“The Story So Far …” hosted by Tendisai Cromwell and produced by the Silk Road Institute is a podcast that explores a broad range of artistic expression by Muslim artists in Canada, through the eyes of the artists themselves. From music to literature, film, design, fashion and more, we invite you on a journey into the minds and creative practices of some of the most talented and inspiring Muslims creating art in Canada today.
EPISODES
Episode 7: Uzma Jalaluddin
In the seventh episode of The Story So Far, host Tendisai to speaks with novelist, teacher and contributing columnist for the Toronto Star, Uzma Jalaluddin. They discussed the role writers play as observers, navigating motherhood and a professional career and why she enjoys writing romance novels in particular.
About the artist:
Uzma Jalaluddin is the author of Ayesha at Last, and Hana Khan Carries On, the latter of which has been optioned by Amazon Studios and Mindy Kailing. This year, she will release two new books, Much Ado About Nada and Three Holidays and a Wedding, a joint novel written with fellow Canadian author Marissa Stapley.
Episode 6: Timaj Garad
In the sixth episode of The Story So Far, host Tendisai to speaks with award-winning spoken word artist Timaj Garad. She talks about her artistic process as it’s connected to faith and Blackness, and also how she’s used her experiences to create art that reflects joy as resistance and empowerment.
About the artist:
Timaj Garad is the co-founder of Kitchner-Waterloo’s first Slam Poetry organization. She’s performed her spoken word poetry on over 300 stages and, in 2021, released her debut EP “Blooming at the Mouth.” She’s known for her multi-disciplinary approach to storytelling, and also for her advocacy work and for founding LUMINOUS Fest, Canada’s first Black Muslim Arts Festival.
Episode 5: Aquil Virani
In the fifth episode of The Story So Far, Aquil joined host Tendisai to speak about his expansive portfolio of work, which often integrates public participation. He discusses the importance of community in his life and his art, how he navigates creating socially-conscious work, his relationship with faith and art and how they interconnect.
About the artist:
Aquil Virani is an award-winning visual artist and filmmaker. In the 2017 aftermath of the Quebec City Mosque shooting, Aquil had attendees of a vigil contribute to a live painting, where they were asked to write messages over Muslims hands in prayer. In 2021, he designed and produced a bilingual art anthology of Ottawa-based Muslim artists and writers called “Ottawa Inshallah.” In 2022, Aquil unveiled six commemorative portraits of the Quebec City mosque shooting victims.
Episode 4: Saïda Ouchaou-Ozarowski
In the fourth episode of The Story So Far, Saida joined host Tendisai in studio to speak about her experience working in the newsroom as a Muslim woman post 9/11, the idea of belonging while navigating multiple cultures and languages, and how her documentary work challenges Muslim stereotypes.
About the artist:
Saïda Ouchaou-Ozarowski, who is a digital news producer for Radio-Canada and documentary filmmaker known for her recent NFB film, “In Full Voice“. Born in France to Algerian parents with Berber heritage, Saïda studied law in Paris and was involved in community organizations from a young age and became a city councillor by 20.
Episode 3: Afua Cooper
In the third episode of The Story So Far, Afua joined us from Halifax, to speak about the origins of dub poetry, the history of Black Canadian Muslims, and how spirituality and faith have informed her work. In the end, you’ll get to hear her recite some of her poems.
About the artist:
Dr. Afua Cooper is a historian, dub-poet, and author. She’s also a professor in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Dalhousie University and the Principal Investigator of the research project, A Black People’s History of Canada. In 2018 she served as the Poet Laureate of Halifax, where she currently resides.
Episode 2: Zarqa Nawaz
In the second episode of The Story So Far, Zarqa joined us from her home in Regina, to speak about how she has evolved as an artist, the challenges she’ s faced as a Muslim writer and producer, and her relationship with humour in her work and much more.
About the artist:
Zarqa is a producer, author, public speaker, journalist, actress, and former broadcaster. She created the highly regarded CBC comedy series, Little Mosque on the Prairie. This year, she released her new eponymous CBC web series called Zarqa, as well as published her latest novel, Jameela Green Ruins Everything.
Episode 1: Omar El Akkad
In our very first episode of The Story So Far, Omar joined us from Portland, where he currently resides, to speak about how his childhood has shaped his writing, the representation of Muslims in the media, the banality of evil present in both of his novels, and more.
About the artist:
Omar is an Egyptian-Canadian-American journalist and the author of the two best-selling novels of American War and What Strange Paradise.
ABOUT THE HOST
Tendisai Cromwell is a Toronto-based writer and filmmaker. She previously served as the Executive Director of the Regent Park Film Festival and as the founding Creative Director of New Narrative Films. Her writing has been published in BESIDE Magazine, Santa Ana River Review and elsewhere. Tendisai is currently writing her debut novel. An excerpt of her novel was shortlisted for the 2017 Ross and David Mitchell Prize for Faith and Writing.
FEATURED ARTISTS
“The Story So Far” is a Silk Road Institute production, and was funded by the Canada Council for the Arts’ Digital Now grant. The show was produced by and researched by Ahsan Moghul. Scriptwriting and editing by Annum Shah, additional script editing by Tendisai Cromwell. The Executive Producer and Creative Director is Mohamed Shaheen. Music composed and orchestrated by Suad Bushnaq. Marketing and communications by Nawal Salim. Sound editing and mixing by Mark Knox at NewSound Productions. Music editing and mixing by Henry Mitton. Solo violin by Layth Sidiq. Graphic design by Hamza Ali. Special thanks to Silk Road Institute’s Programs and Development Manager Mariam Zaidi.
For all our episodes, and to support Silk Road Institute’s future programming, visit silkroadinstitute.ca.
