Omotara James is the author of the poetry collection, Song of My Softening, (Alice James, 2024). Her chapbook, Daughter Tongue, was selected by African Poetry Book Fund, (Akashic Books, 2018), for the New Generation African Poets Box Set.

James’ poems appear in print and digital journals, including the Poetry Foundation, The Nation, BOMB Magazine, the Paris Review, Literary Hub, Guernica, Poetry Society of America and elsewhere. Her poetry has been featured in the Academy of American Poets Poem-A-Day series.

She has performed on various stages including the 92NY, The Brooklyn Books Festival, The New York City Poetry Festival and The Poetry Project. Her work has been anthologised and selected for inclusion in various publications.

James is the recipient of the 2023 J. Howard and Barbara M. J. Wood Prize from the Poetry Foundation; a Cafe Royal Cultural Foundation Literature Award; a New York Foundation of the Arts Poetry Fellowship; a 92NY Discovery Poetry Award; and a Nancy P. Schnader Academy of American Poets Prize, from Hofstra University. Her poems were shortlisted for the 2019 Brunel International African Poetry Prize in 2019. She has received residency fellowships from Cave Canem Foundation and Lambda Literary, among other awards and recognitions.

Born in Britain, she is the daughter of Nigerian and Trinidadian immigrants. She has lived in England, Scotland and was raised primarily in America. She holds a BA in Creative Writing from Hofstra University and an MFA in Poetry from New York University. She has instructed workshops at New York University, The 92NY Unterberg Poetry Center, Cave Canem Foundation, The Hudson Valley Writers Center, Queens Public Library and elsewhere. She currently lives in NYC, where she teaches and edits poetry for the Bellevue Literary Review.

Lang hosts a series of weekly dynamic and interactive lessons in the craft of writing. Each week features a different writer including Lang faculty, alumni and special guest writers. 

 
Visit the Lang Craft Talks Hub for the full line-up of writers this semester!