AFROSCIENCE

My name is Tonye Aganaba, I am a visual artist, singer/songwriter, and storyteller. I am the brains, brawn and beauty behind #AfroScience - a one-woman show exploring themes of diversity and race, sexuality and gender, addiction and healing, faith, and creativity. Three years ago, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis - a degenerative autoimmune disease that leaves many wheelchair bound and disabled for life. Shortly after that, while shooting a documentary in Dawson Creek with CBC -  I fractured my spine in six places in a car accident. I put my career on hold, and embarked on a journey of self-discovery. During this healing time - I was gifted the opportunity of a self-directed education. I moved into a 28ft motorhome on the edge of a beautiful forest, and took the time to learn about all the things I’d ever wanted to know. Aromatherapy, Essential Oil Distillation, Yin Yoga, Social Advocacy, Painting, Sewing, Graphic Design, Screen Printing, Music Production, Growing Green Things, Tea Blending, Natural Medicine and more.  Most importantly, I delved headfirst into the study of Sociology/Social Sciences also known affectionately as the the study of social problems. As a newly disabled artist, there were a lot of social problems I had to tackle head on - and uncharted territory I had to navigate in order to come to terms with my new reality. I learned first hand about the burden of INTERSECTIONALITY and how it affects and informs my creative process. For those who are not familiar with the term - INTERSECTIONALITY is a concept used to describe the various ways that oppressive cultural and societal institutions like racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, classism, xenophobia etc are inextricably connected and as such can’t be framed and explored as separate entities. #AfroScience is the result of this education. It fuses music, visual art, dance, digital media, and SOCIAL SCIENCE to communicate my experience as a Queer, Black, Disabled, Immigrant, Non-Binary, Femme Presenting Artist - as well as perspectives from other artists, creatives and collaborators in the most liveable city in the world! It’s an intimate and interactive intersectional art show, designed to inspire, motivate and educate anyone who experiences or participates in it. This show is the culmination of my experiences, it is Me.