Afua Cooper Was born in Westmoreland
and grew up in Kingston, Jamaica. In 1980, she migrated to Toronto,
Canada. Her poetry has been published in several anthologies in
Canada, the Caribbean and Britain. She is the author of Breaking
Chains, Memories Have Tongue and her first cd "Worlds of Fire (
In Motion)".
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Comfort is a singer, songwriter and
performer. Comfort musical genre includes reggae, R & B, Ska, Gospel
and Soul. He has performed all over Canada and abroad. He soothes
his audiences with his sensual and commanding voice that seems to
suggest, "This is only the beginning".
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Deborah Alison is a Teacher, an
activist and an artist. She exudes a smooth conscious reggae vibes.
Deborah has penned all 10 tracks on her upcoming CD 'IN TOUCH'.
Her music reflects the stories of our times, underlined by a reggae
baseline, catchy melodies and a strong social conscience.
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Drum Theatre Togetherness Is a group
of Africans from the continent and the diaspora who come together
in traditional drumming and dances. They have performed in Canada
and in the Caribbean to large audiences. Drum Theatre continues
to deliver dramatic pieces of their original works to the masses.
Drum Theatre Togetherness will release their first dvd in 2004.
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El Machetero (b/n Daniel Rojas-Orrego)
is a Toronto-based poet/spoken word artist, DJ and community servant.
The oldest son of Chilean political refugees who arrived in Canada
in 1978, his poetry is his prime weapon in the universal struggle
against oppression, white world supremacy and economic neo-slavery.
He has been blazing open mics since 1997, first getting his tart
dropping lyrics at protest rallies against police brutality and
demanding freedom for political prisoners.
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Eve was born under the sign of Capricorn.
She began reciting verse even before she emerged from the womb.
An "Omo Osun" (or child of the Yoruba divinity, Osun).
Her spiritual standing is "half way between the river and the
ocean" - which also reflects her deep alliance with the matriarch
of Yoruba divinities, Yemoja and the Kemetic divinity, Sekhmet
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Heron Jonse Is an emerging author and spoken word artist
on the Toronto poetry scene. He has self-published a poetry chap
book and has recently completed a live spoken word CD called Accapella
Rhymes, featuring DJ 187 and Marky B the Human Sound Machine. He
describes his poetry as a gut-wrenching reminder of things we would
rather not talk or think about.
He has been a guest on CTV's TalkTV promoting National Poetry Month 2001,
and has been nominated for an Urban Music Association of Canada (UMAC) award.
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Humble The musical journey started
for this gifted performer at early age. He was influenced by Bob
Marley and other conscious roots reggae artists. Humble has embraced
the principles and faith of Rastafari. Humble is one of the greatest
unknown singers in Toronto today. However, he remains a humble
being.
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Isis Is an MC and poet who also loves
to freestyle. She graces audiences with her smooth style writing
about what she sees in her everyday life. She prides herself on
delivering a simple message that the average listener can easily
understand.
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J. Nichole Noel Is a performance
poet and storyteller. She has performed in Canada and has toured
New York. Considered the "Female Barry White of Poetry" her innovative
style carries the art of performance level of entertainment! She
has completed her first cd ' Verse...The Power of the spoken words
in music' and she is currently working on a children's book. J.
Nichole Noel is a refreshing voice on the Toronto poetry scene.
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Juhzme Is Just-Me. She is a poet,
a mother, a sister and a spiritual entity. Juhzme has been gracing
the Toronto stage and surrounding GTA with her spiritual poetry
verses for hosted many community gatherings
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Lady Loxx Is a new voice on the Toronto
poetry scene. She is a natural black rasta woman. She feels bless
to mother two beautiful souls. She writes because of her daughters
and what's going on in the world.
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Lorraine Reid
pours her soul into the mic every time she steps on stage
to sing. Known to many for her work with the dance group Temperance,
Lorraine has seven Juno Award nominations securely tucked under
her belt. Lorraine has toured North America extensively, and has
received great support on radio and Much Music. Lorraine has been
performing with Up From The Roots for several years now, and everyone
always looks forward to her stepping on the stage and belting
out a song that puts goose bumps on your skin. While recording
dance music for Temperance, Lorraine's heart as always been with
soul and rhythm and blues. Lorraine attributes her unique vocal
style to the influences of Billie Holiday, Sade, Sarah Vaughan
and Whitney Houston and primarily enjoys listening to vocal jazz,
rhythm and blues, and reggae.
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Makeba Was born in Jamaica. She is
the proud mother of Michelle and Renee. She is a storyteller and
singer. Makeba sings from her soul and is rooted in her roots.
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Mel White A father, a brother, and a poet. He is a prolific
and inspirational writer that uses symbolisms and metaphors to create
images beyond words. He has written a book called "Love Rhapsodies"
and he is currently working on his second poetry book dealing with
the injustices of slavery and Black African oppression. He has performed
across Toronto and continues to enlighten people wherever he goes
with his poety,
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Peculiar I Anthony Davis also known
as PECULIAR I was born in Kingston Jamaica, he embraced life at
a time when the choices available to the youths were stark ones.
Survival was known only to the fittest of the fittest. His poems
can be found in his book published in 1991 titled "ILLUSIONS OF
I" his first recorded song titled "LONG NIGHT" released in June
of 1997. This prolific and "peculiar" poet, offers solutions to
the issues that members of the Afro Caribbean community face today
all over the world. "They Called Me Madness", his debut album
is well over due and is definitely timeless. You can pick up your
copy of Peculiar I's "They Called Me Madness" at a store near
you!
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Rudyard Fearon Is known for his
short, succinct poetry. His book FREE SOIL, published on CD/CD-ROM
(text and audio) contains an unbelieveable sixty-seven tracks
of poetry. Fearon, a member of the League Of Canadian Poets and
board member of one Toronto's premier Reading series, the Art
Bar Reading Series. Rudyard has now taken his poetry one step
further - he has completed the filming of the FREE SOIL video,
scheduled to be out in 2005.
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Trevor Lawrence Is a poet, a dub
poet, a father and a teacher. He has performed in Manitoba, Hamilton
and Jamaica. Trevor Lawrence is well renowned for his poem, 'Hey
Lickle Bwoy' which epitomizes the pride and strength of being
a yardie in today’s world. Trevor cares about community
development and he continues to donate his time to community functions.
His CD 'Hey Lickle Bwoy' - Part I has 11 tracks that deals with
the Jamaican experience and realities
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Unblind Well-accomplished poet,
Griot and Scribe on the Toronto poetry scene, Victor of Up From
the Roots' Slam competition in 2000 and 2002, and foundational
member of The West Side Cipher (a collection of progressive poets
and event organisers in Toronto). Unblind is the author of a self-titled
book, ":Unblind" which has been reprinted several times due to
excess demand. "Unblind Uncut-live from the T-dot" is his first
CD which was released in 2001.
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Wollette Is a poet, a Rasta woman,
a mother and the co-host of the Urban Griots Showcase with Jah Chris
on CHRY 105.5 FM. She is a new poet in town who delivers poetry
from a Rasta Woman’s perspective
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Yannick Marshall is a unique poet. He uses "verbal scenery"
to convey powerful messages about life and struggle; a window into
the simple pleasures of life and at the same time a gust of inspiration
for social change. Yannick has compiled a book of his poetry along
with Ooto Jones called, "Old Friend, we made this for you". It is
an escape into scenes of Africa and the West Indies, reminding black
people of the beauty of their home and pointing them towards seeking
their redemption.
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