The Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad, January 22 to March 21, comprises of 122 ticketed events showcasing rich talent from Canadian and international performing arts and culture. The events come in the form of music, dance, film and theatre to name a few, and promise to deliver something for everyone. Soak up as much as you can!
Day Six: Introducing the Performers
Meet K’naan
Toronto based hip-hop artist, K’naan has a compelling story. He was born, and spent the first fourteen years of his life in Somalia. After fleeing with his family, he lived briefly in Harlem before settling in Toronto. He claims he draws inspiration from the “different eras” of his life. His music addresses political issues as well as life for a person sort of in-between cultures. He mixes music from his homeland, deeply rooted in poetry, with that of western culture to create a unique afro-pop sound.
In an interview with CNN, K’naan explains his writing. “I left the war, but it hasn’t left me… I’m on the phone with it on a day to day basis. I hear what is going on. That is a constant thing for me… I still don’t feel very comfortable, and I think that’s why I write about that.”
K’naan has released three albums. His debut album, The Dusty Foot Philospher, was awarded the Juno for “Rap Recording of the Year.” He has gone on to become one of the most prominent Canadian hip-hop artists.
K’naan will be performing at The Orpheum at 8:00pm on February 25th. For K’naan tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com or ShowTimeTickets.com.
The Show will open with Tinariwen.
Find out about other great performers in town for the Olympics below.
January 14th Blogpost: Meet Phoenix
January 15th Blogpost: Meet Steve Earle
January 18th Blogpost: Meet City and Colour
January 19th Blogpost: Meet Feist
January 20th Blogpost: Meet Stars
January 25th Blogpost: Meet Gomez
January 26th Blogpost: Meet Raphael Saadiq
