Mwatabu Okantah, a pan-African studies professor and former director of the Center for Pan-African Culture, will perform spoken word poetry at the Wick Poetry Center on the second floor of the University Library Thursday at 3 p.m.

The event is the first presentation of “Kent Reads, Kent Writes,” a series of spoken presentations by students, faculty and administrators.

Presentations in the series include poetry, fiction and non-fiction literature and creative writing.

Okantah, the Muntu Kuntu Energy Poet, has authored several collections of poetry and creative writing, and most recently released “Reconnecting Memories: Dreams No Longer Deferred.”

Okantah has also performed as a poet, spoken word artist and motivational speaker in venues from northeast Ohio to Africa.

Thursday’s event is the first in a series that will continue each Thursday through Dec. 9.

Ellen Kirtner