The KENTE AT HOME Series – Featuring: Saxophonist, Lakecia Benjamin
Voted by 2020 Downbeat Critics Poll Rising Star Saxophonist and Up and Coming Artist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association, Lakecia Benjamin fuses traditional conceptions of Jazz, HipHop, and Soul. Benjamin’s electric presence and fiery sax work has shared stages with several legendary artists, including Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, and The Roots. For her Kente at Home debut, Benjamin will pay homage to two of the most influential jazz figures of the 20th and 21st century: Alice and John Coltrane. She will draw upon her 2020 CD release, Pursuance: The Coltranes, a 13-track collection of original Coltrane tunes featuring: Zaccai Curtis, Lonnie Plaxico, and EJ Strickland.

The Latinx & Proud! Reading Series is excited to feature poets Eduardo C. Corral, Yesika Salgado, Edyka Chilomé, and Vanessa Angélica Villarreal in a powerhouse lineup. Latinx & Proud! continues the important work of celebrating Latinx artists, and empowering the local and national Latinx community in this ongoing series. This event is in proud partnership with the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Latin American Studies department. ¡Ven a celebrar con nosotros! (Come celebrate with us!)

Now in their twilight years, two men must choose between their desires for each other or the families they have proudly created. Join us for the regional premier and screening of TWILIGHT’S KISS (SUK SUK)- a film by Byray Yeung hosted by ReelQ. 

Join us for an evening of original jazz broadcasted live from the Alphabet City stage with The Off Minor Jazz Series. Sans a live audience, you can still give the band your energy by clicking the free registration button! In celebration of Edward K. “Duke” Ellington’s 122nd birthday, we’ll be presenting a program that will include music from many parts of his long, more-than-5 decade career. Ellington was a master of composition and the band will be exploring some of his works in their original, intended forms, as well as some new arrangements. And, as usual, there’ll be some musical surprises along the way. 

All Pittsburghers are Poets: Youth to the Front is a live, virtual poetry showcase featuring teen writers presented by City of Asylum in collaboration with Write Pittsburgh. This reading features Vincent Folkes, our inaugural Youth Poet Laureate of Allegheny County 2020-2021, who will give the closing performance of his laureateship. Joining Vincent are teen poets from Write Pittsburgh workshops and City of Asylum’s Youth Poet Ambassadors of Allegheny County. These young poets have all continued to write through this pandemic year, and we are honored to present their work.

The KENTE AT HOME Series – Featuring: Soundtrack ‘63
Soundtrack ’63 is a live, music and multimedia retrospective of the Black experience in America. It is an artistic survey of the past that gives context to the present and asks important questions about the future. Originally developed by Creative Director Chen Lo and Musical Director, Asante Amin, Soundtrack ’63 premiered in 2013. The full sensory experience takes viewers on a journey from the African continent through milestone events in African American history. An immersive video of archival footage and animation serves as the backdrop for a soundtrack of spirituals, protest songs and popular music performed by an 18-piece orchestra and dynamic vocal chamber.

A multi-media concert, WE CROSSED THE RIVER examines detention camps at the US/Mexico border through raw testimonios of child detainees. Collected by Dominican-American novelist Angie Cruz, the testimonios form lyrics and inspire new music compositions and a text-based video projections. WE CROSSED THE RIVER aims to incite a deeper compassion by placing the eye-witness accounts of victims in an artistic setting. Collaborators are an all-Pittsburgh group including Angie Cruz; composer Eric Moe; video artist Aaron Hernandez; and stage director Cynthia Croot.

Language: Spanish and English
Format: Pre-recorded concert and live artist talkback
Partners: Music on the Edge & The University of Pittsburgh

Can translation be a tool for equal rights and inclusion?  Tradoctas, an Argentinian translation collective, discusses the translation of ubiquitous Spanish gender pronouns and their work to incorporate inclusive language across Argentina. This program spotlights Tradoctas’ work inside the Argentinian government, particularly the update of health care laws to use mostly indirect non-binary language—a crucial milestone for inclusion across the country. 

Language: Spanish
Format: Recorded conversation with English subtitles; viewed virtually

Literary translation catapulted to the international stage because of the recent controversy surrounding the hiring, backlash, and firing of the Danish translator for US inaugural poet Amanda Gorman. Questions around identity & the permission to translate zoomed into focused. But is this wrong question? 
Instead, shouldn’t we question the scarcity of Black translators and translators of color?  Or talk about dismantling patterns that make it harder for translators of color to access opportunities. How can City of Asylum and others US literary organizations foster a translation community that reflects the diversity of our world? Join a panel of translators as they share their thoughts on these questions and others.

Languages: Mandarin, Italian, Korean, Portuguese
Format: Live conversation in English; viewed virtually 

Rwandan author Scholastique Mukasonga discusses her collection of autobiographical stories, which summon phantom memories of a glorious Rwanda and radiate the fierce ache of the survivor of an obliterating history. Scholastique  also discusses the challenges and creative opportunities writing memoir in exile. Featured novels include Igufu and A Barefoot Woman, translated from French by Jordan Stump. Scholastique is joined by Johns Hopkins professor of world literatures, Jeanne-Marie Jackson.

Language: French
Format: Artist live from France with English interpretation; viewed virtually