Mahogany returns

Queen Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant owner Zion Taddese has always been community-minded. So has Khiry Malik Moore, emcee for the Mahogany Urban Poetry Series that ended its five-year run with the closing of Sweet Fingers Jamaican Restaurant. Now the two have teamed up to bring Mahogany back to Sacramento every Wednesday night in Queen Sheba Restaurant. The series always begins with the African tradition of “pouring libations” to one’s ancestors. It follows with an open-mic and spoken word from a local or national featured poet.

Word of this event slipped into the bunker too late for us to publish it ahead of the launch party (though if you’ve tuned in and turned on to the fact that our paper actually comes out on Wednesday nights in Midtown, you might still make it to the event). On May 7, the series kicks off with featured poet Queen Sheba from Atlanta. Reading this too late? Catch Brooklyn&Rsquo;s Shanelle Gabriel on May 14.

“It’s a popular series, and poets from all over love Sacramento,” said Moore. “People are really into poetry here, people really listen.”
Every Wednesday, from 8 p.m. to  11 p.m. $5, all ages. Queen Sheba Restaurant, 1704 Broadway; www.queenshebas.com.