Ajamu Mutima

Ajamu Mutima (formerly known as Malcolm Meeks), 67, died on October 13, 2019 in Neptune Beach, Florida .Ajamu was born on August 21,1952 in Daytona Beach, Florida to Stimon L. Meeks and Ruth Butler Meeks.

He graduated among the top students at Daytona Beach’s Mainland High School and due to his excellent academic record, he was nationally sought after by many colleges and universities. He subsequently signed with the University of Florida Basketball Team and was one of the first Black players to play on the team.

Sure, he could play basketball but his love for the humanities and art was always an undercurrent. In 1980, Ajamu founded The Acrosstown Repertory Theatre (ART) as a grassroots community theater in the old Star Garage. This was a part of a consortium called the Neighborhood Arts Coalition, which included the Laverne Porter dancers. Ajamu agreed to share the nascent theater with another troupe called Theaterworks— at first, alternating productions, then merging— and The Acrosstown Repertory Theatre was born. From the beginning, ART was dedicated to cross-cultural theater, producing classic, avant-garde, and sometimes original material. The theatre is still operating today.

All along the way, Ajamu was continually honing his musical skills and soon became recognized for the healing nature of his music. His songs were powerful and touched the hearts of so many. As a consequence, in 1990 he was asked to work with UF Shands Arts and Medicine Program in Gainesville, Florida as a musical therapist and resident artist.For the past 18 years, he has been a resident artist with Art with a Heart at the Wolfson's Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. While there, he touched the lives of more than 6,000 children.

In 1994, he became intricately involved with The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens annual Arts4All Florida program (formerly VSA Festival), a statewide organization that provides opportunities in the arts for individuals with disabilities. Over the course of four days, nearly 1,800 children, 700 teachers and chaperones, and 1,200 volunteers fill the Museum to engage in art viewing in the galleries, movement, music, and art-making activities throughout the entire Museum. Ajamu’s room was a favorite filled with music and children.

Ajamu was at home playing and performing for celebrities like Civil Rights Activist, Stetson Kennedy and English primatologist and anthropologist, Jane Goodall. One song was all it took for Ngala Wildlife Preserve in Naples, Florida to hire him to be a featured artists. This very exclusive preserve hosts meetings and dinners among roaming exotic animals for Banking and Financial CEOs. Ajamu was one of their most requested performers.

For a period of time, Ajamu worked with Hospice of NE Florida. He played in 600 individual rooms for terminally ill people. He was later commissioned to write a theme song for the organization.

Ajamu became very well known as a performing artist, poet, musician and storyteller.His performances have been described as “healing” and “spiritual”… “transcending the barriers of race, gender, age and class.” His poetic songs were uniquely interwoven expressing a love of life while addressing cultural and environmental issues. His stories “Palm Tree” and “Healing Hands” have been told internationally by many storytellers.

He is survived by his long time partner Linda Altman, his mother, Ruth Butler Meeks, his three children Malcolm, Adio and Kamaria, his sisters Cheryl and Antionette Meeks, his brother Alphonso Meeks, and was predeceased by his father, Stimon.

A gathering Celebrating Life and Love will be held in honor of Ajamu at Karpeles Manuscript Library and Museum, 101 1st Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32206 on November 30, 2019 from 1-3 PM. Please share this announcement with friends that may have known Ajamu.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Art with a Heart in Healthcare, 841 Prudential Drive, Suite 150, Jacksonville, Fl. 32207 or www.artwithaheart.info.