Experience a powerful and passionate response by local poets of African descent to the African objects in the Museum’s care, as part of an initiative to decolonize MOA’s African collection—led by MOA’s Curator of Africa and South America, Nuno Porto and the UBC Africa Awareness Initiative.

The opening event on April 2 will feature live readings of poetry and spoken word by Jillian Christmas and other poets. Following this live showcase night, the recording from the event will be transformed into a sound installation to be played every Thursday evening in MOA’s Multiversity Galleries throughout the month of April.

Schedule

April 2 | Live poetry with Jillian Christmas and guests, 6 – 7:30 pm (reception to follow)
April 9 | Poetry Sound Installation, 5 – 9 pm
April 16 | Poetry Sound Installation, 5 – 9 pm
April 23 | Poetry Sound Installation, 5 – 9 pm
April 30 | Poetry Sound Installation, 5 – 9 pm

Jillian Christmas will also be offering a poetry workshop on Sunday, April 19. Learn more here.

Jillian Christmas

Born and raised in Markham, Ontario, Jillian Christmas serves as Artistic Director of Versəs Festival of Words. An enthusiastic organizer and activist in the Canadian arts community, Jillian’s focus is to increase anti-oppression initiatives in spoken word. Jillian’s work has been featured in numerous publications including The Huffington Post, and published in a number of collections, including Matrix New Queer Writing (issue 98), The Post Feminist Post, Plenitude Magazine, Room Magazine and celebrated anthology, The Great Black North. She has participated in, developed and executed programs in partnership with Toronto Poetry Project, Wordplay, Brendan McLeod’s Travelling Slam, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Opera, and the CULTCH Mentorship, and facilitated spoken word workshops for youth and adults across the country. Learn more here.