Solange Knowles has been chosen as the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations’ 2018 Artist of the Year.
The acclaimed singer is coming to town to headline the Cultural Rhythms Festival on March 3. The annual fest, organized by the University’s office for “interracial, interethnic, and interreligious relations,” honors artists and scientists. The festivities showcase student performances and foodfare from over 30 student organizations as well.
When Knowles’ most recent studio album, “A Seat at the Table,” was released in 2016, it opened at the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart. She also won the 2017 BET Centric Award for her song “Cranes in the Sky,” competing with Kehlani, Mary J. Blige, Fantasia, Yuna and Syd.
In a review of the album, BET wrote, “There is no therapy time allotted for being black in America. Solange’s ‘A Seat at the Table’ is the journal we don’t get the time to write, the conversations we don’t get to have and the exclamations we’re too tired to repeat.”
Since, she has used her worldwide platform to promote self-care and social justice, writing lyrics about mental health in addressing racial oppression and acknowledged her autonomic disorder, that prevented her from performing during her tour.
Last year, Solange cancelled her show at Boston Calling, citing production conflicts, though some suspected the real reason was the birth of her sister Beyonce’s daughter. She returned in September with her concert “Orion’s Rise,” which raised money for victims of Hurricane Harvey in her hometown of Houston.
“I’m committed to partnering with organizations on the ground in Houston and making contributions to uplift the city that raised me with so much love,” Knowles wrote in an Instagram post. “I thank you in advance for making this a special meaningful night!”
Previous Cultural Festival honorees include John Legend, Shakira, Jackie Chan, and Viola Davis.
If you go:
March 3, 4:30 p.m., Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy St., Cambridge, $20, harvardfoundation.fas.harvard.edu
