Since 2006, Woezo Africa Music & Dance Theatre Inc. has been passionately dedicated to bringing the history of African culture to the masses through traditional and modern modes of performing arts, including dance, music, theatre and storytelling.
Our ambitions for the yearly programming became a reality thanks to the support we’ve received from many people, from community members to our funders. Woezo Africa Music & Dance Theatre Inc. would like to extend our thanks to our sponsors who’ve given us the chance to envision a cross-cultural learning with our arts-based approach. We could not have done it without you.
here for the arts, here for the culture.
From various dance classes to celebrity workshops, we are here to entertain and educate.
UNGANISHA was born with the intent of celebrating and sustaining the presence of African diasporic communities in Calgary.
From our professional networking event to the cultural fair, we are here to for the community.
founder & Director
I have been a performing artist in Nigeria since the age of 3 before migrating to Edmonton in 1992. Being one of the 3 Black students in my elementary school, I felt like an intruder in someone else’s home. The absence of African Canadian History in the Alberta curriculum troubled me. African-Canadians have made inestimable contributions to Canada in the arts, politics, technological innovation, military service, business and more, in the face of lingering racism. These great Canadians endured, and succeeded and their resilience inspired me. I decided that I would contribute to Canadian history in my own way by ensuring that I didn’t forget or leave behind my heritage as an African and Nigerian. Art making for Woezo Africa Music & Dance Theatre Inc. became more than a question of what and who is being presented but how can we provide an unique opportunity for space making and a system breaking in the prairie region. It begins with not asking for permission to have our Black voices and presence be visible, scalable and impactful. The ever-growing reception to preserving the African culture in Calgary and Canada reveals the powers and possibilities of the arts as a tool for dialogue in social, political, personal, and spiritual matters. My endeavors continue to center around the idea of representing and communicating a sense of oneness that ensures that we don’t lose our culture and inheritance for our children and our children’s children.
The Greatest people.
Choreographer & dance artist
Mpoe Mogale is Black and Queer; reigning from Lebowakgomo, South Africa. Amongst many other things they do, they are a professionally trained dancer, currently with Decidedly Jazz Dance’s Professional Training Program and Woezo Africa Music and Dance Theatre Inc.
UNGANISHA Professional Networking Mixer (UPNM) is an event that fosters and facilitates collaboration between industry professionals, academic institutions and other professional bodies. Individuals in arts and professional services stationed locally and abroad are given an opportunity to network and socialize in a comfortable setting while being empowered in their cultural identities. Entrepreneurs, businesses experts and creatives circulate through a series of expeditious rounds to break the ice and connect. The relaxed environment encourages successful individuals to speak candidly and one-on-one to make authentic personal connections. Participants can expect to venture outside of typical networking norms for a cultural experience with a plethora of diasporic professionals.
Our first presentation of UPNM in January 25, 2020 was a sold-out event with a gathering of 140 professionals and 15 students from the various universities in Calgary. We had 22 Black owned businesses in various sectors ranging from arts and entertainment, business and marketing, beauty and cosmetics, fashion and design, media and photography and restaurant services in attendance.
For inquiries, comments or questions, please get in touch. We will get back to you as soon as possible.