GTA vibrates with Caribbean and African summer festivals

By Neil Armstrong

With the annual three-day Afrofest, the Junior King and Queen Showcase, and Junior Carnival Parade now finished, the Greater Toronto Area will vibrate with more Toronto Caribbean Carnival events and other summer festivals. At least one festival that was popular on Caribana long weekend for 26 years will be absent.

The annual four-day Island Soul festival, a staple at the Harbourfront Centre for many people, has not been included in its programming this year. Last year, it was extended to a five-day weekend of programming when the Harbourfront Centre celebrated its 50^th anniversary. Efforts to contact the Centre and Councillor Ausma Malik, who is a member of the board of directors, to find out the reason have been futile.

Apart from the Toronto Caribbean Carnival and Emancipation Day events that weekend, the annual JAMBANA One World Festival celebrating Emancipation Day will take place on August 4 at Chinguacousy Park in Brampton from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The admission is free and will feature several artists including the beloved Jamaican popular band, Fab 5.

Produced by Jones & Jones Productions and presented by TD, in partnership with the City of Brampton, JAMBANA continues to stand as “one of Canada’s premier cultural festivals, drawing thousands for a high-energy celebration of music, unity, and diversity,” notes a media release.

The musical lineup also includes Exco Levi & High Priest, a six- time Juno Award-winning reggae artist; Jah’Mila, blending reggae and soul with powerful storytelling; Pan Fantasy Steelband, one of Canada’s top steelpan ensembles; and DJ Joshua Lucas providing the musical fix and more.

“JAMBANA is more than just an event—it’s a celebration of freedom, culture, and community,” says Jerimi Jones, Festival Artistic Director. “Marking Emancipation Day through this festival gives us an opportunity to reflect, uplift, and come together through the power of music and culture.”

There will also be vendor marketplace and an array of Caribbean and international cuisines.

JerkFest Toronto will take place on August 8, 9 and 10 at Centennial Park in Etobicoke. This event features headliners such as Valiant, Agent Sasco, Tarrus Riley and V’ghn.

Considered North America’s longest-running jerk food and music festival, it was founded by Island Promotions Inc. in 2002.

The audience then was 400 and the headliner, Admiral Bailey. “Seven years later, Caribbean Promotions Arts and Culture Inc., a non-profit organization, took over the festival which had grown in popularity and size. It moved to its current location, Centennial Park in Etobicoke, Ontario where it remains the largest jerk festival outside of Jamaica,” notes its website.

“JerkFest Toronto has hosted workshops, awarded more than $10, 000 in scholarships and bursaries, supported educational institutions and delivered over $15, 000 of non-perishable items to food banks across the Greater Toronto Area. Through its international philanthropy, JerkFest Toronto has donated more than $5,000 in cash and products to educational institutions overseas,” it noted.

Jamaican roots reggae singer, Luciano, will perform at the Bell CNE Bandshell on August 21 at 7:30 p.m., and so will three-time Juno Awards nominee Jay Douglas.

Toronto Jamaica Day Family, Food and Music Festival will happen on August 23 & 24 at Brampton Sports Park in Brampton featuring Mr. Vegas, Anthony Malvo and Spragga Benz.

At the SummerWorks Performance Festival, August 7 to 17, d’bi.young anitafrika presents “The Sankofa Trilogy,” a two-time Dora Award-winning trilogy of biomyth monodrama chronicling three generations of Jamaican women through the plays “blood.claat,” “benu,” and “word! sound! powah!”

 It explores Black identity, matrilineal power, and liberation through a deeply personal and political lens.

Rastafest, Canada’s largest celebration of Rastafari heritage and culture, will take place on August 16 and 17 in Little Jamaica, Toronto.

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