Music, Reading and Book Launch

Join us for a fun evening of music with Chinobay and the poets, Mildred Kiconco Barya and Nicole Farmer.

Chinobay (Herbert Kinobe) is a Ugandan musician, educator, and cultural ambassador whose artistry bridges continents. From his roots in Kampala to international stages, he has inspired audiences with soulful performances, workshops, and cross-cultural programs that celebrate African heritage while fostering global connection. As founder of Dance of Hope and the World Bridge Foundation, Chinobay empowers young people and communities through music, dance, and education, creating pathways of resilience, hope, and cultural exchange worldwide. www.chinobay.com | www.worldbridgefoundation.org 

Mildred Kiconco Barya, a North Carolina-based writer and poet of East African descent, teaches and lectures globally. Hands in Clay is her fifth full-length poetry collection. Her previous books include The Animals of My Earth School (Terrapin Books, 2023). She’s the recipient of the 2025 Jacobs/Jones African American Literary Prize and the 2020 Linda Flowers Literary Award. She has served as the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet for the North Carolina Poetry Society, and her work is published in the New England Review, The Cincinnati Review, Shenandoah, Tin House, and elsewhere. She blogs at www.mildredbarya.com

Nicole Farmer moved fifteen times in her first eighteen years, living in Britain, Mexico, New England, and several southern states. She now lives in Asheville, NC, with her partner and their grumpy terrier. She graduated from the Juilliard School of Drama and is the author of three books of poetry: Wet Underbelly Wind (FLP, 2020), Honest Sonnets (Kelsay Books, 2023) and OPEN HEART (Kelsay Books, 2025). She’s been published in Wisconsin Review, Kakalak, Wild Roof Journal, Poetry South, and elsewhere. For more, visit https://www.nicolefarmerpoetry.com

Schedule:
- Doors open at 5:30pm / Event begins at 6:00pm
- Books will be available for purchase 
- Parking available at Wall Street Garage.