Red Emma’s

ON ZOOM!  SIGN UP HERE TO RECEIVE THE LINK: https://tinyurl.com/VibeFeb2021 A Luta continua—“The Struggle continues”— across borders and despite “changes” in administrations!  We must continue to strive collectively for dynamic, radical change for the better, and as a part of that we must continue to come together in the arts!  Join us for an online open mic of the theme, “Peace, Justice, Poetry!”  It’s a night of justice, conscious socioploitical thought, family, survival and empowerment, spirit—whatever advances the village!  In the tradition of Emma Goldman’s “Mother Earth” magazine, come drop some rad “fiyah” on us, or contribute just with your presence and energy.  By the way: it’s a non-erotic venue, so rather than a love & erotica evening, we focus the night on justice and other matters of life.  And, almost needless to say, leave the misogyny, homophobia and other unnecessary ish outside!On this night, awesomeness alights to us all the way from Azania with not one but two dope poets straight out’a South Africa: Busisiwe Mahlangu and MoAfrik wa Mokghathi!  Busisiwe Mahlangu is a poet, performer and TEDx Speaker from Mamelodi, Pretoria, South Africa.  She explains her work as a space of healing and growth for herself.  Hard-hitting and raw, she uses her work to hold space for conversations around poverty, mental health, education, healing, domestic violence and being and staying alive.  She has shared her poetry across the country and beyond, and was part of the cast of ‘When Poetry Hits The Fan’ (2016), directed by Bobby Gordon and running for a week at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.  In 2016 she staged her poetry production, ‘Rusty Knife’, at the Current State of Poetry at the Joburg Theatre.Busisiwe’s debut collection, Surviving Loss, has been adapted and produced at the South African State Theatre as part of their incubator program.  Her work was longlisted for the Sol Plaatje European Poetry Award in 2017 and 2018.  She is published in Kalahari Review (2017), Ja Magazine (2017), Best ‘New’ African Poets: 2018 Anthology, and more.  She has won multiple poetry slams in South Africa and has judged at prestigious events across the country.  Realizing that education is an essential tool for growing and building a community, Busisiwe is dedicated to inspiring and making a change in the communities around her.  She is the founder of Lwazilubanzi, a community project that aims to use literature as a tool of learning, resistance and healing, working with public schools around Pretoria.  She has produced scholastic materials in Isizulu for elementary and middle grade learners. Mahlangu was inspired by the jewellery she made for herself for stage and interview appearances to start her business, Busi Creates, where she makes and sells handmade accessories. Instagram: @busimahlangu_Twitter: @busimahlangu_Busi Creates:Instagram: @busicreates_Facebook: Busi CreatesMuriel Mokgathi-Mvubu—known as MoAfrika ‘a Mokgathi—is a multifaceted South African artist from Mamelodi who is a writer, poet, performer, cultural activist, teaching artist, award-winning radio broadcaster and serial civic leader, amongst many talents in her hat. She is the author of the self-published My Tongue Is a Rainbow (2019), launched in Washington DC as part of the Azania To DC tour and exchange. She has shared her poetry in Europe, Asia and the USA. MoAfrika started her artistic journey in 1999, and began it professionally in 2005. Her uncle GoMoMo (Godfrey Modiba Mokgathi) and grandfather Ngwaoko Mokgathi played an indispensable role in her style of writing, using code mixing and code switching of English and Sepedi, which has become her signature style.  One of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans for 2020, the Yali-RAC alumna is an agent of change in the arts fraternity in South Africa.  Her works have been featured on community and online publications, TV shows and international sub-Saharan radio stations like SAFM, Kaya FM, Ubuntu Radio and Channel Afrika.MoAfrika is a co-founder of Hear My Voice, an NGO that uses poetry as a catalyst to address social issues in an uncensored manner.  She sits on the AIRCO (Association of independent Record Companies) board as member and executive director, advocating for indies in the country.Facebook: MoAfrika ‘a MokgathiTwitter: moafrka01Instagram: moafrika_wa_mokgathiHoldin’ it down for the evening is Analysis—poet/spoken word artist, rad minister and bookseller, educator, justice & human rights person… Y’all know what’s up!  www.facebook.com/analysisthepoet  Twitter and Instagram: @analysisthepoetwww.artistEcard.com/analysisthepoetCashApp: $AnalysisThePoetThe sign-up page to receive the Zoom link and to sign up for the open mic is https://tinyurl.com/VibeFeb2021.  If time permits we will take names onto the list during the event as well, after those who have signed up have performed.  One piece.  5 minutes.  The ZOOM LINK will be emailed the day of the event.  In lieu of our usual in-person collection to support the feature, PLEASE support the host and the artists directly (methods to be announced) in order to ensure the continuation of the venue.  SUPPORT THE ARTS!The evening is brought to you by Red Emma’s Bookstore Coffeehouse, a worker-owned and collectively-operated restaurant, bookstore, and community events space located in Baltimore's Mt. Vernon neighborhood that is dedicated to putting principles of solidarity and sustainability into practice in a democratic workplace!  You can continue to support us during this time by purchasing books online or donating to our worker support fund!  Thank you.   http://redemmas.org   https://www.facebook.com/redemmas  Twitter & Instagram: @redemmasRemember: PEACE, JUSTICE, POETRY!!  Will we see you there?  :)