Live performance is where her magic isβwhere the call and response with her audience comes alive. But live performance is just the tip of her artistic brilliance. Her work, both written and spoken, grasps for moments of tenderness and persistent joy at the intersection of blackness and womanhood. My family immigrated to Edmonton when I was a teenager, and it is where we have called home for over 20 years. Edmonton allows for thatβthe ability to find a place to contribute to the vibrant life here.
Much of my work as an artist has been made possible by the way Edmonton has empowered me. What has your first year as Poet Laureate taught you about yourself and our city? I know that people need art more than ever now, and it is an honour to be in this role at this particular time.
What do you hope to accomplish in your second year, both personally and professionally? It would be a great accomplishment for me to make poetry feel accessible and welcoming to people who would not otherwise feel connected to the arts. Playwrighting is a new skill that I am building and sits within my intention to create work that is as expansive as possible. It is an extension of my creative sensibilitiesβan attempt to tell simple stories through the heightened language of poetry.
It allows me to stretch a little beyond the shorter form into something with more room to travel. I often say that live performance is where my magic is. I love it with all my heart. It is always an honour to work with Melafrique, they are extremely talented and bring another dimension to the live performance. Community for me is about a sense of place, safety, and belonging. I have the privilege of finding strong community in many placesβin my artistic life, in my family life and friendships, in Edmonton, and in my home country of Nigeria.
It feels like an abundance of care to be able to connect in so many different ways. Tell us about the role funding has played in your career and the doors it opens for artists. Funding is the bridge between an idea and reality.
