NASRA

A beloved Amiskwaciywaskahikan (Edmonton) based nonbinary, Oromo/Somali artist; NASRA’s captivating multi-disciplinary work embodies truth in challenging yet compassionate ways. 

From dance, to theatre, to music and spoken word poetry, NASRA art acts as a way out of trauma and the rigid expectations the world has for them. 

Their journey began in 2014, after braving Breath in Poetry Collective’s open mic where a new world had opened up to embrace them. NASRA was crowned City Champion and not long after, Youth Poet Laureate (2016-17). Paralleling their successes in Macewan’s Theatre Arts program, where vocal talent, nuanced storytelling and animated movement quality made them an all-around multi-faceted force. Their artistry has gone to capture audiences across Turtle Island, affording them the Mayor’s Emerging Artist award (2017); while their first poetry chapbook A God Dance in Human Cloth (2018) with Glass Buffalo Publishing was a co-recipient of the BP Nichols National Chapbook award in 2019. Most recently they’ve taken a plunge into the music world with their newly released EP “Salve”; their latest call to healing; a blend of herbal medicine, poetics and bass driven sound produced by Kaz Mega.

NASRA’s commitment to authentic expression shows off stage as well; in their community organizing through curation, Black/Indigenous healing work and arts education. NASRA believes the spiritual is political and through their own personal healing journey has gathered knowledge in tarot, astrology and herbal medicine and offers these services for Black/Indigenous community. Their artistic leadership and push for structural change for marginalized artists has lead to the founding of Sister to Sister, a showcase for/by femmes of colour (2015-2018) and Black Arts Matter (2016- current)—Alberta’s interdisciplinary Black arts festival. As NASRA’s grows they hope to deepen their spiritual healing practices and continue to develop generative, creative and holistic opportunities for growth in their communities. 

Contact Information

E : contact@nasra.ca