A Review of Hosting Crépu, Our DNA: A Celebration of Black Hair
Hair stylist, Montessa (left) and models on the demo stage after models walked the Hair Art Runway. These are the Day 2 runway looks. Photo by Curtis Perry.
Dear Reader,
To teach my little sister and me about courage, my mom told us that being courageous was like having a garden inside us, where a flower grows each time we’re brave. She called them courage flowers and gave both my sister and me a flower charm to remind us not just to be brave, but to remember that we already were - I wear my flower around my neck every day.
Recently, I welcomed a new flower to my garden.
From an Instagram DM to Co-Hosting Crépu: How I Landed the Gig and Prepped for the Stage
Crépu co-hosts Yanaminah Thullah (left) and Simone R. Brown on stage. Photo by Curtis Perry.
The third annual Crépu: Our DNA, A Black Hair Show took place on February 1 and 2, 2025, at the Canada Science and Technology Museum. To make this year even more special, co-organizers Hors Pair Social and The Moving Art Gallery expanded the event to two days for the first time in Crépu history. This allowed guests to attend on either Saturday or Sunday, with both programs featuring a hair and barbering demo, the Hair Art Runway (duh), live spoken word and music performances, two short film screenings, and panel discussions.
And guiding the crowd through it all was Crépu regular and curator extraordinaire, Yanaminah…and me! A university student and rookie host, well, I guess not anymore.
It all started in my Instagram DMs when the Sharlène “Sha” Clarke, the founder of Hors Pair Social, messaged me. Before this, I had planned to cover Crépu for a future journalism class assignment - or just attend as a guest - but God had other plans.
Here’s how it went:
DEC 6 AT 3:00 PM
Sha: Hey
You down to co-host Crépu next year? 😊
*Sends link to the @crepuourdna Instagram page*
Quick pause here: after reading this, I froze. It was my classic Holy Crap, This Can’t Be Real. This Is So Cool. Wait, I’ve Never Done This Before. This Is Scary. What Should I Do? freeze.
Then I remembered my only New Year’s resolution: do what scares me.
Me: Omg, no way 🫢
That would be an honour! Thank you for considering me!!!
(Now that I’m looking back, the exclamation marks were way too much, but I was excited.)
What followed was months of meetings, host script development, emails, more meetings, documents, basically memorizing the event program, and panel discussion prep. Because yes, as part of my co-hosting responsibilities, I was also moderating a panel discussion - the thing I was most excited about.
DAY ONE:
Hair stylist, Montessa (left) and models on the demo stage after models walked the Hair Art Runway. These are the Day 2 runway looks. Photo by Curtis Perry.
I felt comfortable with a mic in my hand, lights on my face, and a crowd of people watching me from the stage. Given that I was entering new territory, I wasn’t sure how I would react when it was go-time. But I was confident.
"Thank you, Jesus," I whispered to myself. My prayers had been answered.
I was ready.
It all went by so fast, even with the live French interpretation speed bump at the start. I was nervous about speaking with a live interpreter since I’d never done it before. Throughout the evening, I made sure to communicate with my interpreters - checking my pacing, reviewing the script, and just saying hi. They were amazing to work with!
Showcasing Black artistry at its finest: live styling, barbering & the Hair Art Runway
Michel “Mike” does a live cut for his barbering demo. Photo by Curtis Perry.
Frizé Frizé, a sister duo specializing in natural hair, kicked things off. They shared their natural hair journeys and demonstrated quick, winter-friendly protective hairstyles.
Frizé Frizé on the demo stage during their demo. Photo by Curtis Perry.
Then, Mike the mobile barber took the stage for a live barbering demo, skilfully answering audience questions as he worked. And then it was time for the highly anticipated Hair Art Runway! The show featured stunning stylings from DRS Anointed Hair Spa, Empress Charifa, and Montessa. Each collection uniquely showcased the versatility, beauty, and creativity of Black hair.
Art, performances, and panel discussions at Crépu
Musical artist, Kezi (left) on the auditorium stage with her dancers performing her set. Photo by Curtis Perry.
Then, after the 30-minute break, the crowd split into two groups. Yanaminah’s group watched Dominique’s spoken word performance, Alicia K. Harris’ short film On a Sunday at Eleven, and a panel discussion. My group got to enjoy an iconic performance from Kezi, the French short film documentary Noeuds by Aïcha Morin-Baldé, and my panel discussion with Aïcha, and Farrah, a model and creative director.
Beyond the stage, the Crépu art show, Crépu: Our DNA Extended, along with vendors and pamper stations, were the cherry on top that made the event truly Black AF. As a visual artist who’s been on creative leave for way too long, seeing dope Black art on the walls was the most inspiring part of the night for me.
Next thing I know, I’m in the Uber with Bre and Mel (my close friends and roommates), laughing and still riding the high from hosting one of the coolest events I’ve ever been to. It meant so much to have my girls there with me. We’ve been navigating adulthood together, and their support reminded me that I’m not an island - and maybe, just maybe, I know what the heck I’m doing in life.
As soon as I got home, I called my mom and told her everything - how confident I felt, and how I couldn’t eat anything until it was all over.
DAY TWO:
Hair stylist, Empress Charifa (left) and models on the demo stage after models walked the Hair Art Runway. These are the runway looks for both days. Photo by Curtis Perry.
On paper, hosting back-to-back events seemed simple enough, but I was quickly reminded of the importance of staying hydrated - longevity and energy retention are key. The good news was I knew exactly what to expect…wrong.
Learning the trade, expecting the unexpected, and adapting to last-minute changes
Poet and spoken word artist, Dominique Gene on the demo stage performing her pieces to open Crépu Day 2. Photo by Curtis Perry.
Moments after the 3 p.m. call time, we had a pre-show meeting where major changes to the program were announced. To summarize: no more crowd split, headsets for French translation, and a new panel discussion lineup at the night’s end. As a rookie host, this was a bit daunting, but I put my headphones on, queued up a playlist featuring Key Glock and Kendrick Lamar, and got to work.
The beauty of event curation is that anything can happen, which made for a truly unique Day 2 experience. Dominique opened the show, and her performance felt angelic - but if you’ve ever had the privilege of seeing her perform, you’ll know that angelic is just her natural stage presence.
Frizé Frizé and Mike did their demos simultaneously, sparking a great conversation about hair care. The audience also had the chance to vote for their favorite collection from the Hair Art Runway, ultimately crowning DRS Anointed Hair Spa as the winner.
Musical artist, Kezi (left) on the auditorium stage with her dancers performing her set. Photo by Curtis Perry.
After the break, everyone gathered in the auditorium to watch Kezi’s show-stopping performance, hear a Black hair history lesson, and enjoy both short films back-to-back. By the time the credits rolled on the final film, there was no time left for the new panel with Alicia, Aïcha, and Farrah, moderated by Yanaminah and me. That was the only downside for me. I’m a sucker for a panel discussion.
On Monday, after sitting through a five-hour workshop class - a humbling reality check - I called my dad to tell him all about my first hosting gig since I missed our weekly Sunday call.
Final thoughts: A celebration of Black creativity and community
Hors Pair Social and The Moving Art Gallery did an incredible job of showcasing the beauty, limitlessness, and value of Blackness across a diverse range of creative media. It wasn’t just about cute hairstyles and pictures. They intentionally made room for education, conversation, and vulnerability. Blackness wasn’t simply an aesthetic at this event; it was expressed with care and filled with community. This is what happens when you attend a F.U.B.U. event.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
Sha, thank you for trusting me and sending that text.
Yanaminah, thank you for your guidance. You’re an amazing host and a dream to work with.
Axel, your advice was invaluable - thank you!
Mel, Bre, Teni, Hailey, and Marie, thank you for your unwavering support. Seeing you in the crowd meant the world to me. I truly felt the Black sisterhood that Black feminists often write about, and I’m grateful to have experienced it firsthand.