Cosmic Northside Conference 2.0
About Cosmic Northside 2.0
Building from the foundation established in Ottawa at the National Gallery of Canada in 2024, Cosmic Northside 2.0: The Afrofuturistic Canadian Arts Conference is a free, two-day bilingual gathering taking place November 20–21, 2026, online and at Peel Art Gallery Museum Archives (PAMA) in Brampton, Ontario.
Experience a dynamic set of artist presentations, panel discussions and community dialogue, connecting Black cultural legacies with creative possibilities for our collective futures.
Presented by AstroSankofa Arts Initiatives in partnership with PAMA, with support from Brampton Arts Organization, the Black Empowerment Unit, and the City of Brampton.
Funded by the Government of Canada through Canadian Heritage’s Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program.
Conference Days & Registration
2026 Presenters, Performers & Roundtables
Keynote Presenter · Day 1 Virtual
Evond 'Mediah' Blake
Roundtable · Day 1 Virtual
The Black Arts Nexus Roundtable
Hosts & Announcer · Day 1 & Day 2
Pharaoh Freeman
Keynote Presenter · Day 2 PAMA
Krystal Paraboo
Presenter · Day 2 PAMA
Pam Levi
Presenter · Day 2 PAMA
Asia 'Wild Moon' Clarke
Performer · Day 2 PAMA
Kwasi Obeng-Adjei
Roundtable · Day 2 PAMA
Black Women in Public Art Roundtable
Partners, Sponsors & Funders
In Partnership With
Sponsored & Supported By
Funded By
Cosmic Northside Afrofuturist Highlight
Charles R. Saunders
Charles R. Saunders (1946–2020) was an African-American author and journalist best known for pioneering the "sword and soul" genre, which blends African culture and mythology with traditional sword-and-sorcery fantasy. Born in Pennsylvania and later moving to Canada, Saunders created the character Imaro, a powerful warrior whose adventures are set in a richly imagined African-inspired world.
Adeyemi Adegbesan
Adeyemi Adegbesan is a Toronto-based multi-disciplinary artist whose practice aims to examine the intersectionality of Black identity. Through his work, Adegbesan pulls from pre-colonial, colonial, present-day and future timelines to create Afrofuturistic portraits embodying history, fantasy, speculative futures, and spirituality.
Camille Turner
Camille Turner is an artist/scholar whose work combines Afrofuturism and historical research, putting into practice Afronautics to approach colonial archives from the point of view of a liberated future. Recipient of the 2022 Artist Prize by the Toronto Biennial of Art, with works held at the National Gallery of Canada and major collections.
Danilo Deluxo McCallum
Danilo Deluxo McCallum is an award-winning Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist, graphic designer, muralist, and cultural curator exploring the multiplicities of Black identity through the lens of Afrofuturism, known for “Patterns of the People” and major public art commissions across Toronto.
Jahnoy Lindsay
Jahnoy Lindsay is a Canadian illustrator and artist recognized for vibrant, dynamic visual storytelling exploring identity, culture, and the human experience through bold colours and expressive character design.
Jamal Campbell
Jamal Campbell (aka Campbell-Pryce) is a Canadian illustrator and comic book artist celebrated for illustrating DC Comics' Far Sector and co-creating the Eisner-nominated series Naomi.
Kapwani Kiwanga
Kapwani Kiwanga is a Canadian-French artist and filmmaker born in Hamilton, Ontario, whose interdisciplinary installations and archival research explore history, memory, and power structures internationally.
Komi Olafimihan
Komi Olafimihan is a Toronto-based visual artist, poet, and architectural designer blending African and African diasporic cultures with Afrofuturism, assemblage, and technology.
SPEAKERS' BIO
Meet the Afrofuturist and Indigenous Futurist presenters, moderators, panelists, performers, and DJs featured at Cosmic Northside.
Featured Afrofuturist Presenter
of Black Sun Comics
Kelvin Nyeusi Mawazo (Gumbs)
Kelvin Nyeusi Mawazo is the founder and creative force behind Black Sun Comics, a platform dedicated to creating rich narratives within the African diaspora. His work focuses on telling stories of Black heroism, resilience, and culture through the medium of comic books and graphic novels. Kelvin's art combines Afrofuturism with a deep understanding of historical and contemporary Black experiences, providing a new vision for comic enthusiasts.
Special guest presenter
Ytasha Womack
Ytasha L. Womack is a critically acclaimed author, filmmaker, dancer, independent scholar, and champion of humanity and the imagination. Her book Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi Fantasy Culture (2013) is the leading primer on the exciting subject that bridges science fiction, futurism, and culture. The book is a 2014 Locus Awards Non-Fiction Finalist.
Featured Afrofuturist Moderator
Divine Lys Ndemeye
Lys Divine Ndemeye is an artist, designer, public speaker and educator (adjunct professor at UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture) with ancestral roots from Burundi. She holds a Masters in Landscape Architecture and a Bachelors in Political Science and Human Geography. Divine was the recipient of the 2020 Olmsted Scholar Award; the premier leadership recognition program for landscape Architecture students in the U.S and Canada. She is also a recipient of the British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects President’s Award (2022).
Featured Panelist
Malcolm Emilio Yarde
Malcolm Emilio Yarde is an accomplished visual artist and photographer whose work explores themes of identity, race, and environment. His photography captures the essence of Black communities, often focusing on intimate moments of daily life. Malcolm's work has been featured in galleries and publications, contributing to conversations on diversity and representation in contemporary art.
Featured Panelist
Kalkidan Assefa
Kalkidan Assefa, aka “DRPN Soul,” is an Ethiopian-born multidisciplinary visual artist and artist-educator, based in the unceded Algonquin Anishnaabeg territory known as Ottawa. His work is focused on large-scale murals, collaborative community-based public art projects, mixed-media canvases, and illustration. His subject matter centers around Diasporic experiences, Black representation, visibility, cultural memory, and ancestral knowledge.
Featured Panelist
Debbie Deer
Debbie Deer is a cultural strategist and consultant with expertise in event planning, community engagement, and arts management. With years of experience working with non-profits and cultural organizations, Debbie is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and representation in the arts. Her leadership has supported various programs aimed at empowering marginalized communities through creative initiatives.
Featured Indigenous Futurist Panelist
Jason Lewis
Jason Lewis is a professor, digital artist, and co-founder of the Initiative for Indigenous Futures (IIF). His work focuses on using digital tools to imagine futures grounded in Indigenous worldviews and values. Jason’s research and creative projects span art, technology, and activism, exploring how Indigenous communities can shape their own technological futures.
Featured Indigenous Futurist Panelist
Skawennati
Skawennati is a pioneering Mohawk new media artist known for creating works that envision Indigenous peoples in the future. Her notable projects, including TimeTraveller™ and Machinima, combine digital art and storytelling to challenge historical narratives and present Indigenous perspectives on history and futurism. Skawennati’s work has been exhibited globally.
Featured Afrofuturist
Lateef Martin
Lateef Martin is multidisciplinary artist, including illustration, writing, musician game design, cosplay and voiceover. His company Miscellaneum Studios centres Black, Indigenous, people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, the neurodivergent and disabled in its stories. It currently publishes Z'isle, a comic book series set in Montreal seven years after a zombie apocalypse and a music theatre performance tied to the comic called Abdul Lateef and the Distraction Machine. A music-based puzzle game is also in development.
Special Afrofuturist headliner
Day 2 and Day 3 After Party
Afrotronix
By actively instructing AI and its digital systems in the language of our African ancestors, Afrotronix imparts the wisdom of old onto new technologies. With a forward-thinking perspective on rhythm and percussion, they lead us on an extraordinary musical voyage into the profound and sacred African traditions and patterns. In doing so, they intertwine ancient codes and algorithms with futuristic concepts, creating a magnificent fusion of past and present. Afrotronix art is a vision that points to an Afrofuturism from Chad.
Special guest performer
Fana Soro
Fana Soro is a master musician and dancer from Ivory Coast, specializing in traditional West African percussion and dance. As the founder of the Fana Soro African Drumming and Dance Ensemble, he brings the vibrancy of African music and culture to audiences around the world. Fana’s dedication to cultural education has made him a sought-after performer and teacher.
Special guest performer
On Day 3
Black Stars Collective
The Black Stars Collective is an innovative group of multidisciplinary Black artists committed to creating space for Black creativity and expression. Through collaborations in music, visual arts, and performance, the collective seeks to challenge stereotypes, uplift Black voices, and foster unity across diverse cultural landscapes.
Event DJ
Dj Jayel
DJ Jayel is a versatile and skilled DJ known for blending genres and creating unforgettable party experiences. With a focus on Afrobeats, dancehall, and hip-hop, Jayel has built a reputation for keeping dance floors alive with his eclectic mixes. His ability to connect with diverse audiences makes him a staple in the local and international music scenes.
After party DJ
On Day 3
Dj Velvet
DJ Velvet is a trailblazing DJ and music curator who specializes in spinning soulful mixes of R&B, house, and funk. Her smooth transitions and deep knowledge of music history have made her a favourite in both underground and mainstream music circles. Velvet is dedicated to creating inclusive, positive spaces for music lovers to come together.