Hamzat Koriko
“You take a deep breath. You know, you feel like you want to pinch yourself and see if it’s real. I opened the email and read it again, I told my wife… it seems like I got the gift.”
Hamzat Koriko, PhD, is a translator, playwright, executive, and former artistic director of the African Arts Arena, based in Grand Forks, ND, he now leads Kori Art where he uses performing and visual arts to engage communities around immigration.
Originally from Togo, West Africa, Hamzat loves using traditional Tongolese storytelling to connect with people and reconnect with his roots. Drumming, for Hazmat, is not just a work of art; it is a reminder of where he came from. “When I drum, it’s more of a heartbeat. It is a reminder that I come from somewhere”
Hamzat thinks the biggest challenge for people who historically haven’t been given funding opportunities is to let go and trust. “The Waterers said, ‘Somebody told us about you and we want to learn more. You don’t have to give up time with your family—you just have to sit down and tell us who you are.’ The Waterers truly see what you’re doing; they welcome and want to celebrate you. They make it easy for people to access resources.”
“My message for those trying to serve their community is to keep going. You know, it’s a long, long, long process. But one day, your dream will come true.”