Djata: Conversations of the Manden by Aly Keita
featuring opening act, Unfold by Reequal Smith
“To create my piece, I drew inspiration from the Epic of Soundjata, one of the most significant foundational stories from 13th-century African oral tradition. It features Soundjata Keita, whose exploits have been transmitted through song and kora music played by lyrical poets from West Africa, known as griots. I was especially interested in the part of the legend known as “The Awakening of the Lion” to address themes of oppression, courage, metamorphosis, passage and liberation, all explored through rhythm, sound and movement.”
– Aly Keita
“The burden of misty dreams. An assortment of feelings. Of Loss & Love. A deep rooted nostalgia of home in every crevice of being manifested by the full existence and experience of body to land. Land connecting to my soles of souls. Inspired by the sweet infectious Ghanaian Blues, this performance is fused with the essence of Afro Cuban movement, embodied with a fusion of jazz, African and funk styles. Rooted with the vibrancy of old tropical Caribbean motion, stemming from euphoric connection in the swish in our hips and the fluidity in our strides.”
– Reequal Smith
Also check out:
African Dance Workshop with Aly Keita
Thursday, May 4th at 6:30PM
House of Eights Dance Studio
Coming this Summer!
Mali Obomsawin is an award-winning bassist, songwriter and composer from Abenaki First Nation at Odanak. With an expansive background in American roots, rock, and jazz, Obomsawin carries several music traditions. Mali’s debut album Sweet Tooth has received international acclaim since its release, including rave reviews and “best of 2022” placement in The Guardian, JazzTimes, and NPR.
We're Hiring a Community Arts Coordinator!
Are you interested in learning about the arts sector and what makes an arts festival tick? Are you interested in working with a close-knit team that is dedicated to showcasing and uplifting the work of Indigenous artists and artists of colour? Come work with us at Prismatic!
The Details:
Start date – week of May 22nd, 2023
Duration – 15 weeks (with possible extension)
Commitment – 35 hours a week
Compensation – $16.50 an hour
Where – in person at Prismatic office (possible work from home flexibility)
Application deadline: Wednesday, May 10, 2023
We are looking for applicants who can:
– Thrive while communicating in a variety of ways – in person, over email, on the phone, and on social media
– Talk about Prismatic! – sharing our message and our excitement about the incredible events that will take place during the festival with audiences, partners, artists, and supporters
– Conduct outreach to a variety of local communities, businesses, organizations, schools, and individuals in order to promote Prismatic 2023 events
– Assist with festival preparation as part of a supportive and adaptive team, working both independently and with guidance and collaboration
This job opportunity is funded by Canada Summer Jobs and, therefore applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 30 and legally entitled to work in Canada (a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada) – please note that International Students are not eligible.
For more information about eligibility or to apply, email us at info@prismaticfestival.com!
Prismatic encourages applications from all people, prioritizing those who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour), LGBTQIA2S+, and/or disabled (feel free to self-identify in your application if you wish). We encourage applicants to let us know their accessibility requirements, so that we can work with you to best accommodate your needs.
