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THABO CHINAKE
VOLUME 18, ISSUE 6
The power of the spoken word
2021
By Ramya Ramanathan
Group Publisher Sanjay Agnihotri
Festival for Black History Month and the Woezo Africa Cultural Festival. I spoke at a TEDx event in July on the importance of authentic leadership in the digital age as social media campaigns have been the driving force behind global movements such as #MeToo and #BLM. I enjoy youth work and this year I had the opportunity to be a Science Genius ambassador in the Beakerhead program, where we taught grades 7 and 9 how to rap and create songs based on what they were learning in their science classes. I also led a three-part workshop for Antyx Arts, mentoring teenagers on freestyle rap and the importance of storytelling in music and marketing.
Editor Ramya Ramanathan rramanathan@metroland.com Editorial Design Safi Nomani Sr. Ad Manager Ricky Bajaj rbajaj@metroland.com Tel: 905 273 8170 Assistant Manager Laura Jackman ljackman@metroland.com General Inquiries: info@canadianimmigrant.ca
What are you currently working on?
Circulation/Distribution Inquiries: ljackman@metroland.com
I just released my latest album +Vice on October 22. It's a concept project that looks at grief, gender equity and mental well-being. I've been performing live shows to promote the release and am also working on new visuals (short film and music videos) to support the music.
ISSN 1910-4146 Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher
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canadianimmigrant.ca TORONTO 3145 Wolfedale Road, Mississauga Ontario, L5C 3A9 Tel: 905 273 8111, Fax: 905 277 9917
B
orn and raised in Zimbabwe, Thabo Chinake (who calls himself KTheChosen) came to Calgary in 2015 as an international student. He has “chosen” to create music that is both enlightening and entertaining. As a hip-hop and spoken word artist, he has used his voice to share the experiences of those around him. This year, he received a nomination for the Zim Achievers Canada Awards in the Young Achievers category and the opportunity to perform and speak at a TEDx event. He was also selected as the Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI) artist of the month for October 2021.
Any first impressions when you arrived in Canada?
The first thing I noticed when I arrived in Canada was that most people that I saw suffering on the streets or sleeping on public transit tended to be Indigenous folk, which didn't make sense to me. It's something that has stuck with me and inspired me to not only read more about Indigenous culture and Canada's history, but also to make a song called LONO, that discussed colonialism with two Indigenous artists, Blackfoot rapper TRIBETheArtist and Cree singer and hand drummer Chantal Stormsong Chagnon.
What are your future plans?
My long-term plan is to work with creatives in the artist development field and help them build their brand and marketing strategies.
What inspires you?
I'm inspired by the conversations I have with friends, family and strangers. We all have such unique perspectives of how the world works, which fascinates me and broadens my views on life. I am also inspired by other art such as paintings, animations and books. I find sometimes my songs are just the audio representation of another art form that I've experienced.
What are some challenges that have come your way?
Calgary’s art scene is still developing; so, in the earlier years there were very few options when it came to performance opportunities and events to meet other creatives. I had to take it upon myself to explore the city and make friends with those in the community to learn more. It was daunting at first, but now I'm blessed with so many creative friends and opportunities to contribute to Calgary's growing art scene.
What is your advice to other immigrants?
Be proud of who you are and your story. It’s what makes you special and, if you can, share it with the I'm a strong believer in the power of storytelling world. There are so many people who can't even imagine and community, so I often collaborate with artists the life you've lived, and for those who can, hearing you to share their experiences and perspectives with speak to their experience can help them feel understood different communities. As well as self-releasing three and less alone. The uniqueness of our experiences is albums since 2018, I have also performed at multiple what unites us no matter how far we are because we all immigrant-focused events including the Ethnik Culture have a story to tell.
Tell us about your work as an artist.
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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 18 Issue 6 | 2021
