#melafrique

[videoviewsca]

Music, Community and Beyond with Melafrique | Exclusive Interview With ...

[youtubeviewusa]

Music, Community and Beyond with Melafrique | Exclusive Interview With ...

[youtubesoro]

Music, Community and Beyond with Melafrique | Exclusive Interview With ...

[laresearchette]

Tuesday, March 07, 2023 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES? THAT’S MY JAM (City TV) 10:00pm

WHAT IS NOT PREMIERING IN CANADA TONIGHT BLOOD & MONEY (Premiering on March 10 on CNBC at 12:00am) HOUSES WITH HISTORY (TBD - HGTV Canada)

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

CBC GEM CBC ARTS PRESENTS: FOLLOWING FOLK THE CONDUCTOR ROAD TO THE JUNOS: MELAFRIQUE ROAD TO THE JUNOS: SAINT AND THE FULL 100 BAND

NETFLIX CANADA GOOD WILL HUNTING

CURLING (TSN/TSN4) 9:00am: 2023 Tim Hortons Brier: Pool Play (TSN/TSN4) 2:00pm: 2023 Tim Hortons Brier: Pool Play (TSN/TSN3) 7:00pm: 2023 Tim Hortons Brier: Pool Play

MLB BASEBALL  (SN) 1:00pm: Jays vs. Pirates

NHL HOCKEY   (SN) 7:00pm: Flyers vs. Lightning (TSN2) 7:00pm: Hurricanes vs. Habs (TSN4) 7:00pm: Leafs vs. Devils (SNWest) 8:00pm: Flames vs. Wild (SN1) 9:00pm: Sharks vs. Avalanche (TSN2) 10:30pm: Habs vs. Sharks

NBA BASKETBALL (TSN5) 7:30pm: 76ers vs. Timberwolves (TSN4/TSN5) 10:00pm: Grizzlies vs. Lakers

CHUCK AND THE FIRST PEOPLES' KITCHEN (APTN) 7:30pm: Mattagami First Nation, ON. In Mattagami, Chuck meets Betty Naveau, a community member who shares knowledge and traditions with the younger generation; they take a trip to the woods to harvest medicinal plants and visit a hatchery that preserves the lake's fish population.

22 MINUTES (CBC) 8:00pm: The Tik Tok dance party’s over for Canada’s political leaders on an all-new episode of 22 Minutes.

HUDSON & REX (City TV) 8:00pm: When a starlet is killed onstage, Rex takes on a starring role while Charlie goes behind the scenes.

MARY MAKES IT EASY (CTV Life) 8:00pm: Mary focuses on fast flavor.

KARENA AND KASEY'S FOREIGN FLAVOURS (APTN) 8:00pm: Karena and Kasey head to Sri Lanka to discover their cuisine; they learn that Sri Lankan tea is famous and can be incorporated into cooking.

SON OF A CRITCH (CBC) 8:30pm:  Mark and Ritche pretend to be Protestant to fit in with a cool group of kids from another school. Meanwhile, Pop meets up with an old flame at a retirement home.

WORKIN' MOMS (CBC) 9:00pm:  The gang's surprise for Val is derailed when she runs into her ex. In the chaos, Sloane sees a new side of Paul, Anne puts Alice in the hot seat, and Kate goes above and beyond for her client.

CRISIS (Starz Canada) 9:00pm:  A drug trafficker organizes a smuggling operation while a recovering addict seeks the truth behind her son's disappearance.

CASUAL (CBC) 9:30pm:  Valerie breaks Alex’s rules of casual sex. Alex is interviewed about his dating site. Laura makes a move on her teacher Michael.

SHELVED (CTV) 9:30pm (SERIES PREMIERE):  Replacement computers arrive for the Jameson branch of the Metropolitan Public Library and Branch Head Wendy Yarmouth discovers they are hand-me-downs; Howard Tutt arrives at Jameson Library and finds it falls far below his expectations.

MEAN MUMS (APTN) 9:30pm (SEASON PREMIERE): It's a new year at Kate Sheppard Primary and it's school picture day; unfortunately, Jess sends her son to school with blue hair thinking that it's crazy hair day; she must use her mum superpowers to save the day.

WBC BASEBALL (SN) 11:00pm: Cuba vs. Netherlands

[yegarts]

“I Am YEG Arts” Series: Titilope Sonuga

Titilope-Sonuga, photo by Kosol Onwudinjor.

Live performance is where her magic is—where the call and response with her audience comes alive.

But live performance is just the tip of her artistic brilliance. She’s the author of three award-winning collections of poetry, has written three plays, released two spoken-word albums, scripted advertising campaigns for global brands, and—oh yeah—is the ninth Poet Laureate for the City of Edmonton. Her work, both written and spoken, grasps for moments of tenderness and persistent joy at the intersection of blackness and womanhood. And her hope for all artists is to dream freely and approach one’s work with courage. Writer, performer, and Poet Laureate—this week’s “I Am YEg Arts” story belongs to Titilope Sonuga.

Tell us about your connection to Edmonton and how it has influenced your path.

My family immigrated to Edmonton when I was a teenager, and it is where we have called home for over 20 years. I’ve worked in the city as an engineer and as an artist, and both journeys allowed me to be connected to the art of building something new here. Edmonton allows for that—the ability to find a place to contribute to the vibrant life here. Much of my work as an artist has been made possible by the way Edmonton has empowered me.

What has your first year as Poet Laureate taught you about yourself and our city?

My first year has reinforced what I’ve always known to be true: that there is a hunger for art in the city and a real desire to support and empower artists. I’ve had to embrace the duality of the great possibilities of the role and the realities of emerging from (and, in many ways, still be within) a world-changing, challenging couple of years. I know that people need art more than ever now, and it is an honour to be in this role at this particular time.

What do you hope to accomplish in your second year, both personally and professionally?

I’m hopeful for more opportunities to create and showcase work that reflects life in the city, to expand on artistic collaborations that were established in my first year. It would be a great accomplishment for me to make poetry feel accessible and welcoming to people who would not otherwise feel connected to the arts.

What drew you to playwrighting, and what about it suits your strengths/sensibilities as a storyteller?

Playwrighting is a new skill that I am building and sits within my intention to create work that is as expansive as possible. It is an extension of my creative sensibilities—an attempt to tell simple stories through the heightened language of poetry. It allows me to stretch a little beyond the shorter form into something with more room to travel.

Tell us a bit about your upcoming, June 18th, “Up on the Square” performance with Melafrique and why performing live resonates with you.

I often say that live performance is where my magic is. I love it with all my heart. The call and response with an audience, the real-time experience of the work, it’s really where art gets to sparkle. It is always an honour to work with Melafrique, they are extremely talented and bring another dimension to the live performance.

What does community mean to you, and where do you find it?

Community for me is about a sense of place, safety, and belonging. The effects of being held in deep care by community reverberates into all parts of one’s life. I have the privilege of finding strong community in many places—in my artistic life, in my family life and friendships, in Edmonton, and in my home country of Nigeria. It feels like an abundance of care to be able to connect in so many different ways.

Tell us about the role funding has played in your career and the doors it opens for artists.

Funding is the bridge between an idea and reality. In my career, the right funding at the right time has been instrumental in pushing my work forward and setting me up for the next level of my progression. Being supported financially has allowed me to dream more freely and to approach my work with courage. That kind of freedom opens doors creatively, which in turn makes way for the art to move through the world with the urgency it deserves.

What’s one piece of advice you wish you’d had when starting out? And what’s something you knew instinctively that’s still serving you?

I wish I had known that the only rules that really exist are the ones you make as an artist, that the work is expansive and to trust that deeply. I wish that I had known to simply move in the direction of what brought me joy, even if that came with a bit of fear. What I know instinctively is that vulnerability is power, and the truth does not fail.

Who’s someone inspiring you right now?

It has been really inspiring to watch Medgine Mathurin’s journey, not just as a gifted artist, but as a patient advocate and a living example of what it means to create from a place of deep vulnerability, truth, and courage. I’m constantly learning from her life and work. It feels like a real blessing to bear witness.

What makes you hopeful these days?

My children, their innocence, their joy. They bring a lot of simplicity and hope into my daily life.

Want more YEG Arts Stories? We’ll be sharing them here all year and on social media using the hashtag #IamYegArts. Follow along! Click here to learn more about Titilope Sonuga, and here for more info about her June 18 performance with Melafrique at UP on the Square.

Titilope-Sonuga, photo by Kosol Onwudinjor.

About Titilope Sonuga

Titilope Sonuga is a poet and performer whose work grasps for moments of tenderness and persistent joy at the intersection of blackness and womanhood. She is the author of three award-winning collections of poetry, Down to Earth (2011), Abscess (2014), and This Is How We Disappear (2019) and has released two spoken-word albums, Mother Tongue (2011) and Swim (2019). Titilope has written three plays: The Six, an intergenerational exploration of womanhood; Naked, a one-woman play; and Ada The Country, a musical. She has scripted advertising campaigns for global brands and was an actor on the hit television series Gidi Up, which aired across Africa. She is the 9th Poet Laureate of the City of Edmonton.

[yegarts]

“I Am YEG Arts” Series: : Erin DiLoreto, Executive Producer of the Silver Skate Festival

Edmonton’s winter story has many chapters, but few are as well-written and loved as the one belonging to the Silver Skate Festival. What began as a small skating event rooted in Dutch winter traditions has blossomed into an all-embracing celebration of winter sport, art, music, and fun. Heralded as Edmonton’s longest-running winter festival, Silver Skate has been celebrating winter’s magic in Hawrelak Park for over 30 years. At the helm of it all? Executive Producer Erin DiLoreto. It’s a role she’s honoured to have, in a city she’s inspired to celebrate. Though the team’s year-long efforts culminate in a 10-day festival, the benefits DiLoreto sees are much further reaching: families creating life-long traditions, organizations working together, and the rewards of spreading joy throughout the community. This week’s “I Am Yeg Arts” story belongs to Erin DiLoreto.

Tell us about your connection to Edmonton and what keeps you working and living here.

In 1998 my husband, Steve, was offered a position with Levi Strauss in Edmonton, Alberta, and we moved here from Hamilton, Ontario. We have been calling Alberta home ever since. I remember Levi’s sending us out to scope out our new city that summer. We happened to stumble across our first Fringe Festival that trip coincidently. I fell in love with Edmonton that summer and have been calling it home ever since.

What was it about the arts that made you feel it could be your community?

Our Edmonton arts community is so incredible, welcoming, and constantly growing. I am blessed to be a part of this community, to have the opportunity to celebrate and support it. I am impressed at how resilient our industry is—this past year has shown me how hard our arts community has worked to share our art and our stories. I see the arts and arts organizations constantly trying to make connections to share artistic works, knowledge, and learn from each other. I am very thankful for the relationships that I have fostered within our arts community, and I see great collaborations happening and continuing to happen.

Tell us about your role with Silver Skate and how you became involved.

I am the Executive Producer of the Silver Skate Festival. I got involved with the organization in 2006 when then Artistic Director and friend Ritchie Velthuis asked me to come on board and assist with a small administration contract. The rest is history, and I am honoured to be sharing Edmonton’s Winter Story ever since.

Photo: Marc J. Chalifoux Photography

What makes the Silver Skate Festival special to you and the city?

I love telling our Winter Story, and the Silver Skate Festival has given me an incredible opportunity to highlight just a small part of our incredible artistic ecosystem. It has been interesting to watch the lens change around winter artistic expression, and I am constantly amazed at what is being created in the city.

Tell us a little about this year’s musical programming and what festival-goers can do to support the artists they’ll be hearing.

The Silver Skate Festival loves to highlight our local music scene. We are still in the process of firming up our musical programming for 2022 but will be welcoming a wide variety of musical acts this year and can confirm at this time a few of our performers, such as Phyllis Sinclair, Melafrique, Misty Mountain Boys, D’orjay the Singing Shaman, F&M, PostScript, Gajdo and Josephine VanLier, to name a few. We are still building out this schedule.

The Silver Skate Festival is also excited to be partnering with River Valley Parks to create an Edmonton Playlist of music, which will be played in Hawrelak Park, Victoria Oval, and Rundle Park when public skating is open in February. The best way to support our local musicians is to buy their music and share it so more people can hear some of the incredible music that is being created here.

Silver Skate is about embracing the season and all the experiences that winter provides. How do you embrace winter in Edmonton?

I dress for it! That is the key—there is no such thing as severe weather, just bad dress. If you dress for it, you can embrace the plethora of incredible winter activities available outside your door. My list is endless: winter walks, winter festivals, and if time allows I do enjoy snow carving but am in no way a professional. I keep telling myself that this is the year I am going to fill a snow form out at the house and carve it.

Photo: Marc J. Chalifoux Photography

When you think YEG arts, what are the first three things, people, or places that come to mind?

Talk about a loaded question. YEG Arts is as diverse as this Northern Community we call home. I have been a part of this community going on two decades, and the one constant for me is how incredibly talented our city is. Daily I learn about new-to-me artists and creators producing incredible pieces of work through their artistic practice, be it visual, fibre, dance, acting, street performing, installation work, the list could go on…. I could not possibly break it down to three things.

That said, one of the most amazing things about the city of Edmonton is the support that we receive from our local business community. As a free event, community partnerships are extremely important for the success and health of the organization. The Silver Skate Festival has been blessed with some very long-standing partnerships that are going on 30+ years and are so thankful for partners such as NexGen Graffix and the late Sid Braaksma of Northgate Industries Ltd., who recognize how truly beautiful it is to build and support community. This is just another piece of what makes YEG so grand!

Describe your perfect day in Edmonton. How do you spend it?

A perfect winter day in Edmonton… stopping for a locally roasted coffee (such options) and a stroll in Hawrelak Park and the river valley. Hawrelak Park is a personal favourite of mine, and you can find me in there almost daily. We are so fortunate to have our incredible river valley.

What excites you most about the YEG arts scene right now?

What does not excite me about the YEG arts scene right now! It is incredible. As mentioned previously, I have been involved within the YEG arts scene going on almost two decades, and every day I learn about another great local artist or group doing incredible work. Be it through independent artistic expression, arts organizations sharing their work, creating events, education, or building relationships with marginalized artists and arts groups to help them find their voice and share their stories through artistic expression. This is what excites me about Edmonton DAILY!!

Want more YEG Arts Stories? We’ll be sharing them here all year and on social media using the hashtag #IamYegArts. Follow along! Click here to learn more about this year’s Silver Skate Festival in Hawrelak Park, February 11–21.

Photo: Marc J. Chalifoux Photography

About Erin DiLoreto

Erin DiLoreto is the Executive Producer of the Silver Skate Festival, Edmonton’s oldest and largest running Winter Festival, held in February at Hawrelak Park in the Edmonton River Valley. She is thrilled to be able to tell Edmonton’s Winter Story showcasing the incredible arts, culture, heritage, culinary, recreational, and sporting opportunities that this incredible “WINTER” city has to offer. She has been involved in the Edmonton and Area Arts Community going on 20 years and is looking forward to many more years of meeting incredible artists and showcasing how amazing Edmonton is.