Inner Disarmament: Hip Hop Sound Bath & Guest Lecture

Address

William Doo Auditorium, New College at 45 Willcocks Street

Dates

Event start date : 02/26/2025

Event end date : 02/26/2025

Event start time : 10:00 AM

Event end time : 1:00 PM

Event Description

Inner Disarmament: Hip Hop Sound Bath & Guest Lecture 


Guided Meditation. Crystal Bowl Soundbath. LoFi Hip Hop.


Join us on Wednesday, February 26 for an immersive experience of musical meditation goodness with Born I (a.k.a Ofosu Jones-Quartey), a meditation teacher, hip-hop artist and author from the Washington DC area. Performing under the name Born I, his music and meditation experiences are a fusion of guided meditation, soundbath and lyricism.

This is a unique opportunity to direct some kindness and compassion to yourself while exploring the potential for inner compassion to inform our approach to an increasingly armed and conflicted world in crisis. Through this exploration, we will consider how we can have hope and belonging amidst challenge and crisis.

No prior experience necessary. You Are Enough.

Event Details:

Wednesday, February 26, 2025
10 am - 1 pm
William Doo Auditorium, New College, University of Toronto — 45 Willcocks Street, Toronto

Free. No registration required. Seating is first come-first serve. Open to all U of T students, faculty and staff

Meet Born I a.k.a Ofosu Jones-Quartey

Ofosu Jones-Quartey, a meditation teacher, author, and musician hailing from the Washington DC area brings over 17 years of experience in sharing mindfulness, meditation and self-compassion practices with the world. Holding a bachelor’s degree from American University and certified by the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program, Ofosu is a graduate of the Teleos Coaching Institute and is the male voice on the Balance meditation app, reaching over 10 million subscribers.

Ofosu leads meditation classes and retreats nationwide, having taught and led retreats at the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, The Insight Meditation Society, Spirit Rock, Brooklyn Zen Center, Cleveland Insight, Inward Bound Mindfulness and more. Ofosu has also worked with various organizations and schools, including co-writing a mindfulness-based suicide prevention curriculum for teenagers.

As an accomplished hip hop artist under the name “Born I,” Ofosu released the mindfulness-themed album “In This Moment” in 2021, earning a nomination for Best Rap Album at the Wammies. His unique fusion of hip hop and meditation has garnered attention, with performances at prestigious venues like the Kennedy Center. In 2023, Born I embarked on a music and meditation tour with the monks and nuns of Plum Village Monastery, coinciding with the release of his most recent Album “AMIDA”, a spiritual, Lo-Fi Hip Hop album exploring life, death and his Buddhist faith. His live events are considered a hip-hop and meditation experience and he is a member of the DC Chapter of the Recording Academy.

Beyond music, Ofosu is an author, releasing his self-published children’s book “You Are Enough” in 2020 and “Love Your Amazing Self” via Storey Publishing in 2022. His holistic approach extends to workshops, integrating music and mindfulness for young audiences. With an upcoming double album based on “Love Your Amazing Self” and a Grammy Museum performance, Ofosu’s diverse creative outlets emphasize self-compassion and mindfulness.

Residing in Rockville, Maryland, with his wife and four children, Ofosu continues to use creativity to guide individuals towards presence, stress reduction, and cultivating love and compassion for themselves and the world.