Bridging divides and sharing the vibes
Contact Staff
They are five female artists who believe it’s high time for Black women to take their rightful place atop the stage in Montreal, and are doing just that as part of their celebration of Black History Month.
The Phenomenal 5ive are artists who live in Montreal and are coming together for a dynamic, multi-faceted performance that will at once salute the past but also look toward the future. The women represent both sides of Montreal’s linguistic divide – three of the artists are from the Anglophone Black community and two are from the Francophone Black community. Despite having diverse backgrounds, motivations and skills, their talents dovetail to create a powerful and entertaining show.
The Phenomenal 5ive are:
Aliyah TruTh: Comparing herself to a caterpillar that transforms into a powerful butterfly. Aliyah preaches love without losing sight of the injustices Black people face, drawing on and drawing out what she calls “the royal power” in the Black woman and the Black man during her performances.
Jennifer Sidney: Her passion, she says, is “to pursue her mission to work in brotherhood with her fellow man.’ A writer, Jennifer strives to reconcile the sometimes dichotomous relationships between the individual and the social, aesthetics and ethics, ideology and politics.
Majiza Philip: Granddaughter of Montreal’s “Queen of Tap” Ethel Bruneau, Majiza is a mentor, performer, choreographer, leader, tap dancer, businesswoman and became an activist too, after experiencing firsthand what she calls the “savageness” of Montreal police.
Malika Tirolien: Growing up with a self-taught multi-instrumentalist father, Malika believes she was destined for a life of lyricism and music. She left Guadeloupe to study jazz at the University of Montreal and is part of the urban improv music group Kalmunity Vibe Collective. Her music is all about exploring different genres and styles, showcasing her vocals in myriad ways.
Shanice Nicole: A feminist educator, facilitator, writer, entrepreneur and spoken word artist, Shanice is passionate about sex education and community building. A founding member of the Black Foundation of Community Networks (BFCN), she is also an ambassador for Four Brown Girls, a group striving to create a network and support system for Black women in Montreal.
MADPOETIX Productions, now in its 10th year, is putting on the performance. The organization prides itself on presenting fresh, unique shows that use poetry, music, dance, theatre and sometimes film to challenge the status quo.
The Phenomenal 5ive perform Sunday, Feb. 7, at Le Belmont, 4483 St. Laurent Blvd. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8.
Tickets will be available at the door, but are currently on sale for $25 at Studio Alkemy, 4978A Queen Mary Rd. near Snowdon metro (438-384-7978) and at the Concordia Caribbean Students Union office inside the Hall Building, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W, room H733 (514-848-7474 ext 3527).
Ticket reservations can be made for $30; email ferguson@madpoetix.com or text 514-585-5156 for more information.
