This performance is a celebration of the over 14 years of love, work, sweat, passion and magic it has taken to bring forth For Sizakele by Yvonne Fly Onakeme Etaghene. Yvonne will read from her brand new book and will also perform electric, sugarcane-flavored poetry. Her performance will be followed by a Q&A session and book signing. Special Guest, Monica McIntyre, will bless us with her marvelous magic this evening! Monica's music is truly a beautiful gift. This event is part of the For Sizakele World Tour.
For Sizakele by Yvonne Fly Onakeme Etaghene: Taylor, a queer Nigerian college student, is in a passionate relationship with Lee, a Black American basketball-playing pianist. When Taylor develops romantic feelings for Sy, a Cameroonian photographer whose similarities make them instant family, Taylor battles Lee’s jealousy. As Taylor encounters challenges to her femme and African identities, she finds ways, through the kinship of her friends, to define herself on her own terms. For Sizakele addresses transcontinental identity, intimate partner violence, queer gender and how we love as illuminators of who we are.
BIO: Yvonne Fly Onakeme Etaghene is an Ijaw and Urhobo Nigerian dyke performance activist, poet, dancer, educator, actress and visual artist. She engages a radical vulnerability and candor in her artwork and uses storytelling to build authentic human connection through passionate artistic expression. Etaghene is a mixed-media visual artist who has produced 4 solo art exhibitions and performed internationally. She is the founder of Sugarcane, an LGBTQ Of Color writing workshop based in the principles of June Jordan’s Poetry for the People. She wrote and performed in two multi-media one-woman shows, Volcano’s Birthright{s} and GUAVA. Etaghene has published 4 chapbooks of poetry: afrocrown: fierce poetry (2000), write or die (2004), tongue twisted transcontinental sista (2006) and skin into verse (2014.) She released an album of poetry and music entitled liberty avenue, nigeria, usa (2004.) Etaghene is the author of For Sizakele, a novel that addresses transcontinental identity, intimate partner violence and how we love as illuminators of who we are. www.myloveisaverb.com, twitter: @myloveisaverb
Monica McIntyre Bio: Cellist, Vocalist, Lyricist, Wellness Advocate, and Sound Healer are a few titles used to describe Monica McIntyre. She weaves a beautiful tapestry of colors and sounds so unique that one genre simply does not cover it. Monica uses her cello as a conduit to seamlessly blend: Blues, Soul, Folk, Classical, Reggae and Middle Eastern sounds into an unforgettable musical landscape. Monica has featured at numerous events and venues throughout the world most notably: Soul Sista's Jukejoint (GA) 2005, The 215 Festival (PA) 2005, Sistahood Celebration (Vancouver) 2008, The Philadelphia Fringe Festival (PA) 2008 & 2009, The Black Women's Art Festival (PA) 2009, Sisterspace (MD) 2009, Ladyfest New Orleans (LA) 2010 & 2011, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (LA) 2013, and The French Quarter Fest (LA) 2013. Most recently Monica was a featured artist on the online International music show "Balcony TV". In September 2013 Monica self-released her sophmore album 'It Soon Come', produced by John Chelew, featuring: Marcia McIntyre (violin/vocals), Thea Bashful (vocals), Reggina Thompson (oboe), and Mike Jacobsen (percussion). In December 2014 she self-released her third full-length album 'Mourning To The Moonlight'.
Please Note: To reserve your copy of For Sizakele in advance, please purchase your copy here. Purchasing For Sizakele now reserves a copy for you--your copy of the book will be available when you arrive at the event. This is the only way to ensure that you will have a copy before they sell out.
Presented by Women's Health & Justice Initiative