CBMA brings Black music history to life in Toronto

The Canada Black Music Archives (CBMA), presented by Word Media Group Inc., will mark Black History Month with a full slate of free public programming in Toronto that blends live performance, conversation, and archival exhibition, celebrating the depth and legacy of Black Canadian music.

The centrepiece of this year’s programming is the CBMA Black History Month Showcase, taking place Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the City of Toronto Archives. Supported by TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment and the Department of Canadian Heritage, the day-long event underscores CBMA’s mission to preserve, elevate, and share Black music history across generations.

The daytime program features acclaimed chef, musician, and cultural ambassador Roger Mooking in conversation with CBMA co-founder Phil Vassell. Their discussion will explore storytelling, cultural memory, and the importance of building living archives that reflect Black Canadian experience.

The evening showcase, running from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., brings together a powerful lineup of performers, including Jully Black, Tanika Charles, Divine Brown, Dru, and Liberty Silver, with DJ and production support from Carl Allen. The showcase is free to the public, with registration available through the CBMA website.

Beyond the Toronto Archives, CBMA’s work will also be featured at Queen’s Park, where a specially curated exhibit will be installed in the Lieutenant Governor’s Suite from February 11 to 13, 2026. The exhibition, presented in collaboration with the Archives of Ontario and Black Diasporas, opens with a February 12 reception featuring remarks by the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and poetry by Ontario Poet Laureate Matthew “Testament” Jones.

The month’s programming continues on February 18 with a screening of Portia White: Think on Me at the Archives of Ontario, attended by filmmaker Sylvia D. Hamilton and followed by a panel hosted by University of Toronto professor Mark Campbell.

“As a living archive, the CBMA continues to elevate the stories of Black Canadian musicians across generations and genres,” Vassell said, noting that the organization will also bring its Black History Month showcase to Vancouver on February 27.

CBMA’s Black History Month programming is supported by TD Bank Group, the Government of Canada, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Archives of Ontario, the City of Toronto Archives, and Afrosonic Innovation Lab.

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