Toronto-based multi-hyphenate TiKA has launched a GoFundMe after being robbed while on a trip home to Jamaica, where they currently remain stranded.
While staying at an Airbnb in White River on August 12, an unidentified culprit broke into the second-floor rental where the artist was staying by using a stepladder to scale the balcony and break in through the unit's sliding glass door. The thief stole multiple forms of identification, including TiKA's passport, as well as their laptop, phone, studio equipment, cash and more — a full list of the exact gear is given in the fundraiser's description.
As of press time, the fundraising campaign has reached around $4,610 CAD of its $12,000 goal. While Airbnb covered TiKA's stay in the country up until September 10, they now have to pay their own way as they await the Canadian Embassy's finalization of their travel documents. They also need to replace all of the stolen equipment in order to continue working and creating, alongside paying for a flight back home and therapy to support them through this traumatic incident.
"Thank you for your support and please to ANY woman reading this, I beg you to not travel alone during this time," the artist wrote at the end of their fundraiser description. "Be mindful and cautious."
With the release of their debut LP Anywhere but Here in 2021, TiKA cemented their legacy as a powerhouse singer-songwriter, alongside their many years as a community organizer in the Toronto music scene. They helped launch the careers of Jessie Reyez and Daniel Caesar by helming emerging artist showcase series Known Unknown and, last year, went on to co-found StereoVisual — an agency and nonprofit that teaches and advocates for BIPOC composers in film and TV. This fall, they are slated to teach youth through the Community Music Schools of Toronto.
While staying at an Airbnb in White River on August 12, an unidentified culprit broke into the second-floor rental where the artist was staying by using a stepladder to scale the balcony and break in through the unit's sliding glass door. The thief stole multiple forms of identification, including TiKA's passport, as well as their laptop, phone, studio equipment, cash and more — a full list of the exact gear is given in the fundraiser's description.
As of press time, the fundraising campaign has reached around $4,610 CAD of its $12,000 goal. While Airbnb covered TiKA's stay in the country up until September 10, they now have to pay their own way as they await the Canadian Embassy's finalization of their travel documents. They also need to replace all of the stolen equipment in order to continue working and creating, alongside paying for a flight back home and therapy to support them through this traumatic incident.
"Thank you for your support and please to ANY woman reading this, I beg you to not travel alone during this time," the artist wrote at the end of their fundraiser description. "Be mindful and cautious."
With the release of their debut LP Anywhere but Here in 2021, TiKA cemented their legacy as a powerhouse singer-songwriter, alongside their many years as a community organizer in the Toronto music scene. They helped launch the careers of Jessie Reyez and Daniel Caesar by helming emerging artist showcase series Known Unknown and, last year, went on to co-found StereoVisual — an agency and nonprofit that teaches and advocates for BIPOC composers in film and TV. This fall, they are slated to teach youth through the Community Music Schools of Toronto.