WHEN SISTUHS SPEAK - Art as Weapon, Medicine, Love, Community | Thursday, July 15th | Nyala Ethiopian Restaurant at Schema : more than ethnic

WHEN SISTUHS SPEAK - Art as Weapon, Medicine, Love, Community | Thursday, July 15th | Nyala Ethiopian Restaurant

Tomorrow, Thursday July 15th, Developing Ethiopian Society Through Action (DESTA) and Colored Collective (COCO) are coming together to bring you the first ever When Sistuhs Speak event. The night will be held at Nyala Ethiopian Restaurant, located at Main & 25th, which if you are like me, was your haven and second home during the World Cup.

So, what can you expect? Only the most dynamic all female collective of hip hop artists, musicians, poets & dancers that Vancouver has ever seen under the same roof.

"Together we come in solidarity in the belief that artistic expression is weapon, medicine, is voice, and is vision."

This night is more than just a coming together of creative forces and energies for performance sake. The night is an effort to raise awareness for the struggles currently being faced by women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as a fundraiser for an upcoming documentary film project being undertaken in Ethiopia by two young visionaries, Beza Feleke and Joy Wong. Their first film, Misago, which also included the talents and production of Denise Green at the helm, will be screened tomorrow at the event. Now, I could tell you what that film is all about, and go on to speak about the film they are currently working on, but why not let Beza do it herself?

Our first film, Misago was about a UBC student, Yasin, who is a refugee from Burundi. It chronicles a day in his life on campus as he reflects on his past and the new world that is his present. It is a heavy, riveting account of the trials one person can go through when he is caught in situations beyond his control. This film explores the concepts of alienation, discrimination, struggle, resilience, hope and the never ending search for home.
Our upcoming project is a film documentary that explores issues of transnational identity and its interconnections with the theme of social empowerment. In January 2011, we plan travel to Ethiopia with DESTA's executives and document our experiences along the way.The film will tell the story of a small group of Ethiopian immigrants in Vancouver who founded DESTA in 1994 (Developing Ethiopian Society Through Action) as they discover the essence of empowerment, through their work with IHA UDP (Integrated Holistic Approach Urban Development Project) based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

So there you have it: great films, and a great night, for a great cause. The event starts at 8pm, and entrance is a $5 minimum donation at the door. And fellas, don't get it twisted, the event may be called When Sistuhs Speak, but we need to take it upon ourselves to listen to what they've got to say. If there is any chance that you are still not sold, take a quick look at some of the amazing and talented performers you can expect tomorrow, and please do your best to come out and support. It will be truly appreciated!

And many, many more!