Mwalim *7)

Mashpee
Mwalim *7)

Website: www.mwalim.com
Email: promotions@liberationmusic-mgm.com

About Me

Considered by critics and peers alike to be one of the true modern masters of the oral tradition, Mwalim is a multifaceted performing artist, writer, filmmaker and educator. Born in Bronx New York and raised in both New York City and Mashpee, Massachusetts, Mwalim (aka Morgan James Peters) grew up immersed in the oral traditions of Bajan (Barbados) and Wampanoag culture. He is a keeper of both the New World Griot and Medicine Trickster traditions.

In theatre, he has distinguished himself as a playwright, director, actor and teacher. Receiving his formal training from New African Company in Boston, Mwalim’s work has been presented throughout the United States and Canada, including his award-winning plays, “Look At My Shorts: An Evening of Short Plays”; “A Party at the Crossroads”; and “OM!: A Street Corner Griot’s Comedy”. His performance pieces and plays have been featured in the Boston Theatre Marathon, National Black Theatre Festival, the Downtown Urban Drama Festival, and various fringe festivals. As a teacher of theatre, he specializes in system/method techniques as well as classical theatre training. Many of his students have gone on to professional careers in theatre, film and television as well as advanced study in drama at Yale, NYU, UCLA, American Repertory Theatre and the Royal Academy of Drama. Mwalim is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Oversoul Theatre Collective, a professional Black and Native American arts and education organization formed in 1994.

Mwalim is a songwriter, arranger, producer, singer and pianist. As well as a successful solo career, he is the lead singer of The GROOVALOTTOS, a local Deep Soul-Funk Band. He has also produced and re-mixed recordings for a myriad of artists and labels through out the USA and Europe. Mwalim won the 2010 “Best Jazz Artist” in the Urban Music Award and was a top nominee in the Native American Music Awards (NAMMYs) for his CD “The Liberation Sessions” and was a top nominee in the 2011 Urban Music Awards for his single “The Abyss”. Mwalim emerged into the music industry in 2000 with his single “Thief in the Night” (Midnight Groove) which became a regional hit throughout the east coast; after several years as a contributor to various recording projects as a session musician, producer, writer, arranger and coach. His 2001 follow-up EP also lead to several hit singles in the international House/ Dance Music arena with “Out of the Woods” and “Will I Ever”.

As a writer, his stories, poetry, essays and articles have appeared in literary reviews, anthologies, magazines and newspapers throughout the world. His book A MIXED MEDICINE BAG: ORIGINAL BACK WAMPANOAG FOLKLORE (Talking Drum, 2007) is a much sough-after text by many Africana, Indigenous and Multicultural Studies programs at colleges and universities.

Mwalim is a recipient of such prestigious awards, grants and fellowships as: The Ira Aldridge Fellowship, The Longwood Artist Fellowship, Polaroid Community Grant, NEBA Fellowship, Cummings Arts Grant, NAACP Educator of the Year.