Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor

Mwalim (Morgan James Peters, MS, MFA) a.k.a., ‘DaPhunkee Professor’ is an internationally recognized educator, performing artist, writer and Black Arts Scholar. He is considered -internationally- by critics and peers alike to be one of the contemporary masters of the oral tradition. A multi-award-winning theater and spoken-word artist, his work as a storyteller, playwright and spoken-word artist have been presented throughout the USA and Canada as well as the UK and the Caribbean. He is the author of one book, A Mixed Medicine Bag (Talking Drum Press, 2007) as well as many plays and contributions to numerous edited volumes of creative and scholarly writings. Mwalim is a tenured professor of English and the former Director of Black Studies at UMass Dartmouth, where he teaches courses in creative writing, literary and cinema studies, media production, and oral traditions.

His award-winning plays include: "The Barber of Seville Street" (1994); "OUT! By The Roots!!!" (1997); "OM! A Street Corner Griot's Comedy" (2000); "Working Things Out" (2003); "Meanwhile Elsewhere" (2005); "Seek & Ye Shall Find" (2008); "Knock & It Shall Open" (2010); "WETU In The City" (2012); "Ask & It Shall Be Given" (2014); "Legacy" (2016); "This House" (2018).

As a musician he has won numerous awards, grants and fellowships for his work as a pianist, composer, singer, arranger and producer. His albums “The Liberation Sessions” (2010), “DEEP Soul Chants & Hollers” (2012), and “Awakened By A Noon Day Sun” (2014) all received Urban Music Awards in “Best Male Jazz” (2010, 2012, 2014), Silver Arrow Awards for “Jazz” and “Instrumental” (2013, 2014, 2015) and multiple top nominations in the Native American Music Awards. He is currently the keyboardist, singer and resident songwriter for The GroovaLottos who received 4 Grammy nominations in Pop and R&B for the album “Ask Yo’ Mama” (2017).