ARTICLEs & PROFILES
WALK THE TALK
CONVERSATIONS WITH CURIOUS CREATIVES
A show where I get to have conversations with fellow curious creatives in entertainment and highlight the amazing work of black women across the film, television and music industries. We’ll talk about getting started, creative purpose, lived experiences, influences and a bunch of other stuff that you may be curious about.
Consists of podcast interviews and accompanying profile articles of the amazing black female creatives trying to make a name for themselves, building on the legacy of those before us and putting their own unique twist on what it means to be be a black woman in the entertainment industry.
'NO THANK YOU’:
HOW LITTLE SIMZ EMPOWERS BLACK WOMEN TO BE UNAPOLOGETICALLY THEMSELVES
Simbiatu Ajikawo, otherwise known as Little Simz, is a 29-year-old British-Nigerian triple threat. The rapper, singer and actress began her foray onto the music scene with a series of mixtapes in 2010, but blasted her way into the spotlight in 2019 with her third studio album, ‘Grey Area’. This was succeeded by her fourth album ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’, which earned rightful praise in 2021 for its genre-bending and deeply personal nature. So it came as a surprise to listeners worldwide when she burst on the scene just one year later, with a fifth studio album, releasing it less than a week after its announcement.
In keeping with previous albums, “No Thank You” is steadfast in its vulnerability, emboldening listeners with a preamble that defines the album: “Emotion is energy in motion. Honour your truth and feelings. Eradicate fear. Boundaries are important.” The album title stemmed from Simz’s reclamation of the word ‘no’, and gave rise to 10 tracks full of self-reflection, defiance and unapologetic authenticity. Speaking out on hard-learned lessons in the music industry, glass ceilings she has had to break through, and the stigma of mental health in the black community, Little Simz taps into being herself in every room, and gives permission, to those who need it, to do the same.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
BEHIND THE STUNTS With MAyA MAC
Maya Macatumpag is a movement chameleon. As a second-generation stuntwoman and actress with over 20 years of experience in the industry, she has carried out stunts on projects like Deadpool 2, Good Boys, Star Trek: Discovery, Van Helsing, Peacemaker and several other DC television series. She looks the part of a kickass superhero – her hair still growing out from the buzzcut she maintained while playing a Dora Milaje warrior and stunt double for Michaela Coel in Marvel’s newest film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).
Despite being at an all time high in her career, Maya’s drive is unwavering. She continues to diversify her background in movement with an insatiable curiosity and yearning for improvement – a beginner in each new craft. Embodying the Dora Milaje she plays in the film, Maya’s warrior spirit and determination also span further than her own personal goals. Continuing her mother’s work as a trailblazer for a new generation, Maya aims to be the change – breaking down barriers, creating safe spaces and forging a new path for BIPOC members in the Vancouver film industry as a whole.
NATAIZYA MUKWAVI
BLACK SISTERHOOD & REDISCOVERING MOVEMENT POSTPARTUM
Nataizya Mukwavi has been a mother to her community for five years, as the Founder and Executive Director of Black Women Connect Vancouver (BWCV) – a not-for-profit collective serving to bridge gaps in the Vancouver Black community, particularly offering support to Black women to be inspired and get connected. Driven by the need to create the social and wellness spaces she never had access to growing up, Nataizya champions Black sisterhood – fostering new connections and providing resources needed for Black women, teens, and mothers to live empowered and active lives.
Now, three months after the birth of her first child, Z’kari Mukwavi Dock, the Vancouver-based Zambian is learning to slow down and rediscover how her body moves in this new postpartum stage of her life, whilst continuing to nurture the mental and physical health needs of her community.
10 Black Female Artists We Need To Be Talking About
While scrolling through the ‘song radios’ of my current favorite sounds - Sunburn (Dominic Fike) / Last Words (Kenny Beats) / OG! (JPEGMAFIA) / Damned (Miguel) - I realized my playlists were sorely lacking songs from artists who look like me...
Being a young black woman in an online & IRL world gives you COMPLICATED emotions, to say the least. But these unapologetic musicians are speaking their truth & they have WORDS.
Here are 10 tracks to remind you, they are here & they deserve it all.
TRACKS YOU NEED TO HEAR
MOVIE / TELEVSION LIST & FEATURE ARTICLES
Entertainment Journalism samples
My love for pop culture, television, and film has always been indiscriminate of genre, country of origin, or from, and as a graduate of the University of British Columbia’s Film Production and Creative Writing Programs, I studied current television and film story structures, tropes and characters, as well as the old material that shaped contemporary entertainment. I also learned to suggest and execute feedback on story development through peer review, script coverage, and workshopping.
Currently, I am a part of the NYU x Rolling Stones: Modern Journalism writing program and am extremely interested in continuing to learn more about entertainment article writing. Having grown up as a chronic binge-watcher, I’m truly excited at the chance to dissect the latest content in our pop culture landscape and find new perspectives on the franchises, shows, and characters I grew up watching.