The Black Eskimo Podcast

Poetry infiltrated the teenage mind of Alyestal Hamilton. Now, ten years into a professional career in Spoken Word, Hamilton is a seasoned performer.

Brehanna Daniels is an anomaly within the testosterone laden world of Nascar. Add the fact that she's a Black woman, and she instantly becomes about as mythical as a unicorn. Directed by Krystal Tingle, Over the Wall, places the pit crew culture under a cinematic microscope. Over the Wall will be screening on Sat June 17 - 6:30 PM AMC 19th St. East 6 - New York Tribeca Film Festival

France born, Montreal bred singer, Reini B, is the embodiment of diversity and culture. Her debut musical offering, "Venus", was released in 2022, a project infused with elements of her Benin and Nigerian roots. This year Reini was part of Canadian Music Week's 41st staging.

Annually, Canadian Music Week introduces a new crop of singing talent through showcases dotting the city of Toronto. R&B singer Kaje was part of the 2023 staging. The music videos for Kaje's singles "Let You Go" and "Tear Us Apart" are both available on YouTube.

Visual artist and OCAD graduate, Samantha Dennis, earlier this month had some of her paintings on exhibit at a unique Toronto event entitled "She is Woman".

Lord Jamar entered the fray as part of the Black empowerment Hip Hop collective Brand Nubian in 1990. The group disbanded two years later, then reassembled in the late-90s. Today, Jamar is still an active member of Brand Nubian, additionally churning out production for up-and-coming Hip Hop acts, and five years deep into his Yanadameen Godcast

The Hot Docs 2023 Film Festival ran from April 27th until May 7th.

Nigel Birch wears different hats within the artistic space, among them poet, playwright and author. His latest endevour, She is Woman, is a celebration of the Black woman. The event takes place on Saturday, May 6th at 918 Bathurst Centre in Toronto.

As a producer and director, Netsanet Tjirongo's short film "Savi the Cat" leapt out at me. The film is an exploration of the intricate dynamics of a Black romantic relationship and the trials of pet ownership. "Savi the Cat" will be screening on May 2nd at Scotiabank Theatre 6 as part of the Human Kind Program (5pm) Also streaming online (May 5-9) Only in Canada

I happened upon an exhibit by academic and historian Christina Leslie last week. Her work focuses on the role of sugar in a colonial and present day context within Jamaica. Christina Leslie's "Sugar Coat" solo exhibit is available to view at BAND Pop-up Gallery 401 Richmond, Suite LL108, Toronto bandgallery.com

"Brother" is the silver screen adaptation of the award-winning novel by David Chariandy. Set in Scarborough, the film follows the trials and tribulations of a single mother and her two sons.

On Saturday, April 15, I attended the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto.

The documentary "Out of the Loop" highlights the Chicago comedy scene.OPENING ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS ON APRIL 11

On Saturday, March 18th, I attended Toronto Comicon at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. A celebration of Superhero and comic book culture.

Musical acts from Nigeria and Ghana have been blazing a trail across the globe lately. Add Congo to the mix. GTA based singer Yandji is next in line to make her mark.

"Style Wars" is a blast from the past. Graffiti culture is on full display in this 1983 cinematic document.

Chuck D of Public Enemy is the driving force behind the four-part PBS documentary series "Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World".

Acclaimed poet and writer Jennifer Maritza McCauley is a unique talent, merging different written styles to create unconventional hybridity in her literary output. Her latest book, a short story collection, is entitled "When Trying to Return Home".

As part of a wave of artists hailing from Jamaica during the early-1970s, painter Heather Sutherland-Wade is still churning out original works 50 years later.

Charity C. Elder has quite a resume, accomplished journalist, professor and now author. Her new book "Power: The Rise of Black Women in America" recently hit bookshelves.