Photo by Alex Nemo Hanse
The Future of Black Youth On a Global Stage
Toronto, Ontario
Presented by
Harbourfront Centre
This edition of Nordic Talks continues the dialogue of Black youth and their development in an increasingly connected society.
Black History Month is an annual observance that originated in the United States and received official recognition from the Canadian government in 1995. Some argue the month of February silos the work and recognition of the Black community and others say it’s a spotlight that needs to focus even more on young Black voices from around the world. Where do the Nordics position themselves in this conversation? Is it time to look at Black futures in a global, borderless context or is “place” the key ingredient to equality?
See full list of event participants below.
Event Supporters
Nontokozo Tshabalala is a multidisciplinary artist and designer. Born and raised in South Africa, currently based in Gothenburg Sweden. She uses her work as an avenue to inquire deeper questions about her identity and the black experience wherever she goes. Inspired by her nephew Siyamthanda a.k.a Ncufi, she writes and creates from a place of deep reflection, curiosity, and instinct. She often uses colour, collage, and poetry to express her thoughts on the topic she wishes to explore. Tshabalala is the Co-founder of Mam’Gobozi Design Factory, a design studio celebrating the Afrikan identity through creativity. She is also the 2021 Loeries Young Creative winner.
For half of his life Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson has been a singer and composer, touring over 30 countries, as well as launching a record label and radio station. In 2014, Stefánsson started his career as a documentary filmmaker and writer at RÚV, Iceland’s public broadcaster. As a film-maker he has received numerous nominations and two awards at the Edda, The Icelandic Film and Television Awards.
Over the past 6 years as a Social Impact Entrepreneur, Andreas Robinson has directly impacted and engaged 5000+ people through consulting, programming, events, and workshops. Infinitus Academy Inc. is an Afrocentric social enterprise rooted in social and emotional based learning, change management, and consulting, for individuals and communities. Specializing in authentic community engagement, they empower individuals and communities to leverage their lived experiences to be successful. Their emphasis on authentic engagement, building community and fostering shared language enables them to build tangible roadmaps, create resilient teams and to leverage human capital.
Robinson’s engagements span community partners, government, municipalities, non-profit organizations, and the private sector – with an emphasis on building shared language, community engagement, advocacy, policy, and change. As an authentic youth and community engagement specialist, some of his areas of leadership are in anti-racism, digital, financial and cultural literacy, entrepreneurship, personal and professional branding and, development. His mission is to empower youth, individuals, and communities to ‘Embrace their Limitless Potential’.
Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu is an acclaimed theatre creator and director raised in Kenya and Victoria, BC and based in Toronto. She recently won a Dora Award for her Outstanding Direction of The Brothers Size, which also won for Outstanding Production. She is the Founder/Artistic Director of the experimental theatre company It’s A Freedom Thing Theatre and also recently directed the critically acclaimed plays Trout Stanley (Factory Theatre), Here are the Fragments (The Theatre Centre/The ECT Collective), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Soulpepper) and Oraltorio: A Theatrical Mixtape (Obsidian/Soulpepper). Mumbi is also the recipient of a Toronto Theatre Critics Award, an Artistic Director’s Award (Soulpepper), a Pauline McGibbon Award, a Mallory Gilbert Protege Award, a Harold Award, and has been twice nominated for the John Hirsch Directing Award. She is a graduate of Soulpepper Academy, York University and University of Toronto as well as Obsidian Theatre’s Mentor/Apprenticeship Program.
