A Grammar of Loss explores the actualities of decolonization

Liquid black rubber drips off the pages of White Man’s Africa, a book written in 1899. This record of white supremacy in Africa is no longer readable, and that’s the point. Along with many other altered and redacted works, this piece in Chantal Gibson’s upcoming exhibit at Open Space explores what it actually means to […]

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New Music Revue: Drive-By Truckers offer emotion and more on new album

Drive-By Truckers The Unraveling (ATO Records) 3.5/5  After a three year wait, Drive-By Truckers are back with their 12th studio LP, The Unraveling. The Athens, Georgia-based southern rockers have developed a devoted fanbase, which has translated to minor chart success. The Unraveling is a collection of stories of our troubled times, covering guns, heroin, and […]

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Polaris Music Prize winner Haviah Mighty finds her voice

Growing up in an area of 1990s Toronto enveloped by racism, hip-hop artist Haviah Mighty lived a somewhat sheltered upbringing. As a Black woman, she often couldn’t walk down the street or play outside as a child at all; looking back, she says music was her solace. Mighty—who is touring in support of 2019’s 13th […]

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New novel explores legal system with heart

Every writer knows that the key to a good thriller is suspense. It’s what holds the reader’s attention and is always the first thing that manages to convince someone to actually read the novel in question. David Myles Robinson’s expert use of suspense in Tropical Doubts depicts to his audience a gripping tale of friendship, […]

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What’s Going On: February 19 to March 3, 2020

Wednesday, February 19 Laugh like no one is watching There’s a new stand-up comedy night at The Mint, making Thursday the new most popular hangover day. This could just be so funny that you need that extra pair of pants. Tickets are $20 at the door or $10 in advance; see themintvictoria.com for more details. […]

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New book offers cultural journey, falls flat

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading Martha C. Franks’ Books Without Borders: Homer, Aeschylus, Galileo, Melville, and Madison Go to China. The book is Franks’ account of teaching the liberal arts to high-school students in Beijing from 2012 to 2014. Guided on a cultural journey of Western literature through discussions and dialogues, we learn […]

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Merlin Nyakam comes to Victoria from France for night of rhythm

February is African Heritage Month, which aims to preserve and promote African cultural heritage. Dancer and singer Merlin “The Enchanter” Nyakam is coming from France to help us do just that at the Issamba event on February 15. Nyakam was born in Cameroon, Africa. He admits that he is more comfortable speaking in French, saying […]

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New Music Revue: Raphael Weinroth-Browne shows mastery of art on Worlds Within

Raphael Weinroth-Browne Worlds Within (Independent) 4.5/5 Raphael Weinroth-Browne is a Canadian composer and cellist known for his musical artistry in groups such as The Visit, Musk Ox, and Leprous. Weinroth-Browne is now releasing his first studio album, Worlds Within. And, just like his band work, Worlds Within shows off Weinroth-Browne at the height of his […]

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What’s Going On: February 5 to 18, 2020

Saturday, February 8 Here’s looking at Q, kid Have you heard that the new black is actually Arctic Blue? Well, it is, with Josh Q and The Trade-Offs, singing their soulful and brooding notes from the deep end of the northern tundra. In a blend of Inuktitut and English lyrics, The Trade-Offs sing the Arctic […]

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Victoria Film Festival movies deliver subjects heavy and light

The Victoria Film Festival’s program guide can be daunting, featuring everything from movies that are deeply meaningful and will really stay with the viewer long after the end credits roll to movies that are more on the lighter side of things. If you’re more into the former, Charles Wilkinson’s Haida Modern: The Art and Activism […]

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