Aïcha Bastien-N’Diaye, from the Huron-Wendat Nation, was introduced to movement through Guinean traditional dance while growing up in Wendake. Naturally blending her strong cultural influences, her passion for the physicality and expressiveness of dance quickly led her to pursue professional training at L’École de danse de Québec.

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Using her voice to inspire her communities, both on social media and on stage, Aïcha sees movement as a powerful tool for change and innovation.

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A multidisciplinary artist, she showcased her work "Dance Your Anxiety Away" in an installation by Slow Factory at MoMA PS1 in New York. She has also performed in Émilie Monnet’s play Marguerite, Le Feu. More recently, she opened for Caroline Monnet at the Indigenous Futurism fashion show at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, co-hosted seasons 2 and 3 of Décoloniser l’histoire, a web series produced by Picbois Productions, and co-directed the show YAHWATSIRA’, presented at the Carrefour International de Théâtre.As co-founder and artistic director of Studio Le Feu, she is currently focused on directing and creating visuals within the artistic and commercial industries.

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Dédy Bilamba is a high-level marketing manager with a rich and diverse background spanning three continents, known for his unique career path.

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Throughout his journey, Dédy has demonstrated his versatility and creativity in diverse roles, including Partnership Manager at Stade de France, Communications Advisor at the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec, and Brand Manager for KFC Côte d’Ivoire. His ability to thrive in different environments is driven by a consistent thread—his creative approach to tackling challenges.

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A passionate advocate for culture, Dédy is also the author of three books and has written short film scripts.

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For the past five years, he has worked in television and cinema in Quebec, contributing to prestigious institutions such as the Vues d'Afrique International Film Festival and the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (Quebec section).

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Dédy also serves on the Board of Directors of the Dynastie Foundation, further showcasing his commitment to cultural advocacy and community impact.

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Despite having lived in the diaspora from a young age, Dédy maintains a deep connection to Africa. In 2022, alongside his partner Éric M'boua, he co-founded Afro VFX, a groundbreaking initiative with the mission of revolutionizing African cinema and television. 

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Afro VFX aims to develop a competitive ecosystem for VFX (Visual Effects) on the continent, helping amplify African stories and bring them to a global audience.

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Sylvine, better known as The Artiiist, of Central African origin, was born in France and has now been living in Canada for 12 years. From an early age, art has always played a central role in her life: singing, dancing and then painting. This passion has gradually turned into a real career: she is the founder of Smard Art.

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It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that Sylvine launched her artistic enterprise: Smard Art. Her talent and vision quickly attracted attention, propelling her work onto the international scene. This dazzling success has enabled her to make a living from her art and develop her business internationally, although she still harbors even greater ambitions.

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Through her work, she celebrates the identity, culture and beauty of black people, themes that are close to her heart. Combining traditional and digital art, she draws her inspiration from realism, which she considers a form of expression of great intensity, while exploring mixed media techniques and abstraction.

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Despite this recognition, she remains driven by the desire to push her own boundaries and reach an even wider audience.

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