Aja Monet’s new audio performance “Voices” focuses on the stories of the Black Femme

It’s unlucky that violence against black women has long been an issue, which is what makes movements like #SayHerName so vital. This reality inspired the surrealist blues poet Aja Monet to create an audio performance, In cooperation with i Day V creator V, formerly Eve Ensler, takes listeners on a sonic journey through the stories of Black women that may heal your soul; causing laughter, tears and reflection.

The duo began discussing the project in 2020, when the Black Lives Matter movement reached new heights following the “brutal and horrific murder of George Floyd,” in Monet’s words. “V asked me if I would be interested in collaborating with V-Day to create a new piece with the stories of Black women at its heart, alongside the fight to end violence against women and girls,” she shares. “I think this article shows what solidarity can look like when it’s not just rhetoric and is actually implemented in a real, strategic way.”

Monet – nominated for a Grammy for her poetry album – understands that our experiences are diverse and nuanced. That said, she knew she couldn’t take on the responsibility of reporting different stories on her own. Instead, she reached out to women in her community through social media and listening tours. “I asked myself, ‘What communities, countries, neighborhoods, etc. are not being listened to?’ Monet also adds that he doesn’t want listeners to assume that these stories represent the entirety of our journeys. . Instead, “it is an invitation to listen and learn about our stories” and a reckoning with the proven fact that “there is so much more to bear witness to. There is much more to tell. I hope this project will create new opportunities to create more works of art like this.”

And such social work requires an urgent refilling of the cup. That said, Monet relies on practices reminiscent of boundary-setting. “I think it’s important to take time to verbalize when you need it. This sounds obvious. But it’s not always easy,” he says. “As we try to combat global issues of violence, it is important to remember that the form of violence that Black women face is because many of us are constantly in a state of fight or flight. We often find ourselves in a space where we are forced to find solutions to what we are struggling with,” Monet continues. “I learned to say, ‘Hey, I do not know. I do not have all the answers straight away… but that is where I’m and it is time to help myself understand it.

Moreover, creating such projects can be a balm for Monet. “It allows me to listen and be uplifted,” he says. “And I think living with another person’s vulnerability and expression is incredibly healing.”