Pi Theatre Presents: Black Space Jam - An AfroVan Connect Production

Door: 7:00 Show: 8:00 PM

A Pi Provocateurs Presentation
Produced by Black Space Media / Afro Van Connect

The Black Space Jam (BSJ) is a live performance showcase that provides local and international artists of African Descent a platform to share and promote their artwork. This showcase intentionally amplifies, celebrates, and centers Black creatives and the Black Experience. The BSJ was created to enhance the visibility of African descent youth within our local arts and culture community. This platform was made by artists for artists to create opportunities for skill cultivation and brand promotion.

The theme of this  BSJ  is cultural renaissance. Featuring dance, spoken word, standup comedy, music, and a live DJ; the intention of this event is to offer attendees a cultural experience and spectrum of Black art. The event will also host various culturally relevant vendors selling their locally made goods.

Join us at the Biltmore Cabaret on March 3, 2023, for an evening of multidisciplinary art, followed by a chance to mingle, party, and socialize with the artists. Click HERE to visit Pi's website for more event details.


The Lineup

Shayna Jones - we are STORYFOLK
Spoken word / poetry
Shayna Jones is an award winning professional performance artist specializing in the Traditional Oral Storytelling of African and Afro-Diasporic Folklore. As a professionally trained Actor, Vocalist, and Fine Mover, Shayna has performed for audiences across Canada. As a Folklorist, Shayna combines her passion for live performance with the in-depth study of Afro-centric Folk History, Folklore and Contemporary Experience.

DJ Bazenga
Music
Bazenga is an international DJ and Curator based in Vancouver BC. Bazenga uses music to create infectious playlists, dance grooves, and a feel good atmosphere.

Brotha Jason
Dance
Jason Bempong, also known as Brotha Jason, is a multidisciplinary artist “manifesting through many mediums” through dance, fashion, graphic design, animation, acting, and modelling. While juggling these art forms, Bempong spends most of his time focusing on Sleepless Mindz, his art and fashion brand, dance, and dance battles, as well as acting. Sleepless Mindz combines major influences from Bempong’s childhood. Primarily 90s cartoons, like Rugrats, ReBoot, Ninja Turtles, and anime, like Dragon Ball Z, but also elements from the 80s, 90s, early 2000’s, and his Ghanaian heritage.

Mufaro Mbudzi  
Standup Comedy
Mufaro Mbudzi is a standup comedian and fashion designer originally from Zimbabwe, featured at Melbourne Comedy Festival & JFL Vancouver, He is producing his comedy show Scheduled Meditation as part of Just for Laughs Vancouver’s 2023 festival . Scheduled Meditation, his brand, is a comedy, fashion and lifestyle platform curating live comedy shows, guided meditations and dance parties, and Mufaro recently released his first clothing collection at Vancouver Fashion Week.

ebonEmpress
Music
ebonEmpress aka Dae Shields is the founder and Executive Director of Afro Van Connect Society, Community Advocate, Musician, Emcee, Designer and Curator. As an artist under the stage name ebonEmpress, she blends Hip hop, neo soul, and R&B, where she shares her lived experience as a woman of African descent and spreads a message of unity and acceptance. She is committed to spreading awareness about the injustice faced by African communities and showcasing the impact people of African descent have on Canadian and global cultures.

KOR  
Music
K.O.R aka Osmoses x is a community activist, artist, director, writer, designer, cultural curator, cofounder of Afro Van Connect and Executive Director of Black Space Media.  Kor's art and music reflects his African Descent culture and heritage. Fusing elements of HipHop, R&B, Afrobeat and Soul. Kor uses his art to promotes African descent culture and messages of empowerment, love, unity, and equality. As an artist it is my responsibility to be a voice for my community. I believe it is important to use my platform to highlight injustices and inequities in the hopes of creating awareness and meaningful change.