Spotlight
Oni, The Haitian Sensation—A South African mentorship
The arts have the power to take us on journeys far beyond our expectations. For
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Oni the Haitian Sensation (left) with South African Poet Laureate, Zolani Mkiva during her mentorship in South Africa.
(Photo: Courtesy of Oni, The Haitian Sensation). click here for more photos |
Ingrid Joseph, the Ottawa-based slam poet also known as Oni, The Haitian Sensation, what started as a grant application became an unforgettable experience.
Funding from the Chalmers Professional Development Grants program enabled Oni to study “praise singing,” one of the oldest oral traditions in Africa, by shadowing South Africa’s Poet Laureate, Zolani Mkiva. “Praise singing,” also called “praise poetry,” is an art form that is spontaneous, yet deeply rooted in ancestry and lived history.
Oni’s South African mentorship was a time to learn and exchange. She learned about the links between Haiti and South Africa. Her exploration of praise poetry has added depth to Oni’s writing and reciting; she has experienced a new way to work with poetry and gained greater understanding of the elements, protocols and meanings behind phrases in “praise poetry”. She also learned phrases in Xhosa, one of South Africa’s official languages.
About Zolani Mkiva
South Africa’s Poet Laureate comes from a long line of orators and “imbongis” (folk poets). Historically, imbongis acted as intermediaries between tribespeople and their leaders, and were responsible for recounting a tribe’s history.
Mkiva is one of the most celebrated imbongis of his time and has received many honours. He earned fame for acting as imbongi at the celebration following Nelson Mandela’s release from jail. He has collaborated with internationally acclaimed artists, and was appointed South Africa’s “Imbongi Yesiwe” (Poet of the Nation) in 1991. Mkiva was also proclaimed King of African Poetry in Zimbabwe.
Highlights
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Zukiswa Mandela, right, works with Oni, The Haitian Sensation, to translate some of Oni's poetry into Xhosa, one of South Africa's official languages. (Photo: Courtesy of Oni, The Haitian Sensation). click here for more photos |
During her mentorship, Oni performed for the royal family of Swaziland and was invited to perform praise poetry at the 2010 World Cup this summer. Oni also got acquainted with Nelson Mandela, who provided input into community projects she developed to build links between Canadian and South African women, and to raise awareness about a range of issues.
Witnessing the respect that imbongis receive in South Africa increased Oni’s sense of confidence. The imbongis are well respected because of their role in society and because of the depth of their knowledge.
Oni summarizes her mentorship: “South Africa has allowed me to believe in the power of human potential. When I reflect on Africa I feel closure. My passion for poetry took me home, as the first child from my family to return to Africa after slavery.”
Who is Oni, The Haitian Sensation?
Oni is a slam poet with more than 18 years of experience. She has been commissioned to write poetry for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, the CBC, the Bytowne Museum and the Winterlude Festival in Ottawa. Poetry has taken Oni to slam poetry circuits in Canada, the United States, Europe and now Africa. She recorded a CD called The Bedside Booty Book; her book Ghettostocracy, a collection of poetry, was published in 2006. Oni uses her craft to entertain and raise awareness about social issues; she is also an HIV/AIDS activist.
Chalmers Professional Development Grants Program
Oni carried out her mentorship with funding from the Chalmers Professional Development Grants program, which provides support for study, mentorship, internship and apprenticeship in the arts. The Chalmers Professional Development Grants program support artists to acquire knowledge, new skills, build on experience and assist career progression. The program is support by The Chalmers Family Fund administered by the OAC.
Please note that the next Chalmers Professional Development Grants deadline is December 1, 2010. This program is not to be confused with the Chalmers Arts Fellowships program which funds different kinds of activities. If you are interested in applying to the December 1 deadline, we recommend that you contact Myles Warren, Dance and Awards Officer, three months prior to the deadline when the guidelines and application form will be posted on the OAC website.
For more information, contact Myles Warren, Awards Officer, 416-969-7422 or 1-800-387-0058 extension 7422, mwarren@arts.on.ca.