Events / Ethnik Festival of Arts and Culture

Ethnik Festival of Arts and Culture

Presented by Ethnik Festivals Association

When

February 9 2024 – Calgary Food War 11am -2 pm
February 9 2024 – Festival Day 1 – Emerging Artists and Cultural Performers Showcase
February 10 2024 – Festival Day 2 - Main Festival Celebration

Where

TELUS Convention Centre
136 8 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2P 0K6, Calgary

About

Alberta’s Premier Black History Month Celebration

Ethnik Festival of Arts and Culture 2024 at TELUS Convention Centre

Name: Ethnik Festival of Arts and Culture
Start: 2024-02-09T11:00:00
Location: TELUS Convention Centre

February 9th & 10th

The Annual Ethnik Festival of Arts and Culture is the premier, all-inclusive flagship festival of Ethnik Festivals Association. It is part of the celebration of Black History (Excellence) Month in February each year. Members of the Afro-Canadian/ Caribbean communities come together to celebrate diversity, and inclusivity and share their vibrant cultural traditions with other communities from across Canada. Our goal is to promote leadership and inform and inspire younger generations to express genuine versions of themselves through the lens of Afro-Canadian and many other world art traditions.The 2024 edition will be a display of creative genius from artists in Calgary, other parts of Canada, and around the world to the viewing pleasure of audiences online across the globe. More so, festival participants get to win lots of consolation prizes during the festival quiz competition

February 9 2024 – Calgary Food War 11am -2 pm.Taking place at the Village Commons in East Village is our pre-festival activation. This is the official kick-off of the festival where 4 notable Calgarians will be in a cooking competition to be presided over by an International Chef. Other local artists will be performing to the delight of the audience. Limited seating is available. Single event ticket is $25

February 9 2024 – Festival Day 1 – Emerging Artists and Cultural Performers ShowcaseTaking place at the TELUS Convention Center in downtown Calgary is the new/ emerging artists’ showcase. This event will provide 20 new and emerging local artists with a platform for them to introduce their work to EFAC audiences, and artist peers. Our Emerging Artists will include artists who are newcomers to Calgary and/or are new to pursuing their careers in Calgary. The audience will also have the opportunity to enjoy performances from both local and international acts. This is from 5 pm to 10 pm. Single event ticket is $25
February 10 2024 – Festival Day 2 – Main Festival Celebration

Taking place at the TELUS Convention Center in downtown Calgary, featuring local and international talents/ acts presenting various forms of artistic and cultural presentations. The time is from 11 am – 2 pm, and 3 pm to 7 pm.

A single Festival Bulk Pack Ticket of $40 grants participants access to all the 2 days of festivities or buy a single ticket for each of the preferred event to attend at $25 each, so keep your tickets to gain access to these events. Free entrance for seniors 60 and above, children ages 12 and below.

Join us and WIN BIG. Participants will also have the opportunity of winning gift items especially our annual ICE-CREAM supply for 1 year for 2 winners, courtesy of Righteous Gelato.
Filming and Photography Notice –
Please be advised that your presence at the Ethnik Festival of Arts and Culture either as a member of the audience or performer during the filming/ taping or photography constitutes your consent to the possibility of your voice and likeness being used without compensation, in the unlimited distribution, promotion, advertising, exhibition and exploitation of the program in any and all media by any method or device known or hereafter devised, and you release Ethnik Festivals Association and its subsidiaries from any liability in connection with such usage. Thank you for your understanding.

TICKET PRICES WILL CHANGE ON THE 10TH OF JANUARY 2024! Hurry and buy yours now to take advantage of this sale!

COVID-19 PROTOCOL
All attendees to the festival including guests and performers are free to wear a mask if they choose to do so.

VENDORS TABLE

Local businesses and individuals are encouraged to showcase their goods and services during this festival. For more information about buying a table, please contact ethnikfestivals@gmail.com or info@ethnikfestivals.com

ETHNIK FESTIVAL 2024

The 2024 edition of this festival will also be live-streamed for audiences who will be joining us from other parts of the world. Kindly take note and connect to watch us live. The online link to watch is https://www.youtube.com/@ethnikfestivals

Brick N Lace

performances

February 10, 2024 6:00 pm - January 2, 2024 7:00 pm

Best of Brick N Lace

Bio

Brick & Lace are Jamaican-American dancehall/R&B (or reggae fusion) musical duo consisting of sisters Nyanda and Nailah Thorbourne.[1] [2] According to Billboard, their name reflects the tough and soft sides of femininity. Brick & Lace originally signed to the Geffen label as a trio with their third sister Tasha. Nailah and Nyanda continue to perform while Tasha works behind the scenes and co-writes songs for the group. Their first Geffen Records single “Get That Clear” and their first album Love Is Wicked were both released in 2006. Brick and Lace was signed by hip hop singer-songwriter Akon to his record label, Kon Live Distribution. They were born to a Jamaican father and an African American mother. The duo has toured internationally, including Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Their debut album, Love Is Wicked, had a limited release in various countries on 4 September 2007. The album spawned four singles, “Get That Clear (Hold Up)”, “Never, Never”, “Love Is Wicked” and “Take Me Back”. “Love Is Wicked” was listed on six different charts, including the Sverigetopplistan, the Sweden Singles Top 60, and France’s SNEP Singles Top 100. It reached number 6 in Finland. Its highest entry was number 9 in the France Singles Top 100. “Never, Never” was a hit in Finland, performing also well in Kenya, where it reached No. 14 in 2008. Brick & Lace performed in Gwen Stefani’s The Sweet Escape Tour on 24 May 2007, in Camden, New Jersey, filling in for Lady Sovereign, who failed to attend. In 2008, the after-effects of their first album hit, and the sisters went busily on many tours for the year, most notably in Europe and Africa by popular demand, and also produced a few new songs such as “Cry on Me” and “Bad to di Bone”. In the year 2009, Brick and Lace released their single called “Bad to di Bone” which became a well-known track in European and African countries. A French collaboration was even presented hence popularity. This new single was intentionally pinned out to appear on a new upcoming album, but instead was re-based on “Love is Wicked”, which was re-released for a second shot at fame and success. In July 2009, the duo penned another hit track called “Room Service”, a summer hit released from the new Love is Wicked album. Starting the year 2010 by releasing four new songs in March, the Brick and Lace Summer 2010 European Tour was soon announced straight after. An upcoming second single and music video to promote their second album was said to be imminently soon when the girls were interviewed in December 2009. They released “Bang Bang”, “Ring the Alarm”, and “Shackles” as buzz singles for their upcoming album and withdrew “Club It Up” from internet markets for future plans. Finally settled with the release of their debut album, with two international platinum singles: “Love Is Wicked” and “Bad To Di Bone”, the sisters started the last of the Love Is Wicked International Tour era by producing a final tour for the African, European and Asian fans globally.

Dr. Helen Paul

performances

February 10, 2024, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

Comedy

Bio

Helen Paul is a Nigerian comedian, singer, and actress. She is also a stand-up comedian, known as Tatafo, characterized by a voice range that makes her sound like a child. She graduated with a doctorate in Theater Arts from the University of Lagos Paul has worked and served as a freelance and full-time presenter at several media houses in Nigeria. These include Lagos Television (LTV 8), Continental Broadcasting Service (CBS), and M-Net (where she currently co-presents JARA on Africa Magic). Paul broke out as a naughty comic character on the radio program Wetin Dey on Radio Continental 102.3FM, Lagos. She was known on the program as “Tatafo”, a witty kid who addresses and lampoons societal issues in a satirical manner. She also presented programs on TVC and Naija FM 102.7. In July 2012 Paul released her debut album Welcome Party, which contains Afro-Pop songs such as “Boju Boju”, “Vernacular”, “Gbedu”, “God Forbid”, an Afro RnB song titled “Children of the World”, and “Use Calculator”, an enlightenment song about the menace of the HIV-AIDs epidemic. She subsequently released some singles, including “Take It Back”. In 2018, she released the audio and visuals of her single titled “Never Knew”, an inspiring song about her developmental years and career progress thus far. Paul opened a bridal and fabric boutique in Lagos in 2012 called Massive Fabrics and Bridals. She has since proceeded to open three other outlets of the boutique in different parts of Lagos. In 2014, she opened a film and theater academy, the Helen Paul Theater and Film Academy. It consists of a dance studio, a makeup studio, a recording studio, a rehearsal studio, a photo studio, a mainly digital library, an editing studio, and a hostel for students.

Shalli

performances

February 9, 2024 7:00 pm - January 2, 2024 8:00 pm

Pop and Island Music

Bio

The woman who would one day be known as the princess of island pop was born into a home where music and unbridled creativity were ever-present companions. The combination of her innate musical gifts and an environment where a broad array of musical styles was easily accessible helped shape Shalli into the woman she is today. Shalli it seems was destined to make her mark on the world through music. Shalli’s parents nurtured her affinity for music and by the age of 5, she was already singing for audiences in her church choir. Her father, a career musician, specialized in a variety of eclectic musical styles and her exposure to various artists and rhythms at such a young age gave her a sense of musical flexibility well beyond her years. This openness to sounds that aren’t “run of the mill” is a crucial element to the sound Shalli continues to showcase in her music to this day. It wasn’t long before Shalli’s talent took her in new directions. By age 12, she was writing poetry and by age 14 she was crafting lyrics to original songs. In her later teen years, she would perform some of these original songs with a musical group she helped to create. The budding songstress continued to hone her image and powerful on-stage presence when she stepped out on her own and went on an international tour. It was during this time that Shalli grew exponentially as a performer. However her focus as a solo act sharpened when she survived the Boxing Day Tsunami just 3 weeks into her tour. Shalli continued to perform at festivals, clubs and lounges in the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia to ever increasing acclaim. Her childhood exposure to multiple musical styles bore fruit as she realized that in spite of the language barrier between her and the audience, her music was a language of its own that allowed her to bridge the gap between herself and many different cultures. This ability to cross cultural lines is a key feature of Shalli’s music that can be found in her songs today. Shalli’s life experience is the soul of her music. With a style of creating music and lyrics that can best be described as “fearless”, Shalli’s upbringing and world travel allows her to incorporate a unique perspective into her music that few performers can hope to match. It’s apparent in the infectious, upbeat and wildly individual songs she has released to date. Shalli’s talent cannot be denied, and neither can her growing popularity. In a short period of time, Shalli has established herself as a true artist who stands apart from her contemporaries. Her willingness to take risks musically has earned the respect of artists from the West Indies, to North America, to Europe and beyond. Her singular sound and melodic voice have won her many fans in those locations and beyond. Shalli’s sound is the music of the future, and her time is now.

Mpoe Mogale

performances

February 10, 2024, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

South African Theme Choregraphy

Bio

Mpoe Mogale (they/them) reigns from Lebowakgomo, South Africa, and splits their time between amiskwaciywâskahikan and moh’kínst’sis, in the colonial state of Canada. They hold a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political Science, and a wealth of expertise in community-based research, facilitation, and arts administration. Mpoe’s primary art-making form is dance, with a curiosity in the place of Blackness in spaces that deny it, as explored through several projects including “What (Black) Life Requires” (produced by Mile Zero Dance and Azimuth Theatre). Mpoe’s current artistic imaginations have centered on the brilliant and joyous aspects that foreground the lives of Black folks. With over 5 years of teaching and choreographing, Mpoe is committed to offering the knowledge, culture, and historical aspects that are integral to the various styles they are versed in.

Chantal Chagnon

performances

February 10, 2024, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Heritage Performances

Bio

Chantal Chagnon is a Cree / Métis Singer, Drummer, Artist, Storyteller, Actor, Educator, Workshop Facilitator, Social Justice Advocate, and Activist with roots in Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Saskatchewan. She shares Traditional Indigenous Songs, Stories, Culture, History, Arts, Indigenous Craftsmanship, and Teachings. Chantal has presented in Classrooms from Preschool through University and Professional, Community, and Social Justice Events and Gatherings. Chantal aims to entertain, engage, enlighten, educate, and inspire everyone she meets. A Two-Spirit single mother of two boys, and twin girls, she understands societal struggle firsthand. Chantal has been an activist for over 25 years, organizing events within the community with a focus on building allies and alliances. Chantal is an advocate for marginalized voices, including Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls & Two Spirit (MMIWG2S), Women’s Rights, Racial Inequity, and Environmental Initiatives. Chantal Chagnon is passionate about building awareness and sharing an understanding of Indigenous culture, spirituality, social justice, and political issues. She creates opportunities for cooperation, education, and empowerment everywhere she can. Chantal recognizes sharing culture and building community is an integral part of building bridges of understanding and acceptance. Chantal is a compassionate woman, who believes that a healthier, fairer, more sustainable Canada is possible as we make decisions for future generations to come.

Tayo Gbalajobi

performances

February 9, 2024, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Vocal Performances

Bio

Tayo Gbalajobi is a vocalist with over 15 years of performing experience. She has competed in and won in both regional & international performing arts competitions & has performed in over 15 countries. Recent Highlights include: 2023 Grandstand Show—Vocal Soloist (Calgary Stampede), Honey & Cocoa: A Black Girl Cabaret, It’s A Ship Show—Lead Vocalist (Virgin Voyages). You can follow Tayo on Instagram! @tayo.sings

TEMIA

Bio

R n B plus Hip Hop Music

Priscille Bukasa

performances

February 10, 2024 12:00 am - November 23, 2024 11:42 am

Bio

Priscille is an established favorite in the spoken word scene, based in Calgary; she has been writing and performing for over 10 years. She has had the opportunity to be the supporting act and headliner at various popular events in both Calgary and Edmonton. Her versatility and talent have enabled her to perform at a variety of venues such as the 6 Degrees conference sharing the stage with the likes of the best-selling author the Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson; Churches, universities, schools, and marketing campaigns such as ATB Listen. Her distinguished work and style have truly set her apart as a one-of-a-kind artist. Priscille continues to push the envelope with her work that highlights racial injustice like 16 Shots & Seat at The Table. Priscille is a part of the Arts Common Incubator program in its inaugural year 2021-2022 an initiative to support the multi-disciplinary artist and their artistic practice through networking, professional development, mentorship, paid live performance, and exhibition. In addition to her writing and performing, Priscille has expanded her skills to teaching up-and-coming young poets to develop their writing techniques and stage performances. Priscille holds her BA in Business Administration majoring in Marketing. She is currently working as a freelancer helping small businesses develop their branding strategy and social media presence. She is also a member of the Cultural Instigator (CI) Program, an initiative to support artists involved in building equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in their work to organize and create art projects that build the community’s capacity to confront social issues.

A-Z

performances

February 9, 2024 6:00 pm - November 23, 2024 11:42 am

Bio

Discovered from Ethnik Learning and Empowerment Program 2023, an initiative of Ethnik Festivals education program created to empower Canadian youth and adults in diverse creative endeavors. From our music class led by one of Calgary’s finest female Saxophonist who is also performing at the 2024 festival came the duo of Zhanang and Andrew of A-Z. We are thrilled to see their creative abilities flourishing and sharing the stage along with our international and local talents.

Wakefield Brewster

performances

February 10, 2024 5:00 pm - November 23, 2024 11:42 am

Bio

In January 1999, Wakefield Brewster stepped onto his first stage as a Poet and Spoken Word Artist. Today, he is known as one of Canada’s most powerful Professional Performance Poets. A Blackman raised in Toronto by parents from Barbados, he has resided in Calgary since 2016, and it is in the New West where Wakefield has been able to truly flourish as a Poet and as a Person. Throughout his career, Wakefield has been published in several Anthologies: • T-Dot Griots, Trafford on Demand Publishing, 2004 • The Great Black North, Frontenac House, 2013 • The Calgary Project, Frontenac House, 2014 • The Black Prairie Archives: An Anthology, Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2019 Since moving to Calgary, he has produced two Professional Recordings to his credit: • Wakefield Brewster, da lyrical Pitbull Produced by Kill Whitey Records, 2007 • East2west Produced by Spanish Fly Music, 2008 Here is a list of roles he is currently enlisted in: • Professional Poet & Spoken Word Artist • Professional Poetic Interpreter™ • 3-Time Calgary Poetry Slam Champion & Team Captain; 2006, 2008, 2009 • Inaugural Poet Of Honour, People’s Poetry Festival, 2011 • Calgary Poet Laureate Shortlist/Finalist 2012, 2020 • Inaugural Resident Poet & Spoken Word Artist of The Grand Theatre 2019 – 2022 • Inaugural TD ARTIST INCUBATOR at Arts Commons, Poet-In-Residence, 2021-2022 • Canadian League of Poets Member • Elephant Artist’s Relief Society Board Member • Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy Calgary Poet Laureate, 2021 • Registered Massage Therapist and owner of WakeFull Wellness Registered Massage Therapy & Healing Space • Community Builder by engaging in Volunteering, Leadership, and Mentorship for Youth and through The Arts • Advocate for Literacy and The Humanities; Healing Arts & Alternative Medicine; Alcoholism & Addictions; Mental Wellness & Recovery In 2019, he was appointed as the very First Resident Poet & Spoken Word Artist of The Grand Theatre House in Calgary, Alberta. In 2021, Wakefield joined The League of Canadian Poets in order to become a more integral part of Canada’s Literary scene, while representing the standards of Diversity and Representation. Also in 2021, Wakefield joined the Board of Directors of the E.A.R. Society – Emergency Artist’s Relief Society, providing emergency relief funding and affordable Health Care for Artists. After all that the stage has given him, he has discovered other ways that he may repay his beloved Poetry and Arts Communities by performing silently, backstage, for them. Wakefield finds that underneath the many hats and the many hoodies he wears resides a wonderful life. He would like to sincerely Thank You all for being a part of it.

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible