On January 13, 2024 we met at the U-Topicas Bookstore, Coyoacán, in a unique event to share and celebrate the work of black poets and artists in Mexico. The event was convened by black feminist poet and thinker Tonya Foster, a resident of Casa ojala in January, as part of a proposal called “Cartography of the African Americas.” Fortunately, there was a full house at the event. The poets Aleida Cisneros and Juliana Acevedos, and the graphic artist and muralist Baltazar Melo, presented their work together with Tonya (author of “A Swarm of Bees in High Court”). A debate moderated by Itza Varela, author of “Tiempo De Diablos: Uses of Culture and the Past in the Process of Ethnic Construction of Black Afro-Mexican Peoples,” followed, who described the work of Afro-descendant artists and the black movement of the coast. girl as a “counter-miscegenation process.” The panel and the public covered topics such as the homogenizing project of the nation-state, racism in Mexico, art as social theory through the imagination, the need for spaces for work and discussion, the work of black women in domestic spaces by creating and transmitting verse and knowledge. In general it was said how cool blackness is! At the end of the event at U-topias, we moved to Casa ojala for more improvised presentations and a large bowl of gumbo prepared by Blaxicocina. This was just a first step: there must be more!

On December 16, we celebrated Yalda in Mexico! Yalda marks the winter solstice - the longest night of the year. Iranians celebrate it as a sign that the sun will eventually emerge no matter how long the dark nights of winter may be. After Yalda, every day becomes longer and every night becomes shorter. For us, Yalda also has a symbolic meaning: that resistance will always triumph in the face of repression, no matter how long that repression lasts or how overwhelming it feels. At Casa Ojala, we celebrated by staying up late, reading poetry, playing music, dancing, and eating red foods like pomegranate and watermelon, in accordance with Iranian tradition. This event was made possible through the collective effort of many. Music and Poetry: Mani Nilchiani, Mehdi Moshtagh, Miguel PeOc and Yahya Alkhansa DJ: Daniel Farah Design: Dariush Alexander Special thanks to Kimia tehrani for c0-organizing and planning This event was organized jointly by Ajam Media Collective and Casa Ojala.