mandiela

ahdri zhina mandiela has been described as electrifying and brilliant. Lauded world wide, the multitalented Jamaican-born mandiela has garnered acclaim for her poetry books, music recordings, film, theatre and dance productions.

Founder and artistic director of Toronto-based B current, mandiela has recorded and toured extensively across Canada, the UK, the US and the Caribbean. Fusing dance with dub poetry mandiela created a work called Dark Diaspora in Dub, a dub theatre classic. She has made several dub recordings including step/ into my head, barefoot & black, and her debut EP first & last.

A renowned Canadian theatre director, mandiela has been working in the Toronto theatre scene since the late 70's with companies like Black Theatre Canada, Theatre Fountainhead, Canadian Stage, Young Peoples Theatre, Company of Sirens, and Theatre in the Rough. Mandiela has directed numerous productions on mainstages and for school tours.

mandiela has also made a unique independent film on/black'stage/women which premiered on Canada's BRAVO! TV network in winter 1998, and has also been sold internationally. Mandiela profiles nearly 30 women, including Alison Sealy-Smith, Djanet Sears, Tricia Williams, Jackie Richardson and Sharon Lewis. on/black/stage/women goes behind the scenes and celebrates 30 years of contributions made by Black women to Toronto's vibrant theatre scene, including archival footage of live stage performances from works that include Dryland, Diaspora... in Dub and the lesbian themed Sistahs.

She is currently working on new poetry stylings, a follow-up performance documentary "Black Stage II" and the 5 minute short, "Moments... ". Mandiela is also scripting a new stage work, while developing other theatre works, including M. Nourbese Philip's "Harriet's Daughter", a hip hop "Twelfth Night", and a performance repertory company for B Current.