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Afrofest 2011, Toronto: Full Review

by Rubiatu Deen-Jalloh
11 Jul 2011 at 18:34hrs | Views
This past weekend, Africans in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) showed their love and support for African Music, diversity and Culture at the Queens Park in Toronto, Ontario. So many African flags were displayed with pride, this event coinciding with the Independence Day of South Sudan just made it more memorable as a new nation was born that day. The South Sudanese Flag was seen everywhere and it was such a beautiful site to see other Africans waving the South Sudanese flag and seeing North Americans, Asians, Middle Easterners etc all wanting to take photos next to the Sudanese flag.

The event kicked off on Saturday with two outdoor musical stages the  baobab  stage which had different activities  and the main stage which was mainly for concerts.

There were Musicians and bands from different parts of Africa. Among the different Musicians were Anastasio and Zalang from Equatorial Guinea, Atna Njock aka Zekuhl from Cameroun, Afrafranto from Ghana, Femi Abosede & Culture Force from Nigeria, Cheick Hamala Diabate from Mali and the legend Thomas Tafirenyinka Mapfuno. It was such a joy to watch all these talented musicians and bands from different parts of Africa play different types of Music.

A lot more people showed up on Sunday compared to Saturday. The day started with an awesome performance by the Tich Maredza band, at the end of the performance, Mr. Maredza did the borrowdale dance moves that made the crowd just go wild and wanting him to do more.


Tich Maredza band

The Ijo Vudu Dance International Group also gave a wonderful choreographed dance and drumming which was a cool off from the borrowdale. When Ruth  Mathiang  and Waleed Kush from South Sudan  were called to the stage, it was a joy to see the rush of South Sudanese to dance to their songs, they gave an awesome performance.

As we all know an African Party has to have rumba and or Soukous. JP Buse  from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) gave a unforgettable  rumba-soukous performance that had everyone dancing. Dizu Plaatjies and Ibuyambo from South Africa was just amazing, one can't even put them in a particular category of music because they played such an array of instruments that just left the crowd wanting more and more of their performances.


Dizu Plaatjies and Ibuyambo from South Africa


Dizu Plaatjies and Ibuyambo from South Africa

The night ended with an anticipated performance from the "Lion of Zimbabwe" Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited. He indeed gave a awesome performance.


Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited


JP Buse  from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Afrofest 2011 was such a memorable one, it did not just Discover Africa in the heart of Toronto but it also show case how different, talented, diverse Africa is but also showed that Africans can be united.

Source - Rubiatu Deen-Jalloh
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