Episode 3 | Honouring our Auntie’s Audio
“The great thing about your auntie is that she doesn’t have to be related by blood — she’s that older, or sometimes not so much older female in your life who gives good advice, is a little bit sassy, smothers you with hugs and kisses, but can also discipline you when need be.”
Our aunties are the bridge between parent and child. They are wise storytellers within our families, friend circles, and communities and hold the riches of oral traditions that are too often undocumented and underappreciated. Whether it is gossiping at the kitchen table, teaching us how to be independent or sharing historic memory of a country’s independence, this episode seeks to bridge multiple diasporas with the commonality of archiving the everyday.
Featuring Myrtle Henry Sodhi, Felene Cayeteno, Aunt June and Miss Rose
About Myrtle Henry Sodhi:
Myrtle Sodhi is a Ph.D. student at York University in the Faculty of Education. Her research focus relates to Black feminist thought, precolonial African thought, and ethics of care and their roles in re-envisioning systems. She recently completed a Canada Council of the Arts funded project, “The Body Speaks”, which is an integrative storytelling event that revives Afro-Caribbean storytelling through visual and sonic arts. She founded “The Beyond Strong Community” which offers integrative art experiences for Black women by Black artists. She is a visual artist, writer, and educator who believes in the importance of joy and ease in cultivating a socially just world.
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Books:Dionne Brand
A Map to the Door of No Return
Christina Sharpe
In the Wake
bell hooks
All about Love
Saidiya Hartman
Wayward Lives Beautiful Experiments
About Felene Cayetano:
Felene M. Cayetano is a Belizean, Garifuna, librarian, author, mother, photographer, screenwriter, and director. Felene has published two collections of poetry and published an anthology of short fiction by Belizean authors. Some of her poems and short stories have also been published in Caribbean and Latin American literary journals. She is currently Acting Principal Librarian of Belize National Library Service and Information System, founding member of the Belizean Writers Guild and serves on the Boards of Directors of the Belize Book Industry Association (BBIA) and the Wagiya Foundation. Her photographs have been exhibited in Belize and are now available as NFTs. She wrote and directed Afieni (Faith), a narrative short film in Garifuna with expected completion in 2022. Sides, her first completed short film, premiered in Guatemala in March 2022.
Art that Influenced the Episode
My Granddaddy’s Granddaughter
Talk by Mary Annaise Heglar
Brenetta Pearl
Oral archive by Imani Elizabeth Jackson
Who Yo People Is
Piece by Marlanda Dekine
About the Writers:
Michelle Joseph is a freelance lifestyle writer, blogger, and podcaster living in Toronto, Canada.
In March of 2014, she began interviewing Toronto influencers from the BIPOC community for her blog, “Words With Michelle”. In 2017, she was acknowledged for her work on her blog by being featured in #HERStoryInBlack—a digital photo series, which highlighted 150 trailblazing Black Canadian women who are leaders in their field.
Due to the success of her blog, she decided to dip her toes into podcasting and launch “Words With Michelle” which focuses on engaging conversations with guests on a variety of topics. In addition to her creative sensibilities, Michelle is a very proud foodie, who has a fondness for donuts.
About the Audio Series:
Speech Sounds is a 5-part audio-series showcasing sound artists, griots, and poets working while engaging in a conversation around memory and culture for those within the African diaspora.
Speech Sounds is funded by the Canada Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council. Speech Sound has received financial and in-kind support from OCAD University, Writing While Black collective, ROOM Magazine as well as our donors. Thank you to everyone who believes in our project.