BAMS Fest – Toki Wright x Safiya

Toki Wright is a two-time Emmy Award-winning MC, poet, producer, and cultural diplomat.  He has received two CLIO Award for advertising with General Mills for the number one worldwide Twitter trending project “Watch the Stove” which was also nominated for a Cannes Lion Award.  Wright is currently the chair of the Professional Music Department at Berklee College of Music in Boston.  Before relocating he was the Department Head of the United States’ first fully accredited Hip-Hop Studies program at McNally Smith College of Music. The program was awarded the “Best Transformative Higher Learning Model” from the Hip-Hop Education Center at NYU. Toki also facilitated seven Twin Cities Celebration of Hip-Hop Festivals and helped establish “Hip-Hop at H.E.A.L.S,” a program for former child soldiers in Gulu, Northern Uganda.

Safiya is a rising star in the jazz and neo-soul scene, known for her electrifying performances and visionary ventures. Infusing her Afro-Caribbean roots with jazz influences, Safiya captivates audiences worldwide with her innovative sound. A graduate of Berklee College of Music and a nominee for New England Music Award Jazz Act of the Year (2024), Safiya is on a mission to inspire cultural exploration and foster connections through her groundbreaking project, Travel Through Music. With accolades including recognition as one of Boston’s Extraordinary Women in 2023, Safiya continues to push boundaries and redefine the music industry.