Our team

 

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and having lived in Montreal for 24 years before settling in Edmonton in 2024, Joel embodies an artistic identity shaped by the encounter between African and North American cultures.

 

A versatile artist and cultural entrepreneur, his work is part of a process of social transformation through art, where creation becomes a tool for expression, transmission and affirmation of identity.

 

Trained in management at HEC Montréal, in computer-aided sound design (sound technician), and in entrepreneurship, Joel Mbenza develops an artistic approach that is both strategic and innovative. He designs projects that merge creation, education, and community engagement, with a particular focus on the emergence of talent and the structuring of cultural initiatives.

Through ISISHO, he builds authentic spaces for expression, where the stories, voices, and identities of Black communities are highlighted with strength and dignity.

His artistic approach is part of a clear vision: to make art an engine of development, intercultural dialogue and collective pride.