Black Music Advisory Committee

SaskMusic's Black Music Advisory Committee is an ad-hoc, non-board advocacy committee.

Current BMAC members are (January 2026):

Chukwuemeka Hart
Tomi Ojo
Thandi (MELODNA) Ziwa
Sonia Reid 
Nancy Itohan Agbator
Kyriel (Pimpton) Roberts
Emmanuel Adeagbo
Solomon El-kelani
Nic Nibbs
Wura Adisa
Ryan Rogers (Tony Haze)

Staff co-chair: Oghenerukevwe "Rooky" Jegede-Ikpen 

Volunteer members of the BMAC can come from anywhere in Saskatchewan and identify as Black artists or music industry professionals. 

The Purpose of an Advisory Committee

Generally speaking, the purpose of an advisory committee is to help an organization gain new insights and advice to solve business problems or explore new opportunities by stimulating robust, high-quality discussions with qualified, fit-for-purpose advisors.

An advisory may be established for a specific purpose at the discretion of an organization, or it may be part of the wider governance system, with its purpose defined by terms of reference.

In most cases, the role of an advisory is not to ‘make decisions,’ but rather to provide current knowledge, critical thinking, feedback and analysis to increase the confidence of the decision-makers who represent the organization. An advisory is an important part of the overall governance system but is different from a board of directors.

Members of an advisory are appointed by the organization where their skills, experience or contributions align with the advisory’s scope and intended impact. Members of the advisory may be:

• internal representatives, eg staff.
• external members; eg industry experts, stakeholders, investors/funders, experienced professionals or others with an interest in the matter

Terms of Reference (2025)

The Black Music Advisory Committee (BMAC) is a volunteer-based, non-board committee of SaskMusic dedicated to uplifting and empowering the Black/African music community in Saskatchewan.

Composition: This is an informal advisory group. It will be comprised of between 7 and 12 members (who may also be SaskMusic Board members), joined by at least one SaskMusic staff member at each meeting to provide context and take notes. A non-staff Chair will be appointed from within the group at the first meeting held after September 1 each year, and will hold office for that year. The Chair is responsible for communicating concerns between the BMAC and staff, and ensuring that meetings are held regularly (at least quarterly).

SaskMusic will seek and select initial Advisory members through general calls of interest as well as one-to-one outreach. Representation is desired from different regions of the province and from different genders and age groups. It is also desirable to include individuals who represent a range of professional music, and personal experiences.

Mandate/Purpose: The BMAC will be consulted on various strategies, initiatives, and programs that ensure meaningful inclusion, representation, and support for Black musicians and artists in Saskatchewan.

Its members will provide advice and make recommendations to SaskMusic regarding the activities and direction of SaskMusic, and offer guidance based on the experience, expertise, values and worldviews of its individual members. The BMAC does not dictate programming or services offered, but will play a crucial role in guiding, advising, and supporting SaskMusic as we continue to better understand and meet the needs of Black (or those of African descent) artists, creators, and professionals in the province’s music industry.

Responsibilities:

• To facilitate engagement and assist SaskMusic in connecting with Black musicians, artists and industry members working in Saskatchewan;
• To be a resource for SaskMusic staff to consult with when guidance is necessary on process, content, access, education, representation, and strategic planning;
• To guide and advise SaskMusic in developing cultural competencies and protocols;
• To provide feedback regarding funding systems, eg so concerns can be presented to FACTOR and Creative Saskatchewan;
• When requested, help determine organizational priorities for incoming sponsorship/partnership requests.

The BMAC serves an advisory capacity and does not have executive decision-making powers. The BMAC is not accountable for results or outcomes of SaskMusic. That responsibility falls to SaskMusic staff.

Meeting Management and Administration:

• It is recommended that the BMAC meet quarterly. It may also be convened at the request of the committee Chair or by SaskMusic staff.
• Meetings will be held in person and/or via video conference.
• Summary notes should be taken to record recommendations and discussions of each meeting.
• Observers may be admitted into meetings so long as no committee member objects to their inclusion at the start of the meeting.

Removing members

All BMAC members agree to abide by SaskMusic’s Code of Conduct. Those found to be in breach of the code may be removed from participation by SaskMusic, or by majority vote of this advisory.

BMAC members missing two or more consecutive meetings without cause may be asked to leave the advisory by the Chair.

Committee members can also be removed by majority vote of the advisory.

Term Lengths: BMAC members (not including staff) will be appointed for two-year terms, for a maximum of two consecutive terms. Advisory members must be active SaskMusic members, and will be provided with complimentary SaskMusic memberships for the length of their term.