Apiorkor [Seyiram Ashong-Abbey]
Apiorkor [Seyiram Ashong-Abbey] is a Ghanaian Poet, Writer/Author, Literary Scholar and Critic, Media Practitioner, TED Speaker, Activist and Versatile Creative of Ga-Daŋme and Ewe ancestry. She is the author of The Matriarch’s Verse (a collection of Poetry, which is available on booknook.store and Amazon, both in Paperback and Kindle editions). Her work is noted for its rare narrative, prosaic, journalistic nature, which is uncommon in Poetry. Apiorkor reads her Poetry on stage and injects life into her poems with varied music forms, Contemporary Dance and alternative Art.
The Poetess performs within West Africa’s most sophisticated spaces and has been featured on two TEDx platforms. She has also been a speaker at Re:publica, the largest conference on Internet and Digital Society in Europe.
Again, Apiorkor is listed on TED.com as a headline performer, for TEDWomen 2020 and is an active member of TED's Red Circle Community for TED Speakers.
In October 2018, Apiorkor staged the maiden edition of her Poetry concert, dubbed "The Matriarch's Verse", at the plush Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra. Almost four years down the line, it remains Ghana's largest annual Poetry event, to be hosted by an individual artist, having featured over forty supporting Creative Arts acts and having attracted an audience of almost three thousand people, representative of various industries and walks of life.
Over the past three and a half years, Apiorkor has led a campaign to have Ghanaian (and African) Poets, Poetry, and Artists properly documented in local media sources and on Wikipedia. Her efforts have led to the gains that the Wikimedia User Group in Ghana is currently making, in this regard.
Another project in progress is her research into and development of the ideology/ concept of Verse Journalism, which highlights the symbiotic relationship between Poetry (Verse) and Journalism.
She is a member of the National Executive Committee of the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW), a member of the Poetry Association of Ghana Executive Board and a Director-At-Large of the Democrats Abroad Africa Committee's ExCom, as the Coordinator of Democrats Abroad - Ghana. Again, Apiorkor is a member of a newly-formed standing committee of the Creative Arts Agency (Ghana) Initiative on developing Creative Arts Education in Ghana, under the auspices of Ghana's Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture.
Her love for Diplomacy has led her to become a Fellow and the Moderator-in-Residence, of the Institute of International Affairs, Ghana. As well, she is an Editorial Advisor of the Influenc(Her) Project --- https://influencherproject.org/, working alongside CNN's former President, Pat Mitchell and The New York Times's former European Bureau Chief, Alison Smale - to elevate the global voices of women in Journalism and the Arts. Furthermore, she is a member of the Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF) Advisory Board.
Apiorkor teaches, mentors and counsels Poets, Writers, Creatives and young people (especially young women). As a Media Practitioner, Apiorkor is Multi-format/ Multi-scale Television Producer & Programmer, with over 8,000 hours of content, to her credit. She is also a Multi-format Radio Producer & Programmer.
Additionally, she does Event design/ production/ management and is a compère & moderator. She is a copywriter, voice over artist and she designs and produces media advertising content.
Apiorkor is the Head of Programmes Production at Accra-based Citi 97.3 FM and Citi TV, where she also hosts Diplomatic License and What's Cooking?, while advocating for the causes of Literacy & Numeracy, appreciation of the Creative Arts & Art business, as well as Culture.
Social Media: @apiorkor Website: https://apiorkor.com/ Wiki: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apiorkor_Seyiram_Ashong-Abbey © APIORKOR 2022