Whenever 2020 Polaris Music Prize finalist Witch Prophet seeks answers from the universe, she reads this book
This interview originally aired on Sept. 12, 2020.
Witch Prophet is the artist name for Ontario-based Ethiopian Eritrean singer-songwriter Ayo Leilani. Her music includes elements of jazz, soul and hip-hop. Witch Prophet has two released albums: 2018's The Golden Octave and 2020's DNA Activation, which is on the shortlist for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize.
Witch Prophet dropped by The Next Chapter to talk about the book currently on her bedside table: Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams and David Carson.
"This book seems to be one that I've been reading for the past 20 years. It's something that I've never put down and it's always by my bedside.
"It's called Medicine Cards. It's a book written by two Indigenous authors, Jamie Sams and David Carson. I picked up the book in 2001 and I've never put it down. The book comes with a deck of cards. The images on the cards are different animals that you would find within North America.
I found that this book has been incredibly on point every time I opened it and questioned myself or the spirits or turned to the universe looking for help.
"Each animal has its own chapter and the chapters are really short. They're just about two to three pages. Each chapter tells you an Indigenous story about the animal and then the message that it's trying to give to you or that you should take away.
"I found that this book has been incredibly on point every time I opened it and questioned myself or the spirits or turned to the universe looking for help. I've always found the correct answer in this book."
