Black history is Canadian history.
From governor James Douglas to Viola Davis, African descendents have made a difference and contributed to the fabric of the nation. That’s the message musician Krystle Dos Santos wants to bring to her audience.
“I’ve designed quite the show for you,” said Dos Santos. “It’s going to be a show that celebrates Canada’s black history through music and story and awesome songs and stuff like that.”
Dos Santos will be at the CATS Theatre Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. with her show called Blak: A Musical Celebration of Canada’s Black History. Tickets are available for $30 at the Flower Shoppe or at the door the night of the performance.
The cabaret-style show will include curated stories over music that briefly tell the tales of some of the major figures in Canadian black history.
James Douglas, for instance, was governor of the colony of Vancouver Island and later the colony of British Columbia from 1851-1864 and he is often credited as the father of British Columbia.
Another individual of note is Viola Davis, a Nova Scotia businesswoman, who refused to sit in segregated theatre seats in 1946. Davis will be the first woman, besides the Queen, to be featured on Canadian currency when the new $10 bill is released later this year.
“The goal is to always be informational, informative and entertaining and never too preachy about anything,” said Dos Santos.
She has been performing similar shows since 2015 when the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton was looking for acts for its 50th anniversary season. Blak was one of the shows that were chosen.
Dos Santos’ smooth and jazzy style is often compared to that of heavy musical hitters like Nina Simone, Etta James, Alicia Keyes and Erykah Badu.
“I can’t say I’ve performed with any of them but, it would be a dream… it’s incredibly flattering. If I can ever dream to achieve what any of them have done on one day of their lives, that would be pretty amazing,” she said.
“They have such wonderful social spirits as well and a lot of them were activists themselves. A lot of them were such wonderful pillars of their own communities that if I can not just sound like them but actively be like them and take a page from their book then I’m moving in the right direction.”
As a performer, Dos Santos said her philosophy is to have as much fun as possible on stage.
“I think I just have as much fun as I humanly, possibly can and try to translate that to the audience because not only are they there for a show, but I’m there to give them a show. If I can’t have a great time alongside them, not just for them, but with them, then what’s the point?”
While many of her shows are in larger urban centres, she said she really enjoys playing to audiences in smaller towns.
“I love it, I actually really love it. I find that the people, the spirit, the energy is so much more electric because they’re all in,” said Dos Santos. “The appreciation factor is through the roof in smaller towns, because I feel it’s a bit more special. It’s more special for them and it’s more special for me.”
