M

Thursday October 3rd 2013 Vancouver musicians and artists will donate their talents towards raising money for The Merita Movement at Brooklyn Gastown. 'Creative Connexions' is a night of art and culture beginning with the rst public screening of the documentary "Our Beloved Land" and digital art gallery with pop-up live performances by some of Vancouver's most unique talent. Our Beloved Land (Documentary film by Christine Michelle and Silas Balabyekkubo, founders of Merita Movement) Derived from Medu (the language of the ancient Kemet), the word Merita translates to 'Our Beloved Land'. Merita encourages young people on the continent of Africa to reconnect to themselves and their land; Awakening belief and dreams amongst the youth is a key element to restoring hope, vision and unity in these regions.

Our Beloved Land captures the true stories of youthful passionate leaders in East Africa and successful, creative professionals around the world. It explores the hope and connectivity of young men and women who continue to play a major role in activating community peace building. Merita is dedicate to furthering this conversation through a creative approach to education while using art as a platform for healing and expression; providing a variety of specialized workshops and entrepreneurial opportunities.

THE FEATURED ARTISTS

AREZOU EDALAT BELLY DANCER

DEHARA SEPTEMBER ARTIST

KEVIN JINN - B-BOY ROOT

KIRSTY PROVAN - ACTOR

ZACCHEUS NYCE -

ERIC BREITENBACH MUSICIAN

SEAN VALORIA

#BeCreative Pop-Up Art Exhibition This summer, through Canada's sexiest beverage Playboy Energy Drink Canada we brought you the #PBEartchallenge which challenged artists from across Canada to send in photos of their creativity and art via Instagram. Now the time has come when we get to return the love and bring the top contest images to you while celebrating the rst Digital Instagram Art Party with Live Pop-Up performances from some of Vancouver's greatest creatives. Keep up with videos and media released on Playboy Energy CA and Merita Movement of the amazing performances that will be popping up all over Brooklyn Gastown as we take the night and pay tribute to Vancouver's art scene. Performers such as Sean Viloria, Dehara September, Zouzou Love, Bboy Root of Soul Hunters crew (South Korea) and many more will perform solo installation pieces throughout the evening. 100% ticket, donation and sponsorship proceeds will go to the Merita Movement and designated to providing opportunities for creative entrepreneurs to grow their ideas and express their visions on a global platform.

DJ KENYA

CHELSEA BROOK PHOTOGRAPHER

JUSTIN KASEREKA VISUAL ARTIST

Christine Michelle
Peace not war, generosity not greed. Empathy not hate. Creativity not destruction. Every body not just us.

Christine Michelle is a 28 year old philanthropist, hairdresser, sound, art and style enthusiast. Impartial to academia, she spent the greater part of her youth creating and experimenting with art, crafts and textiles. Many blessed opportunities to travel internationally imbedded the travel bug deep in her soul which eventually landed Christine in the heart of Africa a city called Goma on the East border of Democratic Republic of Congo. Since time, she has spent an accumulated 19 months on the ground and several years moving back and forth between Vancouver and DRC. Christines second visit to the continent of Africa was one in which forever changed her life and as a result, her creative interests (plus a love of scissors and sewing machines) provided her the opportunity to develop a program called Healing Arts. A xed class room at the hospital in Goma as well as rural community outreach spaces where women who have experienced sexual violence come together joyfully and learn a variety of skills and trades to create opportunities and income for themselves while they are within their healing process. Promoting community and individual growth through holistic development.

Silas Balabyekkubo
Celebrating life means living in the awareness of being fully awakened and connected to your soul purpose, living transformative imprints to inspire those who will come after you ~babaluku

Silas Balabyekkubo is an award-winning musician, producer, community youth advocate and social entrepreneur. A founding member of Ugandas legendary hip hop group, Bataka Squad, Silas is known for introducing Luga Flow to Ugandas creative scene. This unique and powerful style of positive Hip Hop music has inspired youth in Uganda to embrace and celebrate their native languages, culture and tradition. Silas is dedicated to changing lives and giving hope to young people from the ghetto slums of Kampala to war torn Northern Uganda. Through the Bavubuka Foundation Silas supports projects that are calling forth the spirit of Ugandan people in creative arts, youth empowerment, education, community development, sports, fashion, journalism, and community-building events. Silas is also responsible for creating Spoken Truth, a monthly event and the rst urban spoken word movement in Uganda, which provides a platform for poets and artists in all areas to showcase their work and express their passion. In addition Silas has hosted and been the prime sponsor for the Uganda Hip Hop Summit which has been celebrated as the annual highlight of Ugandas Hip Hop scene for the last ten years.

ABOUT THE MERITA MOVEMENT

Merita is a passion driven movement comprised of individuals who desire to see young people on the continent of Africa empowered, unied and strengthened. Our intention is to accommodate space, resource, method and mentorship to breakthrough old cycles and advocate self actualization and growth amongst creative entrepreneurs. Merita exists to work along side youth in various communities throughout Africa establishing a bold conversation, recognizing the purpose and importance of each individual. The vision grows as Meritas diverse team works together in combining our uniquely different expertise to continue to ignite the voice of the youth. The core values of The Merita Movement are to reconnect people to their roots, awaken dreams to full potential, restore the vision for a new story in Africa and to unify culture through a creative approach to education and community building.

Nullam arcu leo, facilisis ut