"Please don't remind me. I love that night." That was the text I received from a friend after I messaged him to tell him I was heading to Nyala Restaurant for a spoken-word open mic night. Unfortunately, my friend couldn't make it, but boy, was I grateful that he had told me about it.Before I even stepped into the restaurant, I was uhhh... escorted into the event... ? Actually, having parked on the opposite side of the street, I was too chicken to cross at night in the middle of Main Street. Luckily, someone else happened to be crossing at the same point too, so I joined him and he got me safely across. He introduced himself -Greg- when he realized we were heading for the same place. Greg is a member of the Foundation Radio family, the organization that runs the the open mic nights. "You're early," he said, "but relax and enjoy yourself." How could I not stay after such a warm welcome? So I took a seat at one of the tables and soaked up the surroundings.
African drums hung on one side of the restaurant, while two giraffe statues adorned the
front stage. Rich, wine coloured walls and dark furniture added to the warmth of the atmosphere. I felt so at home in this place I had never been to. Though I had already eaten, I couldn't resist the appetizing menu. I savoured my lentil salad and pakoras (the mango chutney on the side was delicious!) while enjoying the beat of African rhythms in the background.Assefa, the owner, came over to greet me and see how I was doing. Within minutes, we realized that we had a connection- my uncle Amyn who owned another African Restaurant, The Kilimanjaro, a few years back. It turns out that Assefa knew my uncle and aunt well. We both smiled. I wondered if he was marveling at how small the world is, just as I was.
As the tables were being rearranged, to set up for the performances, I decide
d to move closer to the front of the restaurant. I wanted to be sure I got a good view. And soon, more of the Foundation Radio crew came in. I met Rags, the creative director. He did some great DJing at the start of the night and MC'd for the rest. And then Justin, a.k.a. Whizdom (another member of Foundation Radio's family) showed up. I was impressed that he recognized me from a past poetry event we met briefly at months before.
d to move closer to the front of the restaurant. I wanted to be sure I got a good view. And soon, more of the Foundation Radio crew came in. I met Rags, the creative director. He did some great DJing at the start of the night and MC'd for the rest. And then Justin, a.k.a. Whizdom (another member of Foundation Radio's family) showed up. I was impressed that he recognized me from a past poetry event we met briefly at months before. I also couldn't help but to approach one of the DJ's that night, because let me tell you, those DJ's (DJ Hayze and DJ Direction, and Rags) rockkkkk! I was seriously having trouble staying still in my seat. Actually, I don't think I stopped bobbing my head or swaying my hips, especially when a whole slew of some of my favourite old-school RnB tunes were mixed, one into another: voices of artists like India Arie, Lucy Pearl and Lauryn Hill got the room thumping. And I think I even heard a little bit of Grandmaster Flash in there somewhere. But the ultimate was hearing Groove Theory's Tell Me. Wow! I haven't heard that song in ages. So many great tracks, so many great memories. 
But I wasn't the only one feeling it. There were definitely many people grooving to the music in and out of their seats- mouthing the lyrics, shoulders rolling, feet tapping.
And the place filled up with people of all different cultures. The vibe was happening- so positive, creative, so open and inspiring. Outside, the streets were quiet and still. But inside the restaurant, we were surrounded by an inspiring buzz of energy as artists shared their words, their ideas, their thoughts and talents.
The night was called "Ladies' Night" because it was mostly female artists who went up on stage to express themselves in their chosen artform: music, poetry, spoken word, vocals. There was even a young woman playing classical piano close to the start of the night, as well as some artists improvising and jamming with people they had never played with before.
The richness of talent, of scope, of individuals spilling their hearts and minds out to the audience, gave me goosebumps. The voices, the clever juxtaposition of words, the pauses, the breaths and and even the silences all contributed to the night. And the audience was so supportive, so encouraging and so appreciative of the courage, charisma and creativity demonstrated by each performer.
There was even a guy right next to me, sketching the performers in front of him in
his notebook, one artform simultaneously spurring on another.
his notebook, one artform simultaneously spurring on another."You could be anywhere tonight, but you chose here," Rags reminded us, at one point in the night. And when Risa, one of the vocalists added, "'There's a reason you're here," all I could think of in response was "Yes!"
Because that is exactly how I felt. I knew that I was where I was meant to be that night, surrounded by so much music and art and imagination. It was what I needed, and I didn't even know it until I was there. Each time I thought I would get up and leave, someone else said something that made me want to stay longer:
- "I carry a piece of inner peace"- Risa (vocalist)
- "Smile at a stranger on the street, Never know who I might meet."-
Jessi Nicholson (vocalist) - "I want to be your everything without you compromising anything."- Whizdumb (poet)
- "Get comfortable with being uncomfortable."- Randy of Quest Poetics (musician, artist, songwriter)
Those were just a few of the lines and lyrics that really spoke to me, messages from strangers who seemed to know me somehow, or at least seem to know what I needed to hear.
And when Jessi Nicholson's smooth, yet powerful voice rang throughout the room as she sang the words I Want My Freedom, I felt a sense of strength and liberty forming within myself.
But the performance that took me by surprise was of little Tomoko (a.k.a T-moke) and her couple of band members (Chapa is the name of one of them). This young woman appeared so soft and shy when she introduced her songs to the audience. But when she grabbed that mic, digging her heels into the floor, and putting what looked lik
e her body and soul into Alicia's Key's If I Ain't Got You,...wow! I was taken aback by how passionate her voice became, how deeply she felt the song, and how she made us feel it along with her. It was truly amazing to see the transformation.
e her body and soul into Alicia's Key's If I Ain't Got You,...wow! I was taken aback by how passionate her voice became, how deeply she felt the song, and how she made us feel it along with her. It was truly amazing to see the transformation.At the end of the night, the owner of the restaurant looked at me with a smile and said, "You're still here?" I was one of the first to arrive and one of the last to leave, and all I could say is, "When is the next one?"
Foundation Radio
- An evening of Rhythm, Poetry and Rhyme-
- An evening of Rhythm, Poetry and Rhyme-
Every other Tuesday at Nyala African Cuisine
9pm-1am
9pm-1am
