Eseohe Arhebamen, also known as Eseohe Arhebamen-Yamasaki or by her stage name Edoheart, is a poet, dancer, singer, musician, producer, performance artist, and visual artist.
She was born Obehioye Eseohe Ikhianose Oghomwenyenmwen Cleopatra Anne Arhebamen in Zaria, Nigeria, and descends from a royal family of the Benin Empire. Her maternal grandmother, Princess Theresa Maria Nodumwenben Osazuwa, was a princess of the Edo people, and her great-grandfather, Osazuwa Eredia, was the Oba N’Ugu and Enogie of Umoghumwun, making Eseohe a royal descendant. The Kingdom of Ugu, with its capital at Umoghumwun, traces its foundation to Prince Idu, eldest son of Oba Eweka I.
Early Life
- Eldest of five siblings.
- Migrated with her family to Detroit, Michigan, USA at age 7.
- Took a parental role in her family.
- Enrolled at University of Michigan's Residential College at 17.
- Although encouraged to study medicine, pursued poetry, language, and the arts.
- Won multiple writing awards and was included in the University of Michigan Anthology of Hopwood Award Winners.
Career
- At 19, became Writer-in-Residence with InsideOut Literary Arts, Detroit.
- Worked with children in underprivileged schools to enhance their literary skills.
- Moved to New York in 2003 and founded the company EdoHeart (also her stage name).
Education
- B.A. in Creative Writing and Literature, University of Michigan (2005)
- B.A. in Studio Art, minor in English, Hunter College
- M.A. in Performance Studies, New York University
- Studied Butoh dance with Yukio Waguri
Teaching & Appearances
- Choreographed, taught, and led workshops at:
- The Living Theatre
- Columbia University's Teachers College
- Featured in media across:
- USA
- Korea
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Appeared in Kalup Linzy’s documentary on New York artists (2011)
- Appears in a video included in Anne Waldman's papers at the University of Michigan Special Collections Library
Butoh Vocal Theatre
- First indigenous African Butoh performer
- Created Butoh-Vocal Theatre:
- Combines Butoh dance with singing, talking, mudra, sign language, spoken word, and experimental vocalizations
- Influenced by traditional Edo performance and linguistic parallels she sees between Edo and Japanese cultures
- Performed “Pure Imagination” during a Yukio Waguri workshop (2010)
- Notable performance at the Fifth Diverse Universe tour praised for:
- "Natural elegance and femininity"
- "Powerful ritual"
Marriage
- Married Seth Yamasaki in 2006
- Son of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Taro Yamasaki
- Grandson of Minoru Yamasaki, architect of the original World Trade Center
- Reside in Brooklyn, New York
Poetry Books
- 2003 – Seeding the Clouds (Ornithology Press)
Discography
- 2019 – Okada 8000 (with Nick Hook)
- 2019 – 1H
- 2018 – Raw Cash Remix
- 2018 – Na Fiya Ft. Masterkraft
- 2017 – Majokko Olokun
- 2013 – Sosomoneycockplease EP (Akwaaba Music)
- 2012 – Get As E Be – EP
- 2010 – Shchedryk Avant Remix, Monsoon in Ibadan, Wa Domo Edo
- 2009 – The Hunger Artist
Film and Video Works
- I'm That African (2019)
- Raw Cash Remix (2018)
- I No Send (2018)
- Na Fiya Ft. Masterkraft (2018)
- Sugar In A Plum (2012)
- Fire Butoh 4! (2011)
- Sometimes (Take me away) (2011)
- Sosomoneycockplease (Video edit) (2010)
- Excerpt of Fire Butoh 3 for the Low Lives Exhibition (2010)
- Blue Butterfly Butoh (2009)
- The Cement Factory (2009)
- #18 / Number 18 (2009)
- eAir Butoh Sketch (2009)
- Fire Butoh 3 Visuals (2008)
- Fire Butoh 3 (2008)
- Fire Butoh 2 (2008)
- Es Su Casa (2008)
- Fire Butoh 1 (2007)
Anthologies and Catalogues
- Diverse Universe Festival 2005–2009 (Academia Gustaviana Selts Mty, 2009)
- Low Lives (Jorge Rojas, 2009)
- Kunsti Aastaraamat (Parnu City Government, 2009)
- 세계 실험예술의 메카, 홍대 앞 (2009)
- The Hopwood Awards: 75 Years of Prized Writing (University of Michigan Press, 2006)
- The New Spend Less Revolution (Harriman House, 2006)
Awards
- 2012 – Tisch School of the Arts Sponsored Tuition Award, NYU
- 2006 – Poet of the Day, Poets Against the War
- 2002 – Environmental Justice Initiative First Place, University of Michigan
- 2002 – College Unions Poetry Slam National Champion (University of Michigan Team)
- 2000 – Writer-in-Residence, InsideOut Literary/Arts Project
- 2000 – Arthur Miller Award (Fiction)
- 2000 – Jeffrey L. Weisberg Memorial Prize in Poetry
- 2000 – Hopwood Minor Poetry Award
- 2000 – Hopwood Underclassmen Fiction Award
- 1998 – Residential College Fellowship, University of Michigan
References
(To be added)