Black Artistic Expressions in BC Event Series
byBlack Artistic Expressions in BC is a four-part virtual series about joy and resilience, fun, and activism that bears witness to what it means to be Black in BC. This community-university collaboration was developed in partnership between local Black artists and IBPOC Connections: Staff and Faculty and the Centre for Culture, Identity and Education at the University of British Columbia.
Black Artistic Expressions in BC
- Where: Watch recordings and/or sign up here
- When: Third Wednesday of the month at 4:30pm (ends Wednesday December 16, 2020 at 5:30pm)
Join each month for a celebration of Black lives, Black culture and activism, and Black musical and poetic expression. Each event is hosted by Ndidi Cascade and will feature a live performance followed by a moderated Q&A with the artist.
Lineup
September 16, 2020: Marcus Mosely (watch recording)
Marcus is a member of the Entertainment Hall of Fame, The Sojourners (singing trio), and has sung throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the South Pacific, Australia and the Middle East. Originally from Ralls, Texas, Marcus grew up immersed in the music and culture of the Gospel tradition. He moved to Vancouver in 1985 and became a Canadian citizen in 2008. In 2016, he was inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame.
October 21, 2020: Tonye Aganaba (sign up)
Tonye Aganaba is a multidisciplinary artist, musician, and arts facilitator residing on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Musqueam & Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Their new album ‘Something Comfortable’ is an intentional and devotional endeavour inspired by their battle with Multiple Sclerosis. The album serves as the score to ‘AfroScience’ an immersive performance and workshop series fusing live music, dance, visual art/digital media and storytelling to stimulate conversation and action around identity, public health, and expression.
November 18, 2020: Ndidi Cascade & Shad (sign up)
This event will feature a performance by host Ndidi Cascade, followed by a Q&A with Shad.
Ndidi Cascade, who is of Nigerian-Italian-Irish-Canadian heritage, is a Vancouver born and based hip hop vocalist. She is also a songwriter, recording artist, educator and program facilitator. Ndidi has showcased her music across North America and internationally– from classrooms to stadiums, and her music has been featured on Much Music and MTV Canada. She has shared the stage with talents such as Wu-Tang Clan, Femi Kuti, Digable Planets, The Mad Professor, De La Soul, K-OS and K’naan.
Juno Award-winning rapper, Shad, is considered a leading voice in Canadian rap. With his six studio albums–four of which have been shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize–Shad has developed a reputation for skillfully blending pop craftsmanship with serious subject matter, from the personal to the political and philosophical. Shad has also lent his voice to the industry in other ways – as the host of CBC Radio’s “q” and as current host of Netflix’s Peabody Award-winning docuseries Hip Hop Evolution.
December 16, 2020: Dawn Pemberton (sign up)
Vibrant, genuine and soulful, Dawn has deep musical roots that take her powerful voice from gospel and soul to jazz, funk and world music. She has become a staple of the Vancouver music scene and can often be found “tearin’” it up as a vocalist, pianist, teacher, adjudicator, choir director and “go to girl” for live performances and studio sessions. Her debut solo album, Say Somethin’, released on DoRight! Music won Best Urban Recording at the 2015 Western Canadian Music Awards and has received praise from around the globe forecasting her as “…the new queen of Canadian soul.”
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