Boonaa Mohammed

The name ‘Boonaa’, in Afan Oromo, means proud, and his work, up to this point, has made a growing audience very proud. Child of refugee parents from Oromia, a part of Ethiopia still under a colonial regime, Boonaa learned about the power of words at a very young age. His parents left the country because their outspoken criticisms of the current government put themselves and their children’s’ lives at risk. As a child, Boonaa faced many issues being a first generation Canadian; the cultural gap between his parents forced him to navigate much of his youth alone. Since the summer of 2006, Boonaa has been writing poetry as a means of dealing with the stress he faced living in Toronto. His experience as a youth activist has shaped most of his content. ‘Now Magazine’ declared his debut CD “Boonaafide” one of the Top 5 Canadian albums that should not be slept on. “Crystal clear lyricism and childlike innocence helps catapult atomic thought-rock at Goliath-sized Target” (Nov 22-28th 2007 Vol, 27th No. 12).

Known in arts circles across Canada, Boonaa first made a name for himself on the slam poetry circuit by winning most major competitions in Toronto. He represented Toronto twice at the Canadian festival of spoken word, was the first ever winner of the Luminato Poetry Slam, a two-time winner of the ESC Poetry Slam, and was crowned the 2007 CBC Poetry Face-Off “Best New Artist”. Boonaa was also the only spoken word artist featured in Canadian Music Week, opening up for underground hip hop icon Pharaoh Monarch. Boonaa wrote and starred in the Team Ryouko presentation of “Impact”, an inspirational showcase of dance, martial arts, and gymnastics. The multi-talented artist has also been able to use poetry as a platform to get into the world of film by starring in a film project for PEN Canada called “Sedition” that deals with writers in exile and the importance of freedom of expression. He has also toured Canada alone and as a commissioned poet on behalf of the Mayworks festival speaking for the rights of workers and union solidarity.

Known for his unique sense of humour and riveting stage presence, Boonaa has been commissioned to write for the CBC and an anthology of immigrant writers called “Piece by Piece” being published by Penguin Canada in 2010. In addition to just writing and performing, Boonaa frequently conducts writing workshops and seminars, sharing his experience and expertise with mainly disenfranchised youth across the country. Still early in his career, Boonaa is set to release his sophomore album entitled “Stranger to this world” in late 2009.