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Introducing the next edition of our Words & Music Show!A Caribbean Celebration: Rhymes and Riddim! will be a vibrant night brought to life by artists who embody the sound, rhythm, and spirit of the Caribbean. Join us in a celebration of Caribbean heritage and the history, resilience and pride that come with it.
Featuring:
- Kym Dominique-Ferguson
- Faith Paré
- Jason “Blackbird” Selman
- InGroove
Hosted and curated by the winner of the 2024 Fresh Pages Guest Curatorship, Jayda Smith.
Tickets available at the door.
THE PERFORMERS
KYM DOMINIQUE-FERGUSON is a hard-working Montreal-based writer and spoken word artist whose work bridges literature and performance. As one of the four primary writers of BLACKOUT: The Concordia Computer Riots, Ferguson significantly contributed to capturing the essence of the students’ point of view of the 1969 Sir George Williams affair, offering a vital historical perspective. His debut solo play, Dear Black Man, supported by a Canada Council for the Arts grant, explores themes of identity, Black family and resilience, with a successful stage reading showcasing his emerging prowess as a playwright.
In addition to his literary achievements, Ferguson is the founder and Artistic Director of Madpoetix Productions, a significant contributor to Montreal’s spoken word scene. Under his leadership, the organization produced and hosted influential events like The Phenomenal 5IVE, the Madpoetix Soirée Open Mic and their latest offering Inside Madpoetix Studios. His innovative spirit is also reflected in his recent works-in-progress such as the Caribo-Futuristic novel Echoes of Anancy and the theatre play Uncle Jimmy: A Discussion between James Baldwin and Trayvon Martin. Ferguson’s diverse contributions continue to enrich the spoken word community and the literary landscape.
FAITH PARÉ is a poet of Afro-Guyanese ancestry. She has performed at national arts centres including the Art Gallery of York University, La Centrale galerie Powerhouse, and the Winter Garden Theatre, and served as curator of the Atwater Poetry Project from 2021 to 2023. Faith is the winner of the 2024 Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers in Poetry from the Writers’ Trust of Canada, and was the inaugural awardee of the Quebec Writers’ Federation’s Mairuth Sarsfield Mentorship under the guidance of Gillian Sze. She is currently at work on her first collection of poetry.
INGROOVE is a musical formation firmly rooted in reggae, dub & dancehall while branching off into different afro-Caribbean sounds. Joey Shanahan on keyboards, Neil ”Bass-One” Benskin on bass, and Jahsun on the drums round out this trio of experienced reggae ambassadors.
JASON "BLACKBIRD" SELMAN is a Montreal-born spoken word artist, poet, and trumpet player. He is the author of The Freedom I Stole (2007, Cumulus Press) & Africa as a Dream That Travels Through My Heart (2016, Howl). He creates and facilitates poetry workshops in schools across the Montréal area and beyond. His work is inspired by music from the African diaspora, surrealist expression, love, and intersectional masculinity.
THE HOST
JAYDA SMITH, a Belizean international student in Montreal, integrates her Afro-Caribbean heritage into her poetry and creative non-fiction, reflecting her Belizean Creole roots. Jayda regularly attends open mic events hosted by McSway Poetry Collective, a poetry club at McGill University of which she is an active member, dedicated to fostering poetry spaces both on and off campus. Her love for poetry and performance has sparked an interest in event curation, focusing on showcasing poetry, spoken word, and sound, reflecting her cultural tapestry and commitment to artistic expression. She enjoys writing haikus to summarize each day.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
La Sotterenea, 4850 Boulevard St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R5, Canada,Montreal, Quebec
