unFRAMED

 

Iyaba Ibo Mandingo literally paints a spectacular self-portrait on stage while spinning a joyful and taut tale of coming to America -- facing racism, imprisonment, and near deportation before finding salvation through his art and poetry.

 

Written and performed by IYABA IBO MANDINGO

Directed by BRENT BUELL

 

IYABA IBO MANDINGO is a playwright, poet, painter and writer. Is a native of Antigua, West Indies, who came to the United States as an undocumented immigrant. He appears regularly as an actor and performance poet in venues across the United States and abroad, including to South Africa and Nigeria. He is the author of three chapbooks of poetry, 41 Times, Amerikkan Exile and his latest, 40 days & 40 nites of write, and the novel, Sins of My Fathers. Iyaba studied fine arts at Southern Connecticut State University and has had multiple one-man art shows. He is a New York Theatre Workshop Summer 2011 Artist in Residence and is a member of the Harlem Arts Alliance, a two-time Connecticut Grand Slam champion and a three-time winner of Yale University’s Martin Luther King Birthday Invitational Slam. He is married and the father of five.