The Inglewood Poetry Project (TIPP) is a public art and community empowerment project.  Through workshops in Inglewood’s parks, churches and schools, Ms. Beckford introduced free verse, haiku, list poems and rhyming couplets to writers, ages 8 to 73. Their selected poems were edited and sequenced by Beckford into a printed anthology available in the Inglewood Public Library and Inglewood Unified School District.

Beckford produced a vinyl album of her spoken word performances. A highlight  is her infectious call and response work, ‘Ingle, Inglewood, where life is good.’ Through  written and performed poetry, she re-presents Inglewood to the community and world.

“Sweet City” by J. Malaika Beckford is referenced on the home page of the Inglewood California Public Art website.

J. Malaika Beckford is a poet, artist and educator. Performing as Eagle Nebula, she blends literary poetics and hip hop-inspired spoken word in live performances. Born and raised in Inglewood, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Howard University and participated in the poetry scenes of Washington, D.C, New York City, Paris and Ghana, West Africa where she was a June Jordan Scholar.

After completing her higher education, she resided in Brooklyn, NY and participated in vibrant Nuyorican poetry slams. Beckford returned to Inglewood in 2013. She teaches poetry across southern California and performs at well-regarded music and spoken word events.

Date: 2014 – 2015
Collection: City of Inglewood Time-Based Public Art Projects
Medium: Poetry, Spoken Word Album and Anthology
Material: Written and spoken word
Size: 12” vinyl album in paper sleeve; edition of 100 and 9” x 5” x 60–page anthology edition of 100, published by AlterDestiny Press.

Debut Location:
Waddingham Hall, Inglewood Public Library
1 West Manchester
Inglewood, California 90301

“Inglewood (life is good)” from Inglewood Album by Eagle Nebula. Released: 2014.