Fanta Ballo

Background

About Fanta Ballo

Fanta Ballo is a poet, artist, and activist from Harlem, New York. At the early age of 19, she completed her Bachelor’s in Economics from University of Albany after receiving her associates degree from Bard College at Simon’s Rock where she was the commencement speaker. Her passion for poetry led her to perform at events ranging from protests and rallies to school auditoriums, for organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety, Words on White, New Aged Black Panthers, 826NYC, UAlbany Student Association and A BroaderWay, and at venues like NYC’S Playstation Theatre and DC’s Kennedy Center. She has since collaborated with artists like Idina Menzel, Jeanine Tesori, Shihan Van Clief, Ayodele Casel and champions other young artists with her work. She performed at the Global Citizens Festival opening for Shawn Mendez, at a Juneteenth event hosted by the NYC Mayor and his wife, at a youth mental health conference for UNICEF, at the Earthshot Prize Summit for Bloomberg Philanthropies and other high profile events. awarded the first ever Wonder Grant from the Shawn Foundation and she’s using that grant to fund her debut poetry collection “For All The Things I Never Got To Say”. which is on sale now at FantaBallo.com.