Discussing African Representation With Poet, Mystic, Ahead of Kente & Silk's "By the Fireside," Mar 20

Oftentimes, when we talk about racism and tone-deaf portrayals of other cultures – namely, Black culture – conversations focus on the long history of marginalization, dehumanization, and outright aggression well-documented in the West. And while racism is inextricably linked to systems of power and particularly white hegemonic systems of power, it’s not to say that other parts of the globe are devoid of problematic portrayals, misrepresentation, and the general mistreatment of Black folks. Case in point, 2018’s Spring Festival Gala, featuring a Chinese actress donning blackface with prosthetic buttocks and chest. After the performance was met with fierce backlash both here and abroad, many hoped that it would be the last time such an egregious display featured in “the world’s most-watched television show.” Unfortunately, however, viewers were dismayed to see yet another use of blackface in this year’s event.

Invariably, following instances of such blatantly racist tropes, the non-Black community eagerly turns to their Black peers for guidance on, at the least, how not to be racist, and at best, how to be an ally. It should be noted, however, that such lessons are not the responsibility, nor the burden, of the Black community to carry. Rather, it is up to us to work within our own communities and educate ourselves about the long and insidious grip that systems of Black oppression and misrepresentation have on popular culture. Nevertheless, time and time again the Black community demonstrates remarkable patience and is always willing to teach others about the wildly diverse tapestry that is Blackness.

To that end, this Saturday, Mar 20, will see the third installment of By the Fireside, a response to the “misrepresentation of Africans and the African diaspora with poetic justice.” Organized by Kente & Silk, a consulting firm that works to strengthen Africa-China Relations through social engagement, the event will take place at Chez Soi and be presided over by poet Yolanda Ajak – aka Mystic – a native of Canada with roots in South Sudan who has been living in Beijing for five years.

We spoke with Ajak to learn more about the event, its themes, and Afrocentric resources in the capital.

First and foremost, please introduce yourself!
My name is Yolanda Ajak, Canadian with a South Sudanese origin. I originally came to Beijing to teach English, and have been living here for about five years. I love poetry. I love reading it, listening to it, and also writing it. I find it to be a meaningful way to process my thoughts and the world around me.

Secondly, please introduce By the Fireside!
By the Fireside is an ongoing joyous celebration of Afrocentric poetry, spoken word, music, and storytelling. By the Fireside is an event initiated by Kente and Silk and is now curated in collaboration with myself. By the Fireside aims to provide a platform for various artists from the African diaspora to share their talents and creative works with the Beijing community. It is a safe space that provides an opportunity to learn more about the diversity in African cultures, contemporary music, and storytelling. Due to popular demand, this is the third By the Fireside, with many more to come. The theme of this edition will focus on African misrepresentation, particularly in media, to address black racial biases, and celebrate black women.

This year’s event comes on the heels of yet another Spring Festival Gala marred by performers in blackface. Following the 2018 incident, Black Livity China’s CEO Runako Celina wrote a compelling and in-depth piece about Africa’s complex relationship with China and race-relations. I understand that she’ll be giving a video presentation based on that essay this time around. Can you tell us a little bit about that portion of the event?
Runako’s portion of the event will focus on the call for awareness and the importance of black representation in deconstructing issues that directly impact black experiences in China and in relation to China. Runako will also be shedding light on the impact that portrayals such as those carried out by performers in Blackface have on the Black community in China and at large.

It’s not all misrepresentation and problematic media portrayals though. By the Fireside is also a joyous celebration of the diverse cultures, identities, and art that make up the vast continent that is Africa. In that regard, what can people expect to see?
People can expect to see a diverse set of performances, ranging from soul, reggae, and spoken word poetry, to live afro alternative music.

Aside from events like By the Fireside and BlackEXPO’s seasonal gatherings, as well as organizations such as Kente & Silk, what other Afrocentric resources are there in Beijing.
Beijing offers a very interesting hub of multicultural events. When it comes to Afrocentric resources, one can refer to the Andinet directory, a counterpart of Black Livity China. It is a directory to all things black in China. From there one can do a search for the code based for their desired location, and then directly access listings, on www.andinetblac.com based on the corresponding location. Resources include access to local restaurants, salons and barbers, resources for mental health, and financial planning just to name a few.

By the Fireside will take place this Saturday, Mar 20, from 7 to 10pm at Chez Soi in Sanlitun. Tickets include one free drink, plus 15 percent off drinks all night, and cost RMB 100 for professionals or RMB 60 for students. Click here to purchase yours.

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Images courtesy of Kente & Silk