Winnipeg Ethnic News

THE BAHATIZZ  Levy Abad  Winnipeg Ethnic News, 121517 When I first met the Bahatizz it was back in 2012 when I was organizing community multicultural events. The Bahatizz is a group composed of four sisters from Congo: Sylvie, Rashel, Francine and Odette singing socially reflective inspirational songs about the life of refugees. As daughters of a Pastor, the four sisters started singing when they were still very young in church and later on became a songwriting group performing their own music.  I have listened and watched them perform their songs and you will be compelled to focus as their melody is awesome and the lyrics are profoundly reflective of the intensity of their refugee experience. The Bahatizz sisters were born in a small village in the Democratic Republic of Congo (KILIBA) and were forced to go on exile in 2002 to avoid the turmoil that has been raging during the time. They fled to Uganda and lived as urban refugees. They arrived in Canada ...

Rodrigo Muñoz of Papa Mambo Levy Abad Winnipeg Ethnic News 121517 Rodrigo Muñoz of Papa Mambo Thinking of the best artist with ethnic roots right away brings Papa Mambos' lead artist Rodrigo Muñoz to mind. I met Rod while still working as a staff for the Culture Heritage and Tourism. We invited him to perform in one of the fundraisers that we organized and it was truly an amazing experience. Papa Mambo is a Canadian Salsa & Latin Jazz ensemble led by Rodrigo Muñoz. The band was formed in 1989. It was organized by Chilean born classical guitarist Rod Muñoz. This band started out as a ʺspirited party band and soon became recognized as one of the most skillful, exciting and important musical group in Canada's Latin music scene.ʺ I myself have witnessed how Rod plays classical songs and salsa that made people relax, reflect and dance all night. Rod also arranged the latin beat lead of one of my songs titled ʺNever Forget.ʺ The band has performed in the Winnip...

Al Cafe, Remembered! Levy Abad , Winnipeg Ethnic News Hugo Torres Cereceda , Al Cafe pioneer Last Saturday's event remembering the days of Al Cafe turned out to be a huge success when friends, activists, organizers, politicians came and enjoyed the music, storytelling, political conversation, pizza and beer at the Hotel Royal Plaza (330 Kennedy and Ellice). Hugo Torres-Cereceda and Jaime Carrrasco, two of the founders of Al Cafe in the late 70's reminisce about the days. Hugo performed several of his hit songs that moved or inspired concerned folks and activists back then. Hugo is a revolutionary cultural activist from Chile who was forced to leave during the Pinochet dictatorship. The other founders were Omar Rubio, Teo Santis, Jose Santis ,Ana Santis, Gunther Ortiz (they are the backbone of Al Cafe) . Famous for his socially relevant songs, Hugo arrived in Winnipeg in the 70's bringing with him radical music and performed in the big...

Michelle Zabaro, Latin Fusion Intensity Levy Abad Winnipeg Ethnic News I had the opportunity to watch Michelle Zabaro, singer of the Latin Fusion band, perform at the Sonix Bar and Grill last February 17,2018. I can say that Latin Music is pretty cool. ʺ  Latin Music is the heartbeat of Latin America. The influence of Latin Music and culture in general is pervasive. The power of music to move people is proven historically whether it is for fun or as a medium for social change. Michelle ' s capacity  (voice and personality) as a singer in making people dance and sing along  to the beat arranged by Poncho  Zavandeaux,  the band leader and director,  is exemplary. I want to know more about Michelle and her band mates. The opportunity came when Pablo Herrera asked his long time buddy  Poncho Zavandeaux, a co- pioneer of  Latin Music back in the UNIDAD band days, if I could interview Michelle for The Diversity Times.  Michel...

Reclaiming the Campus Levy Abad, Winnipeg Ethnic News April 5, 2018 Courtesy of UMSAN-RSM page It was only a few weeks ago that we welcomed spring, but a different kind of storm hit the southern part of the city when students stormed and occupied the Office of the President of the University of Manitoba, Fort Gary Campus at 8:30 in the morning on April 5th. They staged a sit-in protest to dramatize their opposition to the scheduled 6.6% tuition fee increase by the fall term, in addition to cuts to healthcare for international students. According to Ian Desales, one of the coordinators of the protest, over 40 students joined the protest. Over a dozen students tried to occupy, but many were barred by locked doors and security. However, eight of them were able to  get inside, while the rest continued their protest outside the office.Thousands have seen images and hundreds of shares in Facebook. Many media journalists called in and tried to get interviews. A film crew sho...

Andre Doumbe of ACOMI and his Legacy Levy Abad (September 24, 2017) Courtesy of  Frank Indomi (September 1949-September 2017), September 2017 marked the passing of Andre Doumbe, Chair of the African Communities of Manitoba or ACOMI. It was during the time of his leadership that I got to know ACOMI as an organization that embraces almost all the African Communities of Manitoba. Andre is also a "founding member of Sous le Baobab, Africa-Fonds, the Africa Centre, the African Investment Club, the Youth Investment Club, Folklorama, le Manitoba Immigration Council, the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, United Way-Winnipeg, Cancer Care and la Coalition des parents francophones du Manitoba." African Community in Manitoba In retrospect, reading the lives of Africa's great revolutionary leaders back in  my university  days in the Philippines, the likes of Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela and Patrice Lumumba to mention a few, made me wonder and look f...