On Wednesday night, the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs hosted its third annual spoken word and open mic event in celebration of Black History Month.
The event featured performances from both students and local artists in an effort to build “a bridge between our Watson community and the extraordinary local talent surrounding it,” said Annette Ogunnaike, the director of staff and faculty administration for the Watson Institute.
The event began three years ago, when the Watson Institute’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan committee was tasked with creating programming for historical heritage months. Melissa Nicholaus, a Watson Institute DIAP liaison, organized the spoken word event in collaboration with the Brown Center for Students of Color, Ogunnaike said.
To find artists willing to perform at the inaugural event, Nicholaus turned to her connections within the Providence community. She reached out to her former high school classmates — Tomasina Morris, a poet and singer, and Chachi Carvalho, a musician and the chief equity officer of the City of Pawtucket — to be hosts and performers.
The two have been involved in every event since, as either performers or hosts. At this year’s event, Morris performed three poems, while Carvalho served as the DJ.
“It has always been in my blood to be a performer,” Morris told The Herald. Morris signed up for talent shows as a child and continued to perform as a young adult. Now, she is pursuing a solo career in both music and poetry under the stage name “Othannah Tomasina.”
Carvalho began making music at just 11 years old, exploring hip-hop culture, songwriting and freestyle. He recorded his first song as a student at the University of Rhode Island and has continued making music since, inspired by his “community” and “upbringing,” he said.
The event also included performances from Brown students — some impromptu.
Julian Joseph ’25 was doing homework nearby when he was approached by Morris to perform.
“I looked at the crowd, and it felt welcoming,” he said. He decided to perform his favorite childhood poem, “Fortuna” by Thomas Carlyle.
“As a senior, I knew it would be (the) perfect moment to take a risk,” he said.
