6TH ANNUAL AWA FESTIVAL
6TH ANNUAL AWA FESTIVAL IN NIAGARA FALLS 2021.
Founded in 2011 by international artist Sonia Aimy, African Women Acting (AWA) is an incorporated non-profit organization. The organization aims to empower, promote and preserve African cultural arts of all modalities in Ontario. These include vocal and instrumental music, theatre, dance, visual arts, spoken word, story-telling and poetry.
In order to comprehensively achieve our goal, we ardently support female African artists and those of the diaspora and champion related issues. As we are a community of women, the agenda of addressing social activism for social issues such as sexism, discrimination, racism, homelessness, gender-based violence and mental health are some aimed at to eradicate. Through artistic expressions, AWA brings these issues to light and offers knowledge, support and solutions.
Although AWA prioritizes promoting female African artists, we strongly believe in inclusivity in the arts community. We encourage partnerships and collaborations with artists of all genders, ethnicities and religious or spiritual beliefs.
The 6th Annual African Women Acting Festival is generously funded by Canada Council for the Arts.
Our 6th AWA Festival took place in Niagara Falls this year. We look forward to returning to Niagara Falls in 2022, hopefully in front of a live audience.
We featured great artists and live stream performances every Friday in October!
The performances are still available for your enjoyment. Click on the name of the artist below to view!
October 8th
Amadou Kienou Master drummer hails from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, West Africa
Lamoi Award winning spoken word artist, published poet and arts educator
October 15th
Esther Pennell Mi’kmaq singer songwriter living in North Bay Ontario
Amanda Martinez Canadian singer-songwriter whose music is an original blend of influences from her Mexican and South African roots
October 22nd
Waleed Abdulhamid Multi-instrumentalist; Composer; Vocalist; Music and Film Producer from Sudan
October 29th
Chelsea Stewart Juno Nominated independent Reggae artist
Eddie Bullen and Jeremy Sean Hector Smooth Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, flavoured with Caribbean rhythms.
