91原创 Arts Council kicked off its third annual Celebration of Culture series on Saturday, March 8, with a lantern workshop and African dance.
Noma 鈥� born Nomathamsanqa Treatie Mkwananzi, now known as Nkwali 鈥� from the city of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, fell in love with the arts at the young age of seven, when she had her first major role as an extra in the movie 'Power of One' starring Morgan Freeman and Zimbabwe鈥檚 Alois Moyo, and from there she never looked back.
"I didn't know at the time it was a [movie] set, and the old man who spoke [my language] was Morgan Freeman," she shared with an audience at the Aldergrove Kinsmen Community Centre.
At 19 years old, Nkwali studied the arts in school and toured the United Kingdom with Zimbabwe's top poet Albert Nyathi and Imbongi. She performed in several festivals and toured Europe with a theatre production in the early 2000s.
She then toured with Mother Africa Circus until 2015 in Australia, Germany, Singapore, Philippines, Austria, and the United States as the lead singer and dancer.
"I met Dolly Parton on tour," she shared, recalling that Parton encouraged her to keep going.
Now solo under the name Nkwali, she has released her own albums on Apple iTunes and is working on a new album called Themba.
Her performance was one of many to come in the month-long series of culture celebrations hosted by the LAC.
The Arts Council is hosting its first day of the month-long Culture Celebration today until 3pm
鈥� Aldergrove Star (@AldergroveStar)
Next on Saturday, March 15, kicks off with an exploration of instruments at 11 a.m., followed by an Indonesian shadow puppet workshop at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
At 12:30 p.m., Arnie (Lek鈥檋oosh) Leon will perform an Indigenous flute and eagle dance.
On March 22, LAC hosts Sweet Pan Entertainment for Caribbean rhythms at 11 a.m., followed by Scottish Highland bagpipes and dance at 12:45 p.m.
The day wraps up with Persian music by the Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra at 2:15 p.m.
The final Saturday, March 28, features a workshop with Chef Sarah Mierau on Indigenous plant medicine at 11:30 a.m.
New this year, on Sunday, March 29, is a cultural artisan market from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with more than a dozen vendors selling crafts, food, and more.
Live music will be performed at 11 a.m. by Silk Road Duo, at 1:30 p.m. by O'Carolan Celtic Ensemble, and at 3 p.m. by Nova Sol.
