Featuring two incredible BIPOC and femme-identifying performers: Maia and headliner Turunesh, a UBC alumnus plus an opening act featuring spoken word poet, Ky in honour of the International Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31). Cozy up by the outdoor fire pit, roast a marshmallow and dance the night away.

Hailing from around the world both artists bring diverse experiences and voices into the Vancouver and University of British Columbia music scene. Maia’s genre-bending songs will touch on life’s realities and our relationships we form with ourselves and others as the rhythmic sounds of Turunesh’s Zanzibari-style melodies of Taarab music with her signature feminist flair will fill the cedar scented air.

At this event, MOA will be accepting donations of select toiletries and personal care products on behalf of the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre. We encourage you to bring these items to contribute: sunscreen, body wipes, Kleenex, deodorant, soap bars, travel-size toiletries.

This evening is presented in partnership with Exposure UBC, the UBC Arts and Culture District, and the UBC Blank Vinyl Project.

Bios

Like the first spark of a new flame, Ky is a spoken word poet that thrives on air from the audience and the winds of the moment. Her free flowing lyrical style weaves personal identity and social activism, with the energy of whatever room she finds herself in. As a human raised around the world, she is an artist that works with the crowd to pull them in for ride of new ideas and perspectives.

Turunesh, crowned ‘Conjurer of worlds’, her musical moments are monumental on stage and on the record. Turunesh married her love for writing poetry and singing at 14 years old. Shyly releasing original songs on Soundcloud and selectively sharing her links with a small circle of trusted friends, Turunesh had no idea that she would become a pioneer of East Africa’s alternative art scene. A truly multifaceted artist, the Tanzanian singer, songwriter, and creative director is becoming a leading voice amongst her peers in the realm of alternative African music. Turunesh currently resides in Vancouver, Canada, where she is constantly breaking down boundaries, reinventing the sonic infrastructure, and introducing an experimental and refreshing take on the new wave of Neo Soul & RnB. Known for her fluid and sensual approach to music, Turunesh encapsulates the goddess essence of her songs ‘Rum & Butter’ & ‘Coco Marijuana’. Her unique silky sound and lyrical suave has solidified her as a feminist, Pan-African artist on the rise.

Maia is an industrious artist from Vancouver who prioritizes authenticity and creativity in her art. Her lyricism and wide vocal range touch upon the realities of life from relationships with the self to the ones you love. Born in the UK, she spent her childhood moving to Ghana, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. Maia has been surrounded by sounds of all backgrounds, which influence her desire to mix genres and create unique sounds.