The untold story of The East Wind
by Abiodun Oyewole
Back in 1968, there was an L-shaped loft at 9 East 125th street between Fifth and Madison avenues in Harlem New York. This loft became the home base for The Last Poets. The Last Poets were formed on May 19th in 1968 and within a month's time found a spot they would rent to be an accessible working part of the social conscious Harlem community. It was Gylan Kain’s idea after David Nelson came up with a name for three poets on stage together reciting poetry in a dramatic way. They called themselves The Last Poets. Their name was derived from a rebellious poem written by a South African poet named Keopeste Kgostile called Towards A Walk in The Sun. Gylan Kain was not only a very good poet, but he was also the most artistic of the three. He was set on finding a place of operation. Before the loft was discovered, a new Harlem clothing enterprise had space that The Poets could use as a workshop and for rehearsals. The name of this franchise was New Breed.
Gylan kain felt if The Last Poets had their own spot, they could conduct workshops have shows, sponsor other artist and perform whenever they wanted to. The place was found at 9 East 125th Street an L-shaped loft that Kain named The East Wind. He explained that since we’re located on the East side of Harlem and the philosophy everyone mostly agreed with was coming from The East as opposed to the West. The name East Wind was befitting. It had an immediate impact on the social conscious Harlem community. Workshops in poetry, politics and theater were held there. Almost every weekend The Last Poets would perform. Many times, they would feature a guest poet or speaker. Filipe Luciano who took David Nelson’s place after having started the group ran political workshops that were overcrowded until late into the night. Gylan Kain was considered the artistic director of what took place at The East Wind.
He befriended and rented out time and space to Sister Barbara Ann Teer to conduct her National Black Theater workshop. Karate classes and lectures took place. Many artists mostly jazz artist would perform at the East Wind. To name a few Don and Albert Ayler , Pharoah Sanders and Leon Thomas Lonnie Liston Smith, Ishange drummers and dancers, Eric Gayle , Leroi Jone’s Spirit House Movers and Players, Sunra’s Archestra and a wide range of poets from Askia Muhammed Toure and Marvin X to Jackie Early and Sonia Sanchez and singers like Terry Callier and Gaye Todd of Sapphire and comedians like Jimmie "JJ" Walker and poets like Ted Jones. The East Wind provided an array of talent for the Harlem community. It served as a showcase for numerous artists to test their skills. The East Wind became an empowerment zone where we could see the magic and appreciate the gifts of each other right before our eyes. The East Wind is no longer there. The entire block has been reconstructed. Next door to where the East Wind stood was another very significant Loft. It was Olatunji’s African Drum and Dance Studio. Olatunji was the first West African to bring the drum to America and teach the now famous chant Funga Alafia Ashe.’ Which means we welcome you in peace to our village. He put out a classic album entitled Drums of Passion.
Both lofts played a major role in the liberation of Black people’s minds and souls. Today an elementary school stands on the site where these lofts were housed. The school is name Jeffery Canada school The Harlem Children’s Zone. The Promise Academy. I went by there once a while ago and ventured inside to ask if I could speak with the principal. I was given permission and had a meeting with Mr. Kaldun who was the principal. I told Mr. Kaldun that his school was built on Holy ground. He asked me to explain. I told him the story of the two lofts that once stood here and what they provided for the people. He was so intrigued and asked Mr. Canada to join us so I could tell him the story also. They suggested that I write it up and submit it to the school so they could inform their students about s this piece of Harlem history. I promised I would do that; I have not fulfilled my promise up until now. I guess it’s better late than never. By the way Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theater is now the owner of an eight million dollar building on 5th ave. around the corner from where The East Wind used to be. She started out by paying The Last Poets $75 a month to housing the largest owned Black Theater in Harlem.
The Legacy of The East Wind is just as important and maybe more important than the legacy of The Last Poets.
Watch The Last Poets perform "Hey Now" back in 1971...
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