Rafiki Morris is a multi-disciplinary revolutionary cultural warrior, who has spent all of his adult life organizing for the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party (A-APRP). Rafiki joined the Pan-Africanist Movement in 1973 at the age of 17, He joined the A-APRP in 1974 and has been an active member ever since. Rafiki presents the African Revolutionary imperative through public speaking, painting, poetry, philosophy, political commentary, fiction, non-fiction and daily revolutionary practice. Rafiki openly claims to have an opinion about everything and fearlessly explains capitalism, imperialism, racism, zionism, patriarchy and all aspects of the African Revolution in common language and clear uncompromising terms. He passionately promotes Pan-Africanism and works to organize African People all around the world.
As an artist Rafiki is best known for his innovations in three dimensional murals and combining traditional mural painting techniques with graffiti writing. His works on canvas are stylistically surreal but his content unapologetically depicts African life and culture. He founded two performing arts ensembles, New World Poets as a student in 1974, and Sensory Perceptions (1996) which featured poetry, short stories, music, acting, dancing and dynamic audience interactions.
He served as the resident artist for the DC Department of Recreation and Parks and the Pamberi Steel Orchestra in Trinidad and Tobago. He was and is the Artistic director for the Emancipation Mural Monument Project of the Caribbean Historical Society of Trinidad and Tobago.
Rafiki is currently a member of the Central Committee of the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party (A-APRP), an organizer for the African Party for Independence of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC). In addition, he is the AAPRP representative on the Black Alliance for Peace, Coordinating Committee, the founding Co-Chairperson of the Maryland Council of Elders and Director of the Perry School Art Center in Washington, DC
