ARTivist Educator “where Art meets Activism meets Education”

Mtima Abdul Ghany SOLWAZI is a visionary ARTivist Educator whose work sits at the intersection of Art, Activism, and Education. He holds a MSc in Sociology, a BSc in Psychology (Major) with Minors in Criminology and Sociology and a Certificate in Social Work. Mtima Solwazi is the 2025 recipient of the Hummingbird Medal Silver National Award in the sphere of Culture and the Arts. 

Founder and General Manager of The Oral Tradition ROOTS Foundation, Mtima has emerged as a change agent for youths of Trinidad and Tobago. Mtima has spent more than two decades constructing a social movement that utilizes spoken word poetry and oral traditions as cultural expressions. At a time when the young people of our country are facing violence, fractured identities and limited opportunities for authentic self-expression, Mtima has provided a platform to nurture young poets, some of whom are mentors, educators, leaders and entrepreneurs. The ROOTS Foundation has also partnered with other youth organizations which demonstrate their commitment to embedding creative methodologies into institutions that often lack them.