Thursday, November 28, 2024, from 6 to 9 pm

The Goldfarb Gallery ×
Jane Street Speaks Inaugural Showcase

DJ Kappa Mezu, Nathan Baya, Kibra, Sydanie, and Benita. Hosted by Akeem Raphael

In the Pavilion

As we celebrate the opening of our new building, we are thrilled to kick off a new chapter of programming continuing our abiding commitment to spotlighting and creating platforms for Jane Finch artists. In partnership with Jane Street Speaks this showcase features a stellar lineup of Jane and Finch’s best and brightest hip hop and R&B artists. Hosted by Akeem Raphael with DJ sets by Kappa Mezu, this event includes not-to-be-missed performances by Jane Street Speaks founder Nathan Baya, unparalleled R&B singer songwriter Kibra, powerhouse hip hop artist Sydanie, and rising R&B vocalist Benita. This showcase attests to the undeniable talents of artists from our surrounding neighbourhood and how the community is a catalyst and creative incubator for artistic expression across disciplines.

Jane Street Speaks has a remarkable commitment and track record of supporting and celebrating new generations of multidisciplinary artists through an ongoing program of open mic events and workshops, providing an invaluable educational and performance platform for emerging artists across the city. We feel strongly aligned with Jane Street Speaks in its mission and dedication to creating enriching and challenging artistic development opportunities that foster the growth and advancement of up-and-coming artists.

Akeem Raphael is a multidisciplinary artist and a speaker, a DJ, and a teacher. He has emceed in Montreal, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Calgary, just to name a few. Akeem was recognized as the first emcee during the 2015 Pan Am & Para Pan Am Games in Toronto, engaging with the athletes just before they were introduced at the opening ceremonies. He has also presented workshops throughout the GTA focusing on self-love and self-development. Akeem’s dream is to inspire 2 billion people to become their own Self-Love King or Queen.

Kappa Mezu is a Toronto-based DJ. Describing his sound as Alternative Underground, he has given himself the mission of putting listeners onto new, less popular and underrepresented types of music. Kappa started volunteering on CIUT radio’s MasterPlan show and has DJ’d for Artscape programs, the Royal Ontario Museum, TIFF, Urban Arts Culture Shock Festival, and Toronto’s 2015 Manifesto 15, where he was one of four headlining DJs. We have worked with Kappa in several previous projects, including Remote Control.

Nathan Baya is an artist, songwriter, and performer born and raised in Toronto. Baya’s parents immigrated to Canada from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a heritage that has left an indelible impact on his musical sound. Known for his electrifying performances, Baya has taken the stage at over 100 venues including for the Toronto Raptors, Afrofest, Nuit Blanche, Rise Edutainment, and the Toronto Biennial of Art. He appears in the Wagner & de Burca film, RISE, which was produced by the AGYU. Additionally, Baya was the opening act for Koffee at the 2020 Manifesto Festival.

Toronto-based singer Kibra is quickly making a name for herself as one of the most exceptional voices in Toronto’s R&B and soul scene, receiving over 1 million views for her single “Laydown” on @rnb.radar on Instagram. Frequently addressing pressing social issues in her songs, Kibra is committed to building and uplifting community through her music. Kibra has taken the stage at the Toronto International Film Festival, Afrofest Canada, the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts and Yonge and Dundas Square. Kibra is a frequent collaborator in our programs.

Toronto-born Jamaican-Trinidadian artist and mother Sydanie sets the bar high for women in Toronto’s hip hop scene. Not confined to any one genre, Sydanie’s work runs from ambient trap to house to nuanced soundscapes, unapologetically carrying her Southside Jane neighbourhood in tow. She captivated audiences at Nuit Blanche (part of our Streams~ program), the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto TD Jazz Festival, Toronto PRIDE, NxNE, POP Montréal, and more. Longlisted for the 2019 Polaris Prize, the self-proclaimed supernatural rapper also runs The MOCHA Project, a grassroots community arts project for mothers of colour.

Born and raised in Jane and Finch, Benita is an R&B singer and songwriter making waves in Toronto’s music scene. In 2017, Benita was part of Daniel Caesar’s Freudian Tour Choir and two years later was shortlisted by music industry experts for CBC’s Searchlight awards. A writer on John Vinyl’s Juno-nominated song “Palisade,” Benita has opened for the likes of Savannah Ré and RAAHiiM. Writing and singing with unapologetic honesty, Benita connects deeply with her listeners by shedding light on some of her most difficult struggles. This is our first collaboration with Benita.