Toronto’s largest
celebration of African music, heritage and culture is back for its 25th
year! Afrofest 2013
will take place Saturday
July 6 and Sunday
July 7, at Woodbine
Park, Lakeshore Boulevard East and Coxwell Avenue. Presented by
Music Africa,
the vibrant two-day festival is a chance to immerse yourself in the beauty and
diversity of the African continent.
Michael Stohr, President of Music Africa, says Afrofest was formed from a vision to broaden and challenge the stereotypes of Africa. "Afrofest brings Africans together in celebration while educating all visitors about the vast diversity of the continent,” says Stohr. The colourful festival will feature performances by top international groups and local stars of African music, along with dancing, drumming and theatre.
Michael Stohr, President of Music Africa, says Afrofest was formed from a vision to broaden and challenge the stereotypes of Africa. "Afrofest brings Africans together in celebration while educating all visitors about the vast diversity of the continent,” says Stohr. The colourful festival will feature performances by top international groups and local stars of African music, along with dancing, drumming and theatre.
This year’s stellar Main Stage line up will feature Alpha Blondy (Ivory Coast), one of the world’s most popular reggae artists and classic highlife singer Jewel Ackah (Ghana). Also performing are Blaise Labamba (DRC), Culture Force (Nigeria), Njacko Backo and Kalimba Kalimba (Cameroon), Waleed Kush (Sudan), Donne Roberts (Madagascar), Kae Sun (Ghana), Ijo Vudu (Nigeria), Jean Asamoah (Ivory Coast) and more. We will keep you posted with additional updates!
In addition to the performances on the Main Stage, the popular Baobab Stage will have non-stop activity with music and dance workshops and performances by the rising stars of African music. This year’s line up includes workshops by Sani Abu (Dance), Amadou Kienou (Drum), Evelyn Mukwedeya (Mbira), Bokwa Demos (Dance), performances by Runs Tee, Concept Books, Jemini, Destiny, Hodan Hussein, VITAL, Spoken, Star 5 and more.
The Children's Village provides organized fun and educational activities for youth including: face painting, working with clay, storytelling, beading, a drum area, easels for painting and more. Belinda Ageda will again coordinate activities with additional story telling by Ruth Danziger.
In the bustling African marketplace there will be an impressive display of authentic African arts, crafts and traditional dishes representing the culinary scene of Africa and the Diaspora.
Afrofest has truly become a summer tradition in Toronto!
This year, 89.5 FM CIUT will be returning to broadcast the event LIVE in Southern Ontario and worldwide at www.ciut.fm.
About Afrofest
Afrofest is an annual musical festival that celebrates African culture and brings together many African communities. Many of the greatest stars of African music have performed at the event including Hugh Masekela, Papa Wemba, Amampondo, Oumou Sangare, African Guitar Summit, Mzwakhe Mbuli, Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mtukudzi and other ambassadors of African culture. With over 100,000 people attending over the weekend the festival is the largest annual gathering of African communities in Canada.
Held annually since 1989, Afrofest is a showcase of a rich and diverse African culture. With a bustling marketplace, food and craft vendors, artistic displays, a Children’s Village, a drum stage, music workshops, and organized fun and educational activities for youth and children, the festival provides guaranteed fun for the whole family. Afrofest is the biggest African music event of the summer. The free festival welcomes people of all ethnicities and communities and is a chance to discover Africa in the heart of Toronto.
About Music Africa:
Music Africa is a non-profit community-based organization whose main objective is to promote African music in Toronto through the Afrofest music festival and other occasional events. Established in 1990, Music Africa is among the oldest and most respected organizations promoting African music in Canada.
Music Africa also supports the activities of other non-profit cultural organizations through partnerships for various events. Through its activities, Music Africa is committed to enhancing appreciation and awareness of African music among Canadians while also striving to establish Toronto as a thriving global centre for African music.
Music Africa gratefully acknowledges the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council.
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