**L-R: Amanda Rheaume, Louise Lahache, Banakonda Kennedy-Kish Bell, ShoShona Kish**

By Will McGuirk
Photos by Mirijana Simenunovich

Erykah Badu, Gil Scott-Heron, Bob Marley, Kendrik Lamar, Beyonce. Mumu Fresh is all of them over the course of her performance as the final act of the International Indigenous Music Summit gala held at the TD Music Hall Wednesday May 31 2023.

Mumu Fresh aka Maimouna Youssef is one of the most exciting artists I have seen in quite some time; that statement speaks to the channels we find ourselves in these days. Mumu Fresh has been nominated for a Grammy, has two solo albums, two group albums, one sole EP, a mixtape, singles; has worked with DJ Jazzy Jeff, played alongside Common, the Roots, Femi Kuit, Bruno Mars, and Ed Sheeran. She has been on Broadway, Netflix and her Tiny Desk showcase has over 1 m views, and yet new to me. So it’s not her, it's me and maybe you too. Mumu is blowing up. . . over there.

“I am my ancestors wildest dreams.”

— Mumu Fresh

At one point maybe the mainstream was more an ocean with all streams leading to it - acts on the margins crossover into the mainstream or music from the margins was adopted by those in the mainstream opening up new audiences - Elvis, Clapton covering Marley, Beastie Boys but these days the streams flow parallel, there is no crossover, you have to be the crossover now, you have to seek, you have to leave, you have to make the effort, and I am so happy I made the effort to meet Indigenous artists from around the globe on their own terms, their own territory. I haven’t been so excited about a new musical direction in decades; I said to my pal there I was tossing all my records to make room for these artists, turning the world upside down to right it up. I make room for politics in my music, I make more for human rights, I will make room for marginalised peoples, and if you’re talking politics you can dance too - well hello all day long.

The gala was the launch of the four day celebration of Indigenous Music from across the world, featuring showcases and panels, at venues in Toronto, including the RIvoli, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Tranzac, Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, and the TD Music Hall at Massey Hall. The more than 40 artists include Andrina Turenne, Aysanabee, Garret T Willie, Miesha and the Spanks, Ombiigizi.

“Songs became safe spaces for our people”

— Elisapie

The gala also featured Inuk singer/songwriter Elisapie, Goombine of the Yuin Wodi Wodi Nation in Australia, Sebastian Gaskin from Split Lake Manitoba, poet and elder Duke Redbird, and the Eagleheart Drummers and Singers led by Jimmy Dick of the Moose Cree First Nation.

The International Indigenous Music Summit continues through to June 4. If you have time go, if you can make time do, if you can take time to listen to the artists do so, and if you can make room on your playlist for Indigenous artists then do that too. Yah you will hear some difficult truths, but with such love and passion and sounds - clearly that is the path out.

Follow the path, uncover the secrets, reach for the summit, look up and around and out. . .