Abdul Smith also known as Wordsmith, was born in Sierra Leone, and now makes Winnipeg his home. His work filters thought, emotion, experience, and imagination through the ultimate evaluator: conscience.

Adeline Bird is part African and Obijway from Rolling River First Nations, Manitoba. Adeline has a passion for social change and justice, so much so, she immediately went into the profession of social work. Adeline's passion and drive for knowledge, truth and consciousness gave birth to her podcast Soul Unexpected. Which she hosts and produces and can be found at www.adelinebird.com
Adeline is also the author of the book titled Be Unapologetically You: A self-love guide for women of color.

Alexa Joy Potashnik is the Founder of Black Space Winnipeg, Host of Raw Colours on CKUW 95.9FM, local vocal percussionist known as MC Woke and the former Racialised Student Commissioner with the Canadian Federation of Students - MB. Alexa's work involves creating safe spaces for people of colour while challenging white/male privilege, dominance and supremacy through grassroots activism.

Alpha Toshineza is a versatile artist: francophone MC, graphic designer and founder of his own record label “Jazz Inuit”(www.jazzinuit.com) Born and raised in Luxembourg, he started his rapping career in the early 90s. He was in different groups (HLM, MQP, Nouvelle Alliance) before going solo under the name Gospel Emcee. Between 2003 and 2013, he released different projects (2 albums, many EPs), collaborated with aclaimed artists and producers like Kev Brown and Oddisee.

Chimwemwe Undi is a poet and linguist. She has performed at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, and had work published in CV2, Prairie Fire and Room Magazine, among others. She has just completed a MA in linguistics at York University, and will be starting a JD in law from the University of Manitoba in the fall. Chimwemwe Undi was raised first in southern Africa and then as a guest on Treaty One Territory in south Winnipeg.

Ciel & Lynx Sainte-Marie are multidimensional artists, activists & educators of the Caribbean diaspora. This year they presented at Nuit Noire and have vast experience in community organizing in Vancouver and Toronto.

Calvin Joseph is a conceptual thinker, who specializes in Fine Art, Design, and Photography. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Calvin seeks to create collaborative relationships with his team and clients. Calvin’s mission is to produce professional artwork that has a unique style for each project. Calvin is a former Fine Arts student at the University of Manitoba and a graduate of the Digital Media Design program at Red River College.

Dan Andrews is a student in music at the University of Manitoba. Dan is an emerging artists and draws in the audience with his impressive and passionate skills on any drum.

Dubem Ukaigwe is a multimedia, contemporary artist and student at the University of Manitoba. Dubem has been apart of several showcases across Winnipeg and is steadily rising fast in his young career as a very talented and passion artist.

Edmund Machona is a contemporary poet, storyteller, educator, artist and therapist in training at the Uof Winnipeg. His work challenges existing social norms and is aimed at encouraging people to shift their viewpoints. Identity is the central pillar of all his stories, his style is informal and inspired by stories told to him by his grandmother in his home country of Zimbabwe.

Eugene Baffoe, known in the hip hop community as “GeNie” is a freestyle battle Dancer from Montreal, Quebec. He has been training in the field of Hip Hop for the last decade, teaching, choreographing and directing at a professional level over the last 6 years. GeNie currently heads Winnipeg’s newest and fastest growing urban Hip Hop dance drew “B.O.S.S Dance Team” (Built on Self Success).

Jared Beckstead-Craan, is a music student at the University of Manitoba. His impressive skills demands the attention of any engaged listener. Jared is coming towards the end of his student career at University of Winnipeg with intention to attend grad school and further his musicianship and skills as an artist.

KAIROS is an emcee from Winnipeg, MB. With a family that hails from Trinidad & Tobago, he was surrounded by music from a young age. Although raised on calypso and reggae, it was hip-hop that would capture his heart. Inspired by the lyricism and social commentary, he was inspired to pick up the pen himself.

Kelechi is a Nigerian-Canadian born in Winnipeg. His professional background is in marketing with skills in photography, videography & design. From photoshoots and workshops to online videos & live events he’s created a collection of content that showcase different aspects of the black community which challenge racial stereotypes. Through his creative work and using social media, Kelechi and his partner, Niasha McKoy, formed ÉZÈ STUDIO.

Lorraine James has been involved in the entertainment industry for 20+ years, spanning provinces like Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Starting off at Edmonton’s Walterdale Playhouse (Come & Go, You Can’t Take It With You), continuing in Winnipeg with Townhouse 9 (Joe Orton’s What The Butler Saw), Popular Theatre Alliance of Manitoba (Beyond The Punchline, Some of My Best Friends Are…), and her first foray at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival (The Sleeping Beauty Cabaret).

Mahlet Cuff is photographer, writer and radio personality who promotes the education and awareness of intersectional feminism. Mahlet has established herself as an up and coming photographer in Winnipeg whose work reflect Black realities and perspectives.

Malcolm-Jay is a socially conscious and self-reflective musician that has been active in the hip hop community for the past 10 years. His accomplishments include hip hop award nominations, charting top 10 on national campus radio and national distribution of previous releases. His live performances include accompaniment from a DJ, guitarist, percussionist and backup singer.

"Ndu" means "LIFE" in the Igbo language of West Africa..Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba to Nigerian parents, Ndubuisi "Ndu" Okwumabua cultivated his love for music at an early age. He was profoundly inspired by such noteworthy acts as Neil Young, Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, 2Pac, Barry White and Fela Kuti.

rampage! (Dione C. Haynes) is a writer/poet, comedian and co-producer, along with Elissa Kixen, of WOKE Comedy Hour. WOKE is an open mike for Indigenous Womxn and Womxn+NB folx of Colour, held twice a month in Winnipeg.

Tino Hove is a an emerging spoken word artist, whose words captures his audience with poetic intent. Tino is a local poet from Winnipeg, MB.

Travis Ross is a visual artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is also a photographers foot jellyfish jam creative services, a division of Pipe & Hat Music group. His work has take him across North America, and beyond. He has had work in Flare, the Globe and Mail, as several other publications. Travis is presently working on a long term project that tackles culture, gender, and societies perception of these things and groups.