Kande Mbeu Poetry Series and Open Mic
Kande Mbeu Poetry Series and Open Mic
Where: Poetry Jazz Cafe, 224 Augusta Ave, Kensington Market
When: Wednesday, July 23 2014
Showtime: 7:30pm open mic sign up starts at 7pm!
$5-10 sliding scale, and nobody turned away for lack of funds
Kande Mbeu means throw the seed, an imperative to farm, to grow something, to feed our people, to raise revolutionary consciousness.
Join us at our monthly night of Kande Mbeu featuring amazing spoken word poetry and storytelling backed by talented musicians. All performers featured artists and open mic participants alike will have the opportunity to perform your poetry with the backing of our Mbira band.
So come check out our featured performers, and sign up for the open mic!
With an emphasis on Afrikan/Black political thought, we are producing this poetry series as a forum in which people can explore through the spoken word the various aspects of our lives; the personal and the political, the private and the public, the practical and the theoretical. Whether you come to question, critique, express, explore, expose, to share or think or feel aloud, we welcome you to share your words and your thoughts, to throw a seed of inspiration or reflection, or for action.
We are thrilled to welcome our featured artist this month:
Progress
There are too few artists left who seek to re-connect with hip-hops true roots of struggle and resistance, and Progress is one of those artists. As an aspiring revolutionary, he is committed to the total liberation of oppressed peoples across the Globe. Progress is one seventh of the Toronto super group/movement Freedom Writers. Following the release of their first official single Wake up, the brand new Progress composition As I Reflect is sure to continue the Freedom Writers onslaught of top-notch solo and group content currently flooding the city. In As I Reflect, Progress mixes raw social commentary with clever world play, helping to usher in a new renaissance of so-called conscious Hip Hop @ProgressRedPill
About Kande Mbeu
We are two artists, comrades, brothers, Afrikans who love creating, performing, gardening, and farming together. Our shared history and heritage of pan-Afrikan liberation struggle and community building guides our approach to our work as artists, activists, organizers, and farmers.
Our performances mix Chimurenga music, traditional Afrikan songs and stories, and spoken word poetry.
We perform on streets, stages, and many other places. We design and facilitate mbira, storytelling, and poetry workshops. We plant food, herb, and flower gardens. We do yard work and landscaping. After we pay for rent, food and other responsibilities, much of our time and energy goes into several organizations or projects for self-sufficiency in Afrikan communities, including Ubuntu Learning Village in Zimbabwe.
Moyo Rainos Mutamba is a seasoned storyteller, Mbira player and instructor, gardener, community activist, speaker, workshop facilitator, and researcher. Moyo has facilitated workshops, guest lectured, and worked in community to address a wide range of social justice issues. He has told stories in schools, community centres, festivals, healing circles, and around fires. Moyo performs Mbira music solo and with his Mbira band Nhapitapi. He has performed at major events and festivals in Canada, including Nhemamusasa North in Victoria and Afro-fest in Toronto. Moyo has been farming all his life, and has many years experience in landscaping work. He is an expert farmer, gardener, and landscaper. Kande Mbeu is a unifying artistic platform that brings all of Moyo's work, experiences, and skills together.
Andrew Abraham is a spoken word artist, musician, and activist, among other things. He was introduced to slam poetry in 2007 by members of the Word Iz Bond spoken word artists' collective. Soon thereafter he slammed his way toward becoming a member of the 2007 and 2008 Halifax Slam Teams that won back-to-back national slam championships. He has featured at the Atlantic Jazz Festival, Words of a Poet in Ottawa, the When Brothers Speak spoken word concert in Toronto, and other places. Andrew's work often reflects ongoing experiences of our collective legacy and struggle for the wellbeing of Afrikans and oppressed people. Andrew also has many years experience doing general labour, yard work, architectural demolition, and landscaping work. Kande Mbeu intends to bring it all together.
Guest Guitarist/Percussionist: Tich Maredza
Swooping down from the vast Zimbabwean plains, Tichaona Daniel Maredza, a guitar in one hand, a drum in the other, and an mbira in his teeth, arrived in Toronto in 2008. Singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, he quickly formed a group in December 2009. The Tich Maredza Band hit the circuit hard, veterans in a matter of months. Tich's music, while rooted in Zimbabwean traditional styles, has a contemporary flair with vital drive and melodic intelligence.
We hope to see you there! For more information, to be a feature performer, to get in on the open mic, or with suggestions for or questions about the series
cell:416 826 1252
