The Afrikan Poetry Theatre: The Center for Culture or, for short, The Afrikan Poetry Theatre is a community-based cultural institution located in Jamaica, Queens

Jamaica, Queens

Jamaica is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States. It was settled under Dutch rule in 1656 in New Netherland as Rustdorp. Under British rule, the Village of Jamaica became the center of the "Town of Jamaica"...

  in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 . Established in 1976 by co-founders John Watusi Branch and Yusef Waliyaya, the theatre has been stationed at its current location, 176th Street & Jamaica Avenue, since 1979.

The Afrikan Poetry Theatre has been a host to several educational programs, cultural programs, and showcases for the arts in Southeastern Queens. On November 5th, 2006, the Theatre celebrated its thirtieth anniversary, where Queens Borough President, Helen Marshall

Helen Marshall

Helen M. Marshall is the 18th Borough President of Queens, first elected in November 2001, to succeed the term-limited Claire Shulman...

declared the day “Afrikan Poetry Theatre” day.

Currently, the Afrikan Poetry Theatre is subject to begin renovations in the Spring of 2007.