Mugabi Byenkya Shares His Artistic Roots at ConVal High School

(Cassandra Yerkes photo)

Meeting with 3D Art and English class sessions, Byenkya shared their own journey as an artist, performing their "first rap," showing early music videos, and discussing their award-winning novel, Dear Philomena, and mixtape, Songs For Wo(Men) 2. Offering a message of perseverance and resilience, Byenkya reflected on how the obstacles in their life sparked inspiration and new perspectives, helping to shape the artist they have become.

To conclude their visit to ConVal, Byenkya encouraged the classes to reflect on the concept of friendship. The students spent time drawing pictures, writing poems, and collaborating on small artworks, using the theme as a source of inspiration for their creativity and connections with one another.

While in residence at MacDowell, working in Delta Omicron Studio, Byenkya was developing a musical theatre project exploring gender identity, sexuality, code-switching, grief, belonging, and being disabled in an able-bodied world.