I remember the first time I performed in front of a black audience
front of a black audience
front of a black audience it wasn’t it is in the city suburbs of
it wasn’t it is in the city suburbs of
it wasn’t it is in the city suburbs of Melbourne and it was in this garage like
Melbourne and it was in this garage like
Melbourne and it was in this garage like vineyard and I’ve just seen a face book
vineyard and I’ve just seen a face book
vineyard and I’ve just seen a face book of a pop up on my newsfeed I didn’t know
of a pop up on my newsfeed I didn’t know
of a pop up on my newsfeed I didn’t know who was gonna be there but I happen to
who was gonna be there but I happen to
who was gonna be there but I happen to be in Melbourne on that day and so I
be in Melbourne on that day and so I
be in Melbourne on that day and so I want to check that out I was really
want to check that out I was really
want to check that out I was really curious about the description that said
curious about the description that said
curious about the description that said Black Arts Collective when I went to
Black Arts Collective when I went to
Black Arts Collective when I went to that space I was really astounded by
that space I was really astounded by
that space I was really astounded by what I saw I’m gonna rewind for a moment
what I saw I’m gonna rewind for a moment
what I saw I’m gonna rewind for a moment I came to Ghana lent a blade from
I came to Ghana lent a blade from
I came to Ghana lent a blade from Eritrea when I was three years old so I
Eritrea when I was three years old so I
Eritrea when I was three years old so I went to kindergarten primary school high
went to kindergarten primary school high
went to kindergarten primary school high school University here in Adelaide and
school University here in Adelaide and
school University here in Adelaide and throughout school I really learned a lot
throughout school I really learned a lot
throughout school I really learned a lot about myself as the other let me explain
about myself as the other let me explain
about myself as the other let me explain what I mean by that
what I mean by that
what I mean by that it seemed that to everybody in my
it seemed that to everybody in my
it seemed that to everybody in my classroom or in the school or wherever I
classroom or in the school or wherever I
classroom or in the school or wherever I was I was the embodiment of every type
was I was the embodiment of every type
was I was the embodiment of every type of other that there was it was a very
of other that there was it was a very
of other that there was it was a very wide area so there wasn’t that much
wide area so there wasn’t that much
wide area so there wasn’t that much diversity not many people of color and
diversity not many people of color and
diversity not many people of color and there was so little awareness and
there was so little awareness and
there was so little awareness and exposure now whenever the teachers would
exposure now whenever the teachers would
exposure now whenever the teachers would mention anything about indigenous
mention anything about indigenous
mention anything about indigenous studies everywhere I look at me
whatever you said you mentioned idea
whatever you said you mentioned idea everyone wanted me
everyone wanted me
everyone wanted me whatever the teacher mentioned Africa
whatever the teacher mentioned Africa
whatever the teacher mentioned Africa everyone looked at me and this continued
everyone looked at me and this continued
everyone looked at me and this continued with everything whether it was Muslims
with everything whether it was Muslims
with everything whether it was Muslims or Arabs or anybody else that we
or Arabs or anybody else that we
or Arabs or anybody else that we mentioned that wasn’t white sari
mentioned that wasn’t white sari
mentioned that wasn’t white sari throughout school this is a time when
throughout school this is a time when
throughout school this is a time when kids usually get an opportunity to
kids usually get an opportunity to
kids usually get an opportunity to explore themselves and really see
explore themselves and really see
explore themselves and really see different role models whether they’re
different role models whether they’re
different role models whether they’re people that come into the classroom or
people that come into the classroom or
people that come into the classroom or they’re teachers that are already there
they’re teachers that are already there
they’re teachers that are already there through their interactions with their
through their interactions with their
through their interactions with their friends and you can really discover
friends and you can really discover
friends and you can really discover different things about who they can be
different things about who they can be
different things about who they can be in the future who can who they can be
in the future who can who they can be
in the future who can who they can be now I don’t feel like I really got that
now I don’t feel like I really got that
now I don’t feel like I really got that experience because any time I was
experience because any time I was
experience because any time I was represented whether it was in history or
represented whether it was in history or
represented whether it was in history or whatever else a few times it was as the
whatever else a few times it was as the
whatever else a few times it was as the other so that’s where I saw myself as I
other so that’s where I saw myself as I
other so that’s where I saw myself as I really internalized that so when I was
really internalized that so when I was
really internalized that so when I was about 14 my sister and my two cousins
about 14 my sister and my two cousins
about 14 my sister and my two cousins and I started going to the city on
and I started going to the city on
and I started going to the city on Fridays after school and when we went we
Fridays after school and when we went we
Fridays after school and when we went we met people from all different
met people from all different
met people from all different backgrounds we were meeting Africans on
backgrounds we were meeting Africans on
backgrounds we were meeting Africans on a regular basis were meeting Muslims
a regular basis were meeting Muslims
a regular basis were meeting Muslims were meeting people from everywhere who
were meeting people from everywhere who
were meeting people from everywhere who all had different stories and this
all had different stories and this
all had different stories and this became kind of addictive to me and I
became kind of addictive to me and I
became kind of addictive to me and I didn’t realize the significance of it
didn’t realize the significance of it
didn’t realize the significance of it until very recently actually but at that
until very recently actually but at that
until very recently actually but at that time I couldn’t I didn’t want to miss a
time I couldn’t I didn’t want to miss a
time I couldn’t I didn’t want to miss a Friday because there was some kind of
Friday because there was some kind of
Friday because there was some kind of comfort that I found in my space when I
comfort that I found in my space when I
comfort that I found in my space when I first started performing poetry I was 15
first started performing poetry I was 15
first started performing poetry I was 15 I remember coming to a venue and I had
I remember coming to a venue and I had
I remember coming to a venue and I had two poems with me one of them was about
two poems with me one of them was about
two poems with me one of them was about my experiences she was going with
my experiences she was going with
my experiences she was going with Friday’s and kind of meeting other
Friday’s and kind of meeting other
Friday’s and kind of meeting other people that had similar
people that had similar
people that had similar system eight I was suddenly unlocking a
system eight I was suddenly unlocking a
system eight I was suddenly unlocking a different part of myself I was learning
different part of myself I was learning
different part of myself I was learning a lot more and so my rising was becoming
a lot more and so my rising was becoming
a lot more and so my rising was becoming very different so I had a poem about
very different so I had a poem about
very different so I had a poem about that and my second poem was about
that and my second poem was about
that and my second poem was about happiness and it was just about how to
happiness and it was just about how to
happiness and it was just about how to be happy I looked into the audience and
be happy I looked into the audience and
be happy I looked into the audience and saw that there was nobody who was really
saw that there was nobody who was really
saw that there was nobody who was really going to relate to my experiences and
going to relate to my experiences and
going to relate to my experiences and again I just felt like the other so I
again I just felt like the other so I
again I just felt like the other so I did the second poem about happiness and
did the second poem about happiness and
did the second poem about happiness and everybody could relate and it got me
everybody could relate and it got me
everybody could relate and it got me very far
very far
very far it was universal and I continued to
it was universal and I continued to
it was universal and I continued to perform poetry like that that was very
perform poetry like that that was very
perform poetry like that that was very much about you know just just positivity
much about you know just just positivity
much about you know just just positivity and really lovely things but it was
and really lovely things but it was
and really lovely things but it was never really being honest with myself
never really being honest with myself
never really being honest with myself because I wasn’t saying the things that
because I wasn’t saying the things that
because I wasn’t saying the things that I wanted or needed to say this kind of
I wanted or needed to say this kind of
I wanted or needed to say this kind of being translated its my activism and the
being translated its my activism and the
being translated its my activism and the work that I did later on in life I
work that I did later on in life I
work that I did later on in life I noticed that every time I spoke it was
noticed that every time I spoke it was
noticed that every time I spoke it was about reaching out to the wider audience
about reaching out to the wider audience
about reaching out to the wider audience and almost just trying to humanize
and almost just trying to humanize
and almost just trying to humanize myself trying to change their minds and
myself trying to change their minds and
myself trying to change their minds and their perspectives and this is a very
their perspectives and this is a very
their perspectives and this is a very exhausting thing for me because I’m
exhausting thing for me because I’m
exhausting thing for me because I’m constantly trying to remind somebody
constantly trying to remind somebody
constantly trying to remind somebody that you’re a person means that you’re
that you’re a person means that you’re
that you’re a person means that you’re not really allowing yourself to grow and
not really allowing yourself to grow and
not really allowing yourself to grow and see what what there is of humanity what
see what what there is of humanity what
see what what there is of humanity what kind of a person you can be you’re still
kind of a person you can be you’re still
kind of a person you can be you’re still stuck at that point of just I’m a person
stuck at that point of just I’m a person
stuck at that point of just I’m a person I’m a person and I felt like in doing
I’m a person and I felt like in doing
I’m a person and I felt like in doing this I was neglecting myself fast
this I was neglecting myself fast
this I was neglecting myself fast forward to a few years later in this
forward to a few years later in this
forward to a few years later in this garage area
garage area
garage area garage a venue enrollment when I stepped
garage a venue enrollment when I stepped
garage a venue enrollment when I stepped in there I saw so many people of African
in there I saw so many people of African
in there I saw so many people of African descent from different countries who
descent from different countries who
descent from different countries who look different who are of different
look different who are of different
look different who are of different religions who had different interests I
religions who had different interests I
religions who had different interests I was in that space and I saw people who
was in that space and I saw people who
was in that space and I saw people who were writers people who musicians
were writers people who musicians
were writers people who musicians I saw a vase or an exhibition in one
I saw a vase or an exhibition in one
I saw a vase or an exhibition in one corner clothes swapping the other and
corner clothes swapping the other and
corner clothes swapping the other and all these things I’ve never really seen
all these things I’ve never really seen
all these things I’ve never really seen how the Africans doing because it felt
how the Africans doing because it felt
how the Africans doing because it felt like we were constantly confined to the
like we were constantly confined to the
like we were constantly confined to the imaginations of other people but in this
imaginations of other people but in this
imaginations of other people but in this space or able to thrive we were able to
space or able to thrive we were able to
space or able to thrive we were able to learn from each other we were able to
learn from each other we were able to
learn from each other we were able to see different versions of ourselves and
see different versions of ourselves and
see different versions of ourselves and see what was possible and that’s what I
see what was possible and that’s what I
see what was possible and that’s what I really felt there were two things in
really felt there were two things in
really felt there were two things in particular about this space they were
particular about this space they were
particular about this space they were empowering to me one of them was this
empowering to me one of them was this
empowering to me one of them was this representation it changed what that word
representation it changed what that word
representation it changed what that word meant to me and it became one of my
meant to me and it became one of my
meant to me and it became one of my favorite word’s because representation
favorite word’s because representation
favorite word’s because representation could determine who we decide we want to
could determine who we decide we want to
could determine who we decide we want to be because we are influenced by
be because we are influenced by
be because we are influenced by everything that we see and everybody
everything that we see and everybody
everything that we see and everybody that we interact with the second thing
that we interact with the second thing
that we interact with the second thing that was so empowering to me was that
that was so empowering to me was that
that was so empowering to me was that this space was rounded by black African
this space was rounded by black African
this space was rounded by black African people young people it was it was a
people young people it was it was a
people young people it was it was a group of people who had decided that
group of people who had decided that
group of people who had decided that they weren’t the other they earned their
they weren’t the other they earned their
they weren’t the other they earned their identity they knew who they were in this
identity they knew who they were in this
identity they knew who they were in this space and they were they were taking a
space and they were they were taking a
space and they were they were taking a claim of who they were in this society
claim of who they were in this society
claim of who they were in this society and they were determining what they
and they were determining what they
and they were determining what they would do this was very empowering for me
would do this was very empowering for me
would do this was very empowering for me because they weren’t asking for
because they weren’t asking for
because they weren’t asking for permission they were trying to change
permission they were trying to change
permission they were trying to change anybody’s mind let me just be and what
anybody’s mind let me just be and what
anybody’s mind let me just be and what they’ve done what they’ve
they’ve done what they’ve
they’ve done what they’ve I know he has inspired many more than
I know he has inspired many more than
I know he has inspired many more than just me this was a really pivotal moment
just me this was a really pivotal moment
just me this was a really pivotal moment in my growth but it didn’t mean that it
in my growth but it didn’t mean that it
in my growth but it didn’t mean that it was going to be any easier to kind of
was going to be any easier to kind of
was going to be any easier to kind of change and see how I needed to make
change and see how I needed to make
change and see how I needed to make change but I was determined to bring
change but I was determined to bring
change but I was determined to bring something like this to Adelaide because
something like this to Adelaide because
something like this to Adelaide because there wasn’t much there if there wasn’t
there wasn’t much there if there wasn’t
there wasn’t much there if there wasn’t much here in Adelaide at that time now
much here in Adelaide at that time now
much here in Adelaide at that time now I’m 22 and over the past three years
I’m 22 and over the past three years
I’m 22 and over the past three years there’s been a huge change in my
there’s been a huge change in my
there’s been a huge change in my perspective and how I do things
perspective and how I do things
perspective and how I do things so when I came back to Adelaide I was
so when I came back to Adelaide I was
so when I came back to Adelaide I was still working in the same space and it
still working in the same space and it
still working in the same space and it became more exhausting to constantly be
became more exhausting to constantly be
became more exhausting to constantly be trying to change the minds of other
trying to change the minds of other
trying to change the minds of other people and how they perceived me because
people and how they perceived me because
people and how they perceived me because now I knew what it was like to be in a
now I knew what it was like to be in a
now I knew what it was like to be in a place where I could be focusing on
place where I could be focusing on
place where I could be focusing on myself and I noticed it in doing what I
myself and I noticed it in doing what I
myself and I noticed it in doing what I was doing which was work that was so
was doing which was work that was so
was doing which was work that was so necessary definitely but I was
necessary definitely but I was
necessary definitely but I was neglecting myself and I really was like
neglecting myself and I really was like
neglecting myself and I really was like neglecting myself but I was neglecting
neglecting myself but I was neglecting
neglecting myself but I was neglecting anybody else have identified with my
anybody else have identified with my
anybody else have identified with my stories who just needed to be the focus
stories who just needed to be the focus
stories who just needed to be the focus of the attention for a change instead of
of the attention for a change instead of
of the attention for a change instead of always being left on the margins while
always being left on the margins while
always being left on the margins while we focus on the wider community so I
we focus on the wider community so I
we focus on the wider community so I started thinking about what these
started thinking about what these
started thinking about what these changes that are needed to make work and
changes that are needed to make work and
changes that are needed to make work and they were she continued to create spaces
they were she continued to create spaces
they were she continued to create spaces what to begin to create space
what to begin to create space
what to begin to create space as I guess in Adelaide where young
as I guess in Adelaide where young
as I guess in Adelaide where young people like everybody that I was meeting
people like everybody that I was meeting
people like everybody that I was meeting every Friday who has third culture kids
every Friday who has third culture kids
every Friday who has third culture kids who didn’t necessarily fit into the box
who didn’t necessarily fit into the box
who didn’t necessarily fit into the box of immigrants or or or anything else
of immigrants or or or anything else
of immigrants or or or anything else when they would really decide what they
when they would really decide what they
when they would really decide what they wanted to do who they wanted to be and
wanted to do who they wanted to be and
wanted to do who they wanted to be and to bring in support for that kind of
to bring in support for that kind of
to bring in support for that kind of thing has been difficult at times
thing has been difficult at times
thing has been difficult at times because there’s this tendency for us to
because there’s this tendency for us to
because there’s this tendency for us to think that the only way that focusing on
think that the only way that focusing on
think that the only way that focusing on minority communities the only way that
minority communities the only way that
minority communities the only way that they can that that can be helpful to the
they can that that can be helpful to the
they can that that can be helpful to the rest of the nation is by finding ways to
rest of the nation is by finding ways to
rest of the nation is by finding ways to whether it’s assimilate that will make
whether it’s assimilate that will make
whether it’s assimilate that will make them connect with the wider community
them connect with the wider community
them connect with the wider community but sometimes it’s really just about
but sometimes it’s really just about
but sometimes it’s really just about creating spaces to foster that work what
creating spaces to foster that work what
creating spaces to foster that work what I find that we need is that for those
I find that we need is that for those
I find that we need is that for those who consider themselves allies to really
who consider themselves allies to really
who consider themselves allies to really think about how they’re helping and we
think about how they’re helping and we
think about how they’re helping and we have a shift to a model of empowerment
have a shift to a model of empowerment
have a shift to a model of empowerment because what we don’t need is for people
because what we don’t need is for people
because what we don’t need is for people who are not African for example to be
who are not African for example to be
who are not African for example to be holding African African Film Festival
holding African African Film Festival
holding African African Film Festival when somebody who is African could be
when somebody who is African could be
when somebody who is African could be doing that because that is empowering
doing that because that is empowering
doing that because that is empowering for restaurants to be opened parading
for restaurants to be opened parading
for restaurants to be opened parading African cultures or whatever else when
African cultures or whatever else when
African cultures or whatever else when they’re not African because this takes
they’re not African because this takes
they’re not African because this takes opportunities from people who really do
opportunities from people who really do
opportunities from people who really do do something and take ownership of their
do something and take ownership of their
do something and take ownership of their identity and move forward I’m most
identity and move forward I’m most
identity and move forward I’m most importantly we need to make sure that
importantly we need to make sure that
importantly we need to make sure that when it’s when we see people like a
when it’s when we see people like a
when it’s when we see people like a group of African boys go hanging out on
group of African boys go hanging out on
group of African boys go hanging out on the streets together or a group of
the streets together or a group of
the streets together or a group of sisters who stick together in a
sisters who stick together in a
sisters who stick together in a classroom or in the neighborhood or in
classroom or in the neighborhood or in
classroom or in the neighborhood or in workplace or wherever else this is not a
workplace or wherever else this is not a
workplace or wherever else this is not a threat in any way this is simply people
threat in any way this is simply people
threat in any way this is simply people cultivating a space where they feel or
cultivating a space where they feel or
cultivating a space where they feel or cultivating a sense of safety because
cultivating a sense of safety because
cultivating a sense of safety because living as a minority in this country can
living as a minority in this country can
living as a minority in this country can often mean that you feel like you’re in
often mean that you feel like you’re in
often mean that you feel like you’re in a violent environment on a regular basis
a violent environment on a regular basis
a violent environment on a regular basis and for me personally what this is meant
and for me personally what this is meant
and for me personally what this is meant is that I no longer feel guilty if
is that I no longer feel guilty if
is that I no longer feel guilty if perhaps today I need to just be around
perhaps today I need to just be around
perhaps today I need to just be around my African sisters or today I just need
my African sisters or today I just need
my African sisters or today I just need to be around Muslims because today I
to be around Muslims because today I
to be around Muslims because today I might not feel like justifying myself
might not feel like justifying myself
might not feel like justifying myself and negotiating Who I am and explaining
and negotiating Who I am and explaining
and negotiating Who I am and explaining myself and that’s okay because sometimes
myself and that’s okay because sometimes
myself and that’s okay because sometimes it’s only in these spaces that we can
it’s only in these spaces that we can
it’s only in these spaces that we can really feel free and when I stepped onto
really feel free and when I stepped onto
really feel free and when I stepped onto that when I was in that space when I was
that when I was in that space when I was
that when I was in that space when I was 19 the garage
19 the garage
19 the garage I was I stood out not because of the
I was I stood out not because of the
I was I stood out not because of the clothes that I wore but because I had
clothes that I wore but because I had
clothes that I wore but because I had some doubts lyrics to share I have some
some doubts lyrics to share I have some
some doubts lyrics to share I have some things to say and others not simply my
things to say and others not simply my
things to say and others not simply my exterior and that was an empowering
exterior and that was an empowering
exterior and that was an empowering thing and it’s because of space
thing and it’s because of space
thing and it’s because of space just like that but I’m able to be here
just like that but I’m able to be here
just like that but I’m able to be here and really share my truth regardless of
and really share my truth regardless of
and really share my truth regardless of who’s in the audience and that’s the
who’s in the audience and that’s the
who’s in the audience and that’s the kind of resilience that we need to be
kind of resilience that we need to be
kind of resilience that we need to be building and these spaces can help us
building and these spaces can help us
building and these spaces can help us thank you very much
”
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