Posts in category Special Features

Contact Staff As the days draw closer to his June 8 bout at the Montreal Casino, it’s obviously difficult for local favorite Shakeel Phinn to corral his excitement and hyper enthusiasm. His overflow of emotion is not unexpected given the fact that this fight should mark the turning point in the budding ring-career of the man known as the Jamaican Juggernaut as he goes after two world belts, NABF and IBF Inter-Continental titles super middleweight (168 pounds). And as usual, when he steps in the ring with Elio German Rafael, he will be fueled by his highly contagious confidence. “You …

Quiet to the point of strange, humble to the point of un-assuming, and modest to the point of cheap Egbert Gaye For the on-and-off basketball fan, it’s difficult to be drawn into whatever fleeting excitement that today’s NBA offers, especially with everyone’s favorite, Lebron James, out of the playoffs. (Now here’s a guy…. that Lebron: born of a 16-year-old mother and a hardscrabble dad and growing up in the school of hard knocks in Akron, Ohio to become the face of basketball to many by winning three NBA championships, four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, three NBA Finals’ MVP Awards, …

Emile Spence has assumed leadership of JN Bank’s Canada Representative Office in Toronto. Mr Spence’s appointment became effective on Wednesday, February 20. He previously worked with the former Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) for more than 30 years in several senior capacities, ranging from branch manager, senior marketing executive, to the general manager of JN Money Services. The new representative officer also served as JN Group executive for New Business, Development and Research, conceptualising and implementing products and services, at the corporate and commercial levels. Mr Spence advised that during his interim capacity at the JN Bank Canada Representative Office, …

Rosie Awori On March 28, Geordie Theatre will  present a special screening of BLACK BALLERINA a film that “uses the ethereal world of ballet to engage audiences in a subject that reaches far outside the arts and compels viewers to think about larger issues of diversity, equality and inclusion.” The film will be showing as a precursor to Geordie theatre’s next play, REACHING FOR STARLIGHT. BLACK BALLERINA tells the story of several Black women from different generations who fell in love with ballet. Six decades ago, Joan Myers Brown, Dolores Browne and Raven Wilkinson faced racism in the pursuit of …

Contact Staff From celebrated Montreal poet, N Oji Mzilikazi comes a revealing collection of poetry titled, Shards of Glass: Poetry for the Adventurous. This daring collection explores an array of societal issues such as love, relationships, spirituality, and social constructs. “I want my poems to not only be thought-provoking, but to ignite meaningful dialogue,” N Oji said in an interview with the CONTACT. True to form the different pieces take the reader on an adventure, keenly investigating and examining the various threads of our societal, moral and even spiritual fabric. Mzilikazi uses his voice to pose questions, answer them and …

Black Theatre Workshop’s ‘How Black Mother’s Say I Love You’ opened at the Centaur theatre on February 28 at Centaur Theatre and will be playing until March 16. The play has a strong Caribbean influence but it will resonate with not only immigrants but also families who have dealt with separation. The play chronicles, Daphne a mother who has to start a life in Canada and ends up away from her two children for six years. This is a story of separation and reconciliation infused with a bold original score that blends gospel, reggae and R&B with classical music. Playwright …

The son of Bob showcases his extraordinary songwriting and musical talent with latest album Contact Staff As one of 11 children of one of the biggest names in the world of music, Julian Marley knows a thing or two about individuality and finding your own ground. “When it comes to music you must have your own identity,” is the way he tells it. “And it’s important to know that you can win by being yourself.” It’s not like he is on the music scene to win anything. The music he creates, he says, “is an inspiration from the Almighty,” that …

Award winning Jamaican-born novelist spins a mesmerizing tale Rosie AWORI “The child is dead, and there is nothing left to be known,” Marlon James eerily pronounces in his highly anticipated book, Black Leopard, Red Wolf. Yet the Man-Booker prize winner displays the mastery of his craft by taking the reader on a 700-page journey showing and telling what should be known. James spins a lyrical, gripping and mesmerizing tale set in a fantastical African universe. The fantastical universe James has dreamed up is a testament to his keen and thorough research; he weaves African folklore filled with symbolism and fantasy …

BURKINABAE guitarist MAKES RIPPLES IN MONTREAL Rosie AWORI “My only option is success.” Young, up and coming Montreal Afro-pop Urban Reggae artist Kenzow is resolute as he speaks to the CONTACT about his musical career. He was born Kenzy Ouedraogo to the famous African producer Idrissa Ouedraogo in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.  He came to Montreal on a soccer scholarship in January 2016, but two semesters in, he sustained an injury that left him unable to play. While recuperating, he decided to try his hand at playing the guitar to pass the time. He soon became captivated by …

Egbert Gaye Toronto-born musician extraordinaire Kaisha Lee tells the story of moving to Montreal seven years ago, empty-handed, in search of work and fulfillment. Then this past December 31, making the trip back home, taking with her a lifetime of experiences, musical and otherwise. “I never meant to stay that long, but Montreal just wouldn’t let me go,” she told The CONTACT in a recent telephone interview. “The opportunities just kept opening up for me, one after the other. The city will always be special to me because of how much it helped me grow professionally and as a woman.” …