I am Deia Elwadi, a Buffalo-based poet and self-proclaimed 'Soulfood Sudanese,' born from a contradictory heritage. My poetry is the result of this paradoxical background: a Southern family migrating from Bobo, Mississippi, and Warrenton, Georgia, to Rochester, NY, and a North Sudanese immigrant father. This unique cultural fusion forms the very core of my artistic expression.

At 13, my passion for words took root, a voice that often caused friction because I relentlessly asked "Why?" and challenged the issues others tried to conceal. By 15, I was a spoken word artist, sharing my voice on stage throughout high school and then college as a member of the SUNY Buffalo State College campus team, ‘Tha Ink Club’. However, life's challenges, compounded by crippling anxiety, silenced that voice for a time. Returning from undergrad, I faced internal struggles, and as I confronted my traumas, my creativity became blocked. Shame, defeat, and a persistent brain fog convinced me that this part of myself had died.

Then, one day, years later, reading to my eight-month-old daughter, she echoed my humming melody of a poetry book I often read to her back to me, a moment of profound connection. Driven to nurture her artistic spirit, I picked up forgotten instruments, created art, and poured my energy into her. It was a period of purging and healing that I dove into. And then it happened, the turning point that changed everything. During a weekend of intense healing alone, I wrote. Page after page, over 200 pages of my life—and the fog lifted. The more I sat with myself and went through my fears, clarity returned, and art began to flow out of me. This was my initiation. Motherhood, 'the ultimate initiation,' led to a profound rediscovery, reigniting my passion with a deeper understanding of life's complexities.

My poetry is an unfiltered reflection of the human experience. I fearlessly explore personal narratives, societal taboos, and the full spectrum of emotions. I see my poetry as a healing force, not only for myself but for my ancestral connections, a way to mend and honor my bloodlines. I navigate life's challenges with vulnerability and resilience, finding solace in humor and joy in the journey.

Through my work, I aim to ignite meaningful conversations, encourage vulnerability, and remind us all to embrace the 'Extremely REAL.'

I hope you find wisdom and joy in my 'Deiaisms.'