Melanistic Magazine Vol 8

Arts & Culture

BLACK GIRLS GATHER

Jessica "Seeka" Holtby

www.seekasings.com

@seekasings

Being nominated for the Western Canadian Music Awards - Children’s Artist of the Year for 2021 is merely a reaffirmation that Jessica Holtby’s contributions to and skill for children’s music are immeasurable. While pursuing her Master of Arts from the University of Alberta, Jessica focused on language learning, language teaching, and song translation. A lifelong student of music, she reflects also on a childhood that exposed her to a multitude of instruments. This combination paved the way for Seeka Sings, her platform as a children’s content creator, focusing on early education.

As a Black woman in the music industry, Jessica shares, “I have had countless experiences of being pigeon-holed. It has often seemed that I am expected to be beautiful, sexual, “exotic”, “ethnic”, and not particularly intelligent…. A positive note would be that we are starting to see an increasing amount of attention and support for artists of colour”. Working against industry stereotypes highlights the crucial need for diversity and representation. Her presence as a Black artist trickles to her young audience, “I want to be an artist that Black and Brown children can see themselves in. But also, I want to be an artist that white children can admire - someone who doesn’t look like them and is making content that they enjoy”

Mariame Touré & Fabiola Ngamaleu Teumeni

The passion that radiates from founders Fabiola and Mariame is palpable as they share the history of Black Girls Gather. This Quebec based book club is a part of the West Island Black Community Association (WIBCA) and focuses on bringing a breadth of work from Black authors to the hands of Black girls between the ages of 12 – 18 years. The duo are avid readers and have equally experienced the lack of representation in literature. “I’m my best and most creative when I feel represented in the literature,” shares Mariame.

The reading selection each month focuses on themes ranging from colorism, feminism, sexuality and stories of success and happiness. The literature lends itself to the topic for discussion. Selecting books for the first year seemed simpler as they focused on books that resonated with them while keeping the themes broad. Their current listing has expanded and includes French literature, collections of short essaysand even a play.

The founders aim to establish chapters across Canada based on the Black Girls Gather model. By incorporating intergenerational mentoring, they hope to solidify the longevity of the program and keep the core management in the hands of young Black women.

To engage with the program please visit: https://blackgirlsgather.wibca.org.