Entertainment / Shows
Afrofest 2011, Toronto: Full Review
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.
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