Ayanna Molina is a mother, activist, poet/author, artist, and teacher. Raised in the belly of New Orleans, she is a mix of soul, spoken word, and hip-hop. After years of life events, and find/loving herself, she decided to share her story with others in her first book Run Away Girl. She leads a movement of empowerment, self-reflection, and love for women, finishing this year with her Master’s in Counseling. Ayanna Molina is dedicated to helping others recognize the beauty within. Our writer JoVonna Rodriguez got a chance to speak to Ayanna also known as Mama Fiyah her love of poetry, her message and her movement.
JoVonna Rodriguez: Describe your philosophy on life or purpose in life in a few sentences. Who you are is great enough (if you truly are Who You Are!).
Ayanna Molina: I remember a time when I was scared to be what was under the mask I wore. What would people think if they knew? Then I woke up and found the secret to living a beautiful life is to have NO FEAR! Live your dreams in the full light of day, because you are always worthy, always loved, and always great enough.
JR: When did you first fall in love with poetry (writing, words, spoken word)?
AM: I remember being 5 years old making up songs and singing them for my family. My Mama would say,“Girl, you’re good!”
By 12, I was a poetry junkie, reading (and writing) as much poetry I could get my hands on. From Walt Whitman to Nikki Giovanni, I read all of the greats. By 7th grade, my poetry was featured in my Jr. High school literary magazine. I enjoyed writing poetry because it came naturally and it helped me express the tumultuous times I was having in my life at the time.
The first time I spit my poetry on the mic I was transformed instantly to a spoken word artist. If at 12, I was a poetry junkie, at 22 I became a microphone fiend! When people (especially women) started coming up to me after I hit the mic saying things like “Thank you for having the courage to say that.” and “Your stuff really touched me tonight.” I knew poetry and spoken word were more than just a hobby. It is a gift.
JR: How has your style evolved over the years? What message do you aim to convey to your readers/listeners?
AM: Wow.My style has really changed a lot. Back in the day (Jr. high/ high school) my poetry was a tool to express the sadness, loneliness and drama that had plagued my life. Without poetry as this sacred tool, I would have drowned in the mess. As I began seeking out help through counseling, I began to use poetry to heal instead of just wallow in it. My voice started changing from a “broken girl” voice, to a “healing woman” voice.
Through having the courage to go back (Sankofa: Age 28) into my past and face the harrowing parts as well as forgiving myself of past mistakes, I became empowered. My voice shifted here from healing to powerful! My power had been restored, and my voice distinctively changed. I would no longer dwell on past hurt or past love. My focus was finding the love for myself, the missing piece of the puzzle for all those years. This is where Run Away Girl comes from.
I was no longer a “Run Away” girl, held captive to my decisions and guilt of my past.
By 30, I began writing uplifting and empowering poetry. My voice was now one of a teacher. I would write from a place of, “This is where I been, so I know”. Women, especially young women, were drawn to my words. Now that I’m older, wiser and more resolved, I have taken another leap. My voice has transformed into a hip hop emcee. I have always loved real hip-hop, especially when I heard a strong woman’s voice (Sistah Souljah, Lady of Rage).
Since my poetry has always rhymed and I always had a beat in my mind while writing it, I feel it is a natural progression for me. I incorporate my song writing capabilities with the heart of poetry, the depth of spoken word, and the energy of hip-hop! As a hip-hop lover it is an honor and a challenge! Hip-hop is an unforgiving genre of art where confidence, skill, and passion rule. And I’m working on it!
I think I bring a unique voice to the current state of hip-hop. I call it “Grown Woman Hip Hop”. I’m sick of hearing from the sexually objectified, “vampy yet hard” voice of a female emcee (Lil Kim/Nikki Minaj). It’s been done, over and over again (Foxy Brown/Trina). Women are intelligent, brilliant and strong! Women are mothers, lovers and fighters. I have no desire to go “mainstream”. My desire is to teach from the hard lessons I’ve learned and to empower whoever will listen to empower themselves.
Hip-hop is a powerful tool! I’m still working and cultivating this new aspect of my style. But really at its core, my voice is the same, just on a new journey.
JR:How are you or your program, True Love Movement, giving back to the community?
AM: When I started healing, I began looking at the women around me. My sistahs were suffering (to one extent or another) with the same personal issues I had been facing. Issues like feeling abandoned by missing fathers, suffering sexual abuse or rape, being in unhealthy and abusive relationships, and acting out through promiscuity, having multiple abortions and multiple children for different (missing) fathers, are plaguing our women. Whatever plagues our women plagues our children because she is her child’s first teacher. In an effort to help the community truly deal with these issues, I developed True Love Movement, a grassroots organization. True Love Movement’s mission is to empower women of color to achieve optimal health and well-being through the utilization of creative arts and media to promote self-awareness and self-love. My poetry/ spoken word/music/ art are ALL dedicated to this mission.
After hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, I decided to go back to school for Community Counseling in an effort to assist women and their children in this healing process. I graduate in May 2011 and plan to continue teaching workshops, doing speaking engagements, as well as individual and group counseling for women and youth. I’ll go to prison camps, half way houses, group homes, community centers, churches, schools, homes, anywhere I am needed. I’m all about the holistic healing of the community: mind, body and spirit! ALL my work and art reflect this.
You can connect with Ayanna through:
Website/Store
Facebook
Email: [email protected]
YouTube
All I can truly say, is WOW ! Very intresting and quite impressive. I want more !
Inspiring interview. i love it when she says she is tired of hearing from the sexually objective broke down poetry female voices.(my words) i can understand her meaning of 'not running away anymore'. I was always a bit timid about during things i always created in my mind to do but allowing the fear of what others may say deter me from that. I somehow learned to just look toward God only for my greatness and he has not failed me Yet!!!