Date: 05.02.2022
Time: 19:30 - 20:00
Location: Youtube
Toronto, Canada
You can watch Literature Live Around the World on YouTube.
Speaking Poetry from the Ashes
Presentert av Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA)
Three rising star Canadian artists, Kelisha Daley, Shahaddah Jack and Martin Gomes, speak poetry to power in this raw and inspiring spoken word presentation, hosted live by Desiree Mckenzie. Performers are mentees of the JAYU iAM Programme: a youth-led arts and social justice mentorship for equity-seeking youth in Canada aged 12–26. Desiree Mckenzie is an award-winning performer and arts educator, who in 2019 earned the title of Canadian Festival of Spoken Word National Champion. Presented in partnership with JAYU and Kuumba: Toronto’s largest Black Futures Month celebration, supported by TD Ready Commitment and the Government of Canada.
Local host: Desiree Mckenzie
Kelisha Daley is adamant that life is romantic, even in its mundane-ness. At the age of 26, Kelisha is an emerging multidisciplinary artist, actor, writer, designer and poet. Kelisha graduated Humber College in 2020 where she received theatrical training in performative arts. Her film projects include The Bliss of Falling, produced with The And, Stages Company in 2020; self-produced film Where There Is Room to Bloom; The Promotion (directed by Mike Regis) and Mismatch (directed by Tasha Gray) as an actor; and her upcoming self-produced project, to mad women everywhere, as part of FILM POV’s 2021 en/Vision Lab.
Shahaddah Jack is a 17-year-old writer, poet, believer in self-evolution and student activist, who was born and raised in Toronto with a diverse cultural background that grounds her in her poetry and life. She uses the realities of her identity, including being a female and a person of colour, to create stories of art that connect with others and are used to teach one of her greatest beliefs in life, that your pain is your strength. From as early as the tender age of 12 she's been featured in many showcases including, TDSBcreates, numerous RISE events and many more.
Martin Gomes recently obtained a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts at York University where he studied music. He is the ringleader of his Band "JuiceBox" with whom he won the TIFF: Battle of the Scores competition in 2020. Beatboxer, musician, chorister, model, writer, and poet, he got hella characteristics to choose from. His goal is to develop a space where he and his homies can survive, thrive and live their lives, at their pace.
Desiree Mckenzie is an award-winning poet, photographer and Program Coordinator for JAYU from Toronto. Her poetry has been featured in CBC’s Poetic License series, VIBE Arts NExT Exhibit and Clearco Financials’ International Women’s Day Campaign. In 2020 she was awarded the JAYU iAM Arts for Human Rights Award recognizing creatives doing exceptional work where the arts and human rights intersect. Her newfound passion for photography has been featured in projects for The Bentway and ResilienTOgether. In March 2021 she released her EP of spoken word, Wet Hair, now available on streaming platforms.