When Brooklyn hip-hop artist Talib Kweli Greene closed Nkiru Bookstore in 2002, it truly felt like the end of an era.
Founded by Leothy Miller Owens in 1976, the beloved bookstore was purchased by Talib Kweli and Mos Def in 1998 through a major fundraising effort. It later operated as the Nkiru Center for Education and Culture, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting literacy and multicultural awareness among people of color. Its final location was at 732 Washington Ave. in Fort Greene.
During its heyday and under Talib Kweli and Mos Def’s ownership, Nkiru had become more than a bookstore. It was a gathering place for bibliophiles, Black intellectuals, community organizers and poets who regularly filled the space for readings and poetry slams.
But time, as it often does, brought change. Many of its longtime patrons grew older and moved on, while rapid gentrification transformed the surrounding neighborhood. The digital revolution was also reshaping how people consumed literature, as online reading and retail increasingly challenged traditional bookstores. Greene, meanwhile, was raising two young children of his own.
After 34 years since its founding and a decade under Greene's ownership, Nkiru closed the doors of its physical location on Washington Avenue, marking the end of a cherished Brooklyn institution.
But on Sunday, Nov. 1, at Erzulie Care in Bed-Stuy, a new chapter began, proving seeds that are buried eventually bear fruit.
Greene's daughter, Diani Eshe Greene, now 27, is breathing new life into the family legacy with the re-introduction of Nkiru as an online bookstore.
The celebration featured tables overflowing with works by Black authors, including Bolu Babalola's "Honey and Spice," Mikki Kendall's "Hood Feminism," Tamik Hall's "Black Mixcellence," Alice Walker's "The Color Purple" and MK Asante's "Buck."
For Diani, who describes herself as an artist who has finally decided to take event curation seriously, the event represented both a personal milestone and an opportunity to carry forward the work of the generations before her.
“I feel extremely fulfilled to be able to put this together and continue the legacy of my dad, my grandmother and Leothy Miller,” Diani said.
In today’s age, she said, books serve as a counterbalance to the overuse of AI.
"I think this is amazing, because people are buying the books," Diani said. “I love bringing the community together for something positive, and this is very powerful in this age.”
Talib Kweli served as the evening's DJ, while Diani took on hosting and MC duties. Speakers included A.I. Skills, Punchline, Rasheed Chappell and Jessica Care Moore. Live performances came from HRLUM, David Jame$, Wiki and Diani herself.
For Talib Kweli, watching his daughter take the reins brought a mixture of pride and nostalgia.
“I’m experiencing a mix of emotions,” Kweli said. “This event that Diani put on looks like what I used to put on but leveled up, just 2.0. My daughter made this happen. We stand on the shoulders of Leothy Miller Owens, Adalai Miller and Ms. C.J.
“I love the way Diani pays it forward. And that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
What began nearly five decades ago as a neighborhood bookstore has now found a new path forward. And while Nkiru's storefront may be gone, its mission of bringing Black literature, ideas and community together is finding a new generation of readers.
