Rhythms and Reflections
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June 26 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Celebrate the vibrant creativity of Black artists with Rhythms and Reflections, a free evening showcasing powerful artistic expression through music, spoken word, and dance. As you explore the Gallery, immerse yourself in a multi-sensory experience that amplifies the voices and visions of local Black artists. Enjoy soulful performances by singer-songwriter Zamani Folade, evocative readings by poet Dáminí Awóyígà, and dynamic movement performances by multidisciplinary artists Kay MacDonald, I’thandi Munro, and Makayla Criss.
This special event marks the opening of three compelling exhibitions honouring Black identity: Feeling Her Way by Sonia Boyce, Blacklight featuring works from the permanent collection, and Negro Crossing by Oluseye.
Image: Installation view, Sonia Boyce: FEELING HER WAY, 2024, PHI Foundation. Sonia Boyce, Devotional Collection, 1999-ongoing; Gold wallpaper, 2022 © DACS, London / CARCC Ottawa 2024 / © Fondation PHI pour l’art contemporain, photo: Richard-Max Tremblay.
Event Schedule
7:00pm – Dáminí Awóyígà
Hear Dáminí’s evocative poetry as she reflects on the themes of identity, cultural continuity, and collective narratives in Blacklight.
7:45pm – Kay Macdonald, I’thandi Munro, Makayla Criss
Witness these multidisciplinary artists as they perform a dynamic dance piece responding to Sonia Boyce’s Feeling Her Way, embodying themes of movement, memory, and identity through expressive choreography.
8:30pm – Zamani Folade
Hear Zamani deliver a soulful music performance in Oluseye’s Negro Crossing, creating an immersive atmosphere that highlights history, resilience, and cultural rhythm through song.
About the Performers
Dáminí Awóyígà is a high school student. She is an activist, spoken word poet, and the former Halifax’s Youth Poet Laureate (2023-2024). Damini is the founder of Damini Creatives and the Afro-Indigenous Book Club, a book club created to encourage young people to read books written by Black and Indigenous authors and to share the realities and experiences of Black and Indigenous Canadians. Damini was the Junior Artist in Residence for Wellness Within, a community organization working for reproductive justice, prison abolition, and health equity; CBC’s artist-in-residence for the Michaelle Jean Foundation Canadian Black Summit held in July 2022, where she hosted an interactive community poetry booth. She is also a youth freelance journalist for CBC Mainstreet. She is the Vice-Chair of CPA High School’s Black Student Association. She has also enjoyed being a board member of the Nova Scotia Girls Institute for Resource and Learning (NS GIRL) and she is a member of the HRM Youth Advisory Committee. Damini has received multiple awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Damini loves to dance, write, create, sing, and perform poetry about social justice issues she cares deeply about.
Kay Macdonald was born and raised in Halifax, NS. Kay is proudly African Nova Scotian. Studying Performance Acting at Ryerson University in Toronto, ON. At the end of 2016 with the political climate swiftly changing around her (en election of a new president) she knew her reaction had to be radical. Out of this desire to make a change she Founded and Co Created The Magic Project. Which focuses on bringing marginalized brilliance to the forefront of social media using the arts.
Kay is also a Community Facilitator and Youth Programmer. She hopes to continue creating workshops, holding space for community discussions and empowering youth through celebration. In 2020, Kay, Trayvone Clayton & DeRico Symonds created an African Nova Scotian community based, youth-led initiative called The Game Changers. After a year of working together in advocacy, activism, and community they decided to collaborate officially. Kate currently works at The Youth Project and as the Co-Artistic Director of Kinetic.
Image by Matthew Downey.
I’thandi Munro is an award winning professional performance and visual artist. She has a BFA from NSCAD and movement is at her core of making. Munro uses the representation of line and lineage as underlying concepts in her fine art, craft, photography and dance. Continuously merging different mediums into finished pieces there is always a sense of multiplicity within her work, she leaves space for her pieces to naturally evolve through reaction and discussion. Munro creates an ever-changing body of work that can be explored and realized in different ways.
Image by Diane Moore.
Makayla Criss received her professional training through the Maritime Conservatory of the Performing Arts – Teacher Training Program. Her studies included anatomy, conditioning, and child development, all of which were tailored specifically for dancers. Makayla has also studied a broad spectrum of pedagogical approaches from highly respected and successful examiners and teachers. Most recently, Makayla completed the full Horton Teacher Training Program through The Ailey School under the direction of Ana Marie Forsythe.
With training in a wide range of styles, Makayla’s background includes Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Modern, and Hip Hop. Later deciding to focus on Ballet, Makayla has studied both the Cecchetti and Royal Academy of Dance syllabi, and is passionate about reflecting strong technical training while allowing the body to adapt to other stylistic forms of dance. Makayla has attended classes for Professional Development at Steps on Broadway, The Ailey School, The Martha Graham School with notable teachers including John Vincent Leggio, Nina Goldman, and Terri Wright and locally with Darryl Tracy and Robert McCollum. In 2022 Makayla completed an internship with Mocean Dance throughout the creation process of Syreeta Hector’s piece “From the Top” which was performed at Fluid Forms in Halifax, NS.
Outside of the studio, Makayla’s choreography has been featured annually at numerous galas and events including the Rotary Club of Truro’s Annual Fundraising Gala, The Colchester East Hants Health Centre Foundation’s Annual Fundraising Gala, New Glasgow’s Art At Night, Youth Dance Fest East, Local Love Truro Awards and CDA’s own B-Side Hip Hop Festival.
Zamani Folade is a sonic storyteller—writing, producing, engineering, and performing every note she creates. Hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Zamani weaves together R&B, Neo Soul, and Jazz into a vibrant soundscape that celebrates self-love, optimism, identity, and unapologetic Black girl magic. Her musical passport spans the U.S., Europe, the Caribbean, and Africa, lighting up stages alongside heavyweights like London’s Estelle, Jamaica’s Tarrus Riley, R&B icons John Legend, Mya and Ginuwine and jazz vocalist extraordinaire – Jazzmeia Horne. Zamani also shared the bill with pop legends UB40 at the renowned St. Lucia Roots and Soul Festival.
A fearless collaborator, Zamani has crossed genres with Classical, Gospel, Pop, Hip Hop, and jazz artists, co-writing with Grammy-winning Canadian songwriter Gordie Sampson and DC hip-hop pioneer Tracey Lee.
Known for her magnetic live performances, Zamani has electrified international festivals including Toronto Soul Fest, Boston Tree Lighting, Rotterdam’s New Skool Rules, Canada’s Juno Festival, the St. Lucia Roots and Soul Festival and most recently the world renown St Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival in May 2025. Her evocative song writing and steady stream of singles from 2019 to 2025 have earned her an impressive collection of accolades: the Stingray TD Jazz Rising Star Award, SOCAN’s Young Canadian Songwriter Award, Atlantic International Film Festival’s Best Musical Score, and Emerging Lens’ Best Music Video Award.
A six-time ANSMA Award winner—including Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year—Zamani also holds four ECMA Awards, including African Canadian Artist of the Year and R&B Recording of the Year. Recognized at the highest levels, she is a proud recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for excellence in music.
With every beat, lyric, and performance, Zamani continues to push forward—one unforgettable song at a time.
Image by Natanni St Omer.