Through this collective process, poetry becomes a medium for empowerment, dialogue, and societal transformation.
Moreover, the fellowship allows Abimbola to implement innovative approaches to environmental education, intertwining art with advocacy. By integrating poetry with ecological themes, the project encourages sustainable practices and fosters a sense of responsibility toward the natural world.
Abimbola’s Vision and Artistic Philosophy
Central to Abimbola’s work is the belief that poetry is not merely a literary form but a tool for engagement and change. His artistic philosophy emphasizes the intersection of creativity, cultural memory, and civic participation. He views the poet as a bridge between individual experience and collective understanding, capable of addressing pressing societal challenges through verse.
Abimbola’s vision for The Land Remembers extends beyond El Segundo, aiming to inspire similar initiatives in other communities. By demonstrating the power of poetry to unite, educate, and empower, he sets a model for how artistic projects can address social inequities while promoting environmental awareness.
His commitment to mentorship and teaching further amplifies this impact, as emerging poets and students gain guidance from an artist deeply attuned to the responsibilities of creative expression within society.
National and Cultural Significance
Abimbola’s recognition as a Poet Laureate Fellow highlights the importance of diverse representation in the national literary landscape. As a poet of Gambian, Ghanaian, and Sierra Leonean descent, his work brings essential perspectives to contemporary American poetry, reflecting the multiplicity of voices shaping the nation’s cultural narrative.
In celebrating poets like Abimbola, the Academy of American Poets emphasizes that literature is not only an art form but a vital instrument for fostering understanding, empathy, and civic engagement. His fellowship serves as a testament to the growing recognition of poetry’s capacity to influence public discourse, celebrate heritage, and respond to ecological and societal challenges.
Community Reception and Anticipated Outcomes
The El Segundo community has embraced the project with enthusiasm, recognizing the opportunity to engage with art that is both reflective and forward-looking. Local participants, educators, and cultural institutions have expressed support for the workshops, highlighting the potential for lasting impact on residents’ artistic skills and social consciousness.
The anticipated outcomes of The Land Remembers include increased community engagement, enhanced appreciation for local history and environmental stewardship, and the creation of a lasting literary legacy through the publication of participants’ work. By fostering creative expression and dialogue, the project contributes to a more connected, aware, and resilient community.
Conclusion
Kweku Abimbola’s selection as a 2025 Poet Laureate Fellow underscores the vital role of poetry in addressing contemporary social, cultural, and environmental issues. Through his project The Land Remembers, he demonstrates that poetry can serve as a powerful tool for education, empowerment, and community engagement.
As this initiative unfolds, it promises to inspire not only the El Segundo community but also broader audiences to recognize the transformative potential of artistic expression. The fellowship and the project exemplify how poets can actively shape public discourse, preserve cultural memory, and advocate for ecological sustainability.
For more information about the Academy of American Poets and their fellowship programs, visit poets.org
