Love Jones Sundays fit for a Queen
Zorica ‘Queen’ Alleyne/ KILO P
By Stephanie Pollard
Gathered in an intimately lit Cayo Coco on Richmond Street, spoken word artists, poets and musicians shared their take on love and social awareness, for Love Jones Sundays (LJS). On the first Sunday of every month established, emerging and new artists get to share their thoughts through various talents in an environment that Zorica ‘Queen’ Alleyne, founder of Love Jones Sundays, ensures is nurturing and supportive.
“I think that all artists are the same [in terms of importance]. There are so many new talents who don’t get the time or opportunities to perform at any venues because they’re not established. There’s so much unseen talent out there and I just want to be a part of helping them get out there,” she said.
Throughout the night the crowd’s mood swung between the comedic highs that came from erotic readings (and personality/host ‘s Jemeni’s hilarious emceeing), to somber lows from readings that touched on racism, abuse and child prostitution. Luckily DJ Soul Child was there with the Neo-soul and R&B needed to keep the emotions balanced. With the quality of talent LJS produces combined with the overall mood the event has to offer, why have it only on Sundays?
“Sundays work for and against me! Some people don’t want to go to a club [on a Sunday]. They’d rather go someplace nice, sit down, have a drink, maybe dance a little; kind of like a last release for the weekend,” Queen explained. For the record, LJS ends at midnight; decent enough to count as a night on the town while letting the patron get enough sleep for the Monday ahead. The share-the-love-through-poetry event works in other ways too.
Love Jones Sundays also serves as networking grounds for established and emerging artists to find paying opportunities and for black-focused groups, a platform to gain much needed support. One example of initiatives supported by LJS is the Blackstone Foundation Library Mission, an organization dedicated to creating multiple black-focused libraries across Toronto to make Afrocentric literature more accessible. LJS asks that patrons donate black-focused books (written for, by or about the African Diaspora) or money at each session.
Sharing the love through poetry is one thing, but to Queen and the LJS family, it’s providing a solid foundation for the arts and greater community that matters. After all, “In order to build (a) community it takes the support of the community,” she sums up.
The next Love Jones Sundays session is December 4th inside Cayo Coco, doors open at 7:00 p.m
Related Articles:
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Loading ...
Leave your response!