close
close

Gathering Black History – Winnipeg Free Press

Posted on by Neons

Throughout the year, Wilgis Agossa thinks about February.

Agossa, 42, is the curator of the Noir et Fier (Black and Proud) festival, an event he developed with the Cercle Molière (TCM) theater to celebrate Black History Month. It's his job, but it's mostly his passion.

Two years ago, still at the height of the epidemic, Agossa felt compelled to do something to bring people together in black communities. Since moving from Benin to Winnipeg in 2010, Agossa has worked as a journalist. La Liberte and as a communications specialist for Accueil Francophone.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Wilgis Agossa is the curator of Cercle Moliere's Noir and Pride (Black and Pride) theater event, now in its third year.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Wilgis Agossa is the curator of Cercle Moliere's Black and Proud event, now in its third year.

Everywhere he went, he heard interesting stories from black Manitobans and newcomers. Wouldn't it be nice to celebrate those experiences, he thought?

“So I said, ‘I have this idea. What do you think?'” recalls Agossa, a photographer, videographer and manager of St. Boniface Cathedral for the past two years.

Noir et Fier—a month-long cultural exchange, arts festival, and community celebration—was needed to get started. About 100 people attended the first event, and by 2023 that number was easily exceeded.

This year's event kicked off on February 4 with a screening of a drama by Cameroonian director Narcisse Wanji. Shadrach, on track to become the largest publication.

Working with a group of volunteers and friends, as well as TCM staff, Agossa has spent the past six months preparing for this.

Topic: Ensemble (Together).

“I think unity is very important to me,” says Agossa, who first came to Canada in 2005 and met his wife during a language exchange program in Quebec.

“We need to talk about what's going on as a community, as a black community, to counter everything that's going on.”

Noir et Fier includes a wide range of programming, including Agossa, a photography and visual art exhibit at TCM, 340 Provencher Blvd., featuring works by photographer Joseph Hervé Ahisu and artist Xavier Mutshipai.

According to Agossa, more than 800 students from all over the city will attend the exhibition, which was created in partnership with the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.

Thursday through Saturday, the theater will also host a production by playwright Guy Regis Jr. L'amour telle une cathédreil ancevelii, “the tragic story of exiled and displaced Haitian families,” told in Creole and French. Accompanied by Haitian classical guitarist Amos Coulange, “cathartic opera-theater” is offered to audiences ages 15 and up.

On February 13, the Regis will host a performance workshop called “Theatre of Cruel Mockery,” which will allow participants to learn directly from the artist.

Over the weekend, the festival will feature a market for black artisans and entrepreneurs at CMHR on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Last year, 18 vendors participated. This year their number reached 35.

While some people are gearing up for the Super Bowl on Sunday, Noir et Fier is celebrating a different, beautiful form of soccer and inviting viewers to watch this year's Africa Cup of Nations final on TCM at 2 p.m. The winners will perform in the final. Semi-final matches between South Africa and Nigeria and Ivory Coast and Congo.

“That's where you want to be on that day,” Agossa says.

On February 18, Malian singer and guitarist Vie Farka Touré — son of legendary musician Ali Farka Touré — will perform at TCM opening for guitarist Harry Manx.