Full Schedule: Habari Africa Festival, 2016

 Friday August 12, 2016
Visual Arts – Marilyn Brewer Community Space
Friday August 12: 7:00 – 10:00 pm
Migration: a place-less place
Filled with old memories and excitement of new ventures and at times clashing with each other, a place-less place is the vocation of the artists.
Artists: Daniel Getahun, Addisalem Hailemariam, Curator Abye Kifle
Kwame Stephens & Friends – Studio Theatre
Friday August 12: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Kwame Stephens, Jude Idada, Simeon Taole and Yahaya Baruwa discuss engaging subjects. Join MK Bonsu, Joan Piloya, and Derek Thorne for the launch of Kwame Stephens’ book “The Prophet’s Room”.
Djely Tapa – Concert Stage
Friday August 12: 8:00 – 9:00 pm
Djely Tapa aims to perpetuate the griot tradition inherited from her family. Her music is a rhythmic blend of traditional and modern sounds and her lyrics reflect the daily reality of each individual, from gender identity issues to social status and age.
Yebo Dance – Stage in the Round
Friday August 12: 9:00 – 9:30 pm
Yebo Dance Collective debuts its new dance work, Amadiozi, choreographed and performed by Pulga Muchochoma, Sale Almirante and Mafa Makhubalo, to evoke and commemorate our ancestors’ spirits that live within us.
Cour des Grands with Blandine Mbiya – Concert Stage
Friday August 12: 9:30 – 11:00 pm
Hommage à Tabu Ley Rochereau et Papa Wemba featuring Cour des Grands with Blandine Mbiya
Veteran Congolese music group Cour des Grands honour influential African musicians Tabu Ley Rochereau and Papa Wemba, alongside guest Congolese vocalist Blandine Mbiya.
Saturday August 13, 2016
Visual Arts – Marilyn Brewer Community Space
Migration: a place-less place
Saturday August 13: 1:00 – 9:00 pm
Filled with old memories and excitement of new ventures and at times clashing with each other, a place-less place is the vocation of the artists.
Artists: Daniel Getahun, Addisalem Hailemariam, Curator Abye Kifle
Shekere: African Rhythm Shakers for Kids – HarbourKIDS Tent
Saturday August 13: 1:00 – 6:00 pm
Kids learn to make your own African shaker! Shekeres play a big role in African traditions. All ages welcome to join in the fun and make your own rhythm shekere.
Akwaba Cultural Group – Stage in the Round
Saturday August 13: 2:00 – 2:45 pm
Akwaba Drum and Dance Troupe perform African rhythms that mark the abundance of the harvest or the hunt, and reflect man’s link with the spiritual world, alternating solo and ensemble playing.
Moko Jumbie Stilt Dancing Workshops – North Lawn
Saturday August 13: 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Using specially designed short training stilts sized for children, this hands-on workshop is an elementary introduction to the traditions of Moko Jumbie, a stilt-dancing spirit of the forest.
Kuduro Dance Workshop with Mafa Makhubalo – South Lawn Tent
Saturday August 13: 2:30 – 3:00 pm
Dancer and choreographer Mafa Makhubalo leads a kuduro dance workshop that is characterized by the rapid movements of the waist and legs, inspired by the traditional dance styles of Angola.
Oware Games with Adisa Oji – Boulevard Tent
Saturday August 13: 3:00 – 6:00 pm
Using a ‘pit and pebbles’ style of game play, families will be reconnected with a traditional African game that has gone through Caribbean incarnations. The legacy of this game will bring families to the past while creating new legacy for future fun.
Griot Voices Workshop with Djely Tapa – Boulevard Tent
Saturday August 13: 3:00 – 3:30 pm
This workshop features Djely Tapa who will explore the origins and practices of the djelys (griots), a centuries-old caste who are the keepers of oral history of the rich traditions of the ancient kingdoms of West Africa.
Senegalese Sabar Workshop with Djaly Sadio Sissokho – South Lawn Tent
Saturday August 13: 3:30 – 4:00 pm
Master drummer and griot, Sadio Sissokho shares the culture, history and playing technique of the powerful family of sabar drums.
kaBah kaBahs Collections Fashion Show – Stage in the Round
Saturday August 13: 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Vogue and strike a pose with kaBah-kaBahs Collections and Fabulous Creations. New 2016 Collections line showcasing the best of African traditional, ethnic and contemporary fashion wear, accessories and modern couture.
Ethio-Traditional Dance Eskista Workshop – South Lawn Tent
Saturday August 13: 4:30 – 5:00 pm
In this workshop you will learn the basics of the eskesta dance of the Amhara people of Ethiopia. A dance that is known for its unique emphasis on intense shoulder movement.
Lanaya: West African Dance Workshop with Mabinty Sylla – Boulevard Tent
Saturday August 13: 5:00 – 5:45 pm
Join dancer/choreography Mabinty Sylla in a fun and challenging workshop on West African dance, for people of all experiences and skill levels! Mabinty will teach participants her unique fusion of traditional and modern West African dance for the workshop. Hosted by College Boreal. 
Film: Roaring Abyss (Documentary) – Studio Theatre
Saturday August 13: 5:30 – 7:00 pm
An immersion into the ancient and diverse sounds of Ethiopia. Roaring Abyss is a sound journey across the mountains, deserts and forests of Ethiopia that unveils its majestic cultural universe.
Sangele: Traditional Head-Wrap Workshop with Sani Abu – South Lawn Tent
Saturday August 13: 5:30 – 6:00 pm
Learn the creative art and cultural traditions of Sangele, traditional African head-wraps in this workshop led by Sani-Abu Mohammed Allen of Ijovudu Dance International.
 
Hip Hop Slam with Rasselas and Ebedoz (host Eyob Skinder) – Boulevard Tent
Saturday August 13: 6:00 – 7:00 pm
East Africa meets West Africa in this hiphop slam featuring two of Toronto’s rising hip hop artists.
 
Ethio-Traditional Dance Troupe – Stage in the Round
Saturday August 13: 7:00 – 7:45 pm
This traditional dance group – composed of two male and two female graduates of the Ethiopian National Theatre – has performed in Ethiopia for more than 8 years.
 
Film: Boda Boda Thieves – Studio Theatre
Saturday August 13: 7:30 – 9:00 pm
In this special film presentation, explore how the Boda Boda Thieves deal with the theme of corruption and the tension between traditional communal values pitted against the prevalent ideology of “dog eat dog” individualism.
 
Abdoulaye Diabate and Younkouna – Concert Stage
Saturday August 13: 8:00 – 9:15 pm
Coming from a long family line of griots, Abdoulaye Diabate  was immersed in music from an early age. Based in Burkina Faso, this excellent n’goni player, has produced two albums and toured around the world with his group Younkouna (Ancestors).
Carine – Stage in the Round
Saturday August 13: 9:00 – 9:45 pm
Carine is a singer/songwriter whose interest in music began at an early age in Benin. Her music encompasses Afro-pop, jazz, hip hop, gospel and some forms of traditional music.
 
The Azmaris featuring Abebe Fikade and Eyerusalem Dubale – Concert Stage
Saturday August 13: 9:45 – 10:00 pm
The Azmaris (troubadours), Abebe Fikade and Eyerusalem Dubale, are skilled at improvisation and play an important role in Ethiopian society, like the griots of West Africa.
Genene Haile – Concert Stage
Saturday August 13: 10:00 – 11:00 pm
Genene Haile, known as the rising star of East Africa, is a popular Ethiopian musician, composer and vocalist
 
Sunday August 14, 2016
Visual Arts – Marilyn Brewer Community Space
Sunday August 14: 1:00 – 6:00 pm
Migration: a place-less place
Filled with old memories and excitement of new ventures and at times clashing with each other, a place-less place is the vocation of the artists.
Artists: Daniel Getahun, Addisalem Hailemariam, Curator Abye Kifle
Shekere: African Rhythm Shakers for Kids – HarbourKIDS Tent
Sunday August 14: 1:00 – 6:00 pm
Kids learn to make your own African shaker! Shekeres play a big role in African traditions. All ages welcome to join in the fun and make your own rhythm shekere.
Ubuntu Drum and Dance Theatre – Stage in the Round
Sunday August 14: 1:00 – 1:45 pm
Ubuntu (I Am Because We Are) Drum and Dance Theatre is a grass root children’s group committed to celebrating African culture and history through drumming, dance and theatre.
Dieufaite Charles a.k.a. Jahfaa – Boulevard Tent
Sunday August 14 : 1:45 – 2:30 pm
Dieufaite Charles, is a lead singer, songwriter and guitarist whose music style reflects a mix of Haitian roots, and African rhythm which he calls “The African Soul”.
 
Swizzlestick Theatre: Moko Jumbie Stilt Dancing Workshops – North Lawn
Sunday August 14: 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Using specially designed short training stilts sized for children, this hands-on workshop is an elementary introduction to the traditions of Moko Jumbie, a stilt-dancing spirit of the forest.
Oware Games with Adisa Oji – Boulevard Tent
Sunday August 14: 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Using a ‘pit and pebbles’ style of game play, families will be reconnected with a traditional African game that has gone through Caribbean incarnations. The legacy of this game will bring families to the past while creating new legacy for future fun.
Panel Discussion – Generation of Leaders – Studio Theatre
Sunday August 14: 2:00 – 3:30 pm
This Generation of Leaders panel discussion focuses on various topics affecting African youth such as cultural identity, role models. Followed by a Q&A.
Voices of the Savannah “Sing Africa” Workshop – South Lawn Tent
Sunday August 14: 2:15 – 2:45 pm
Voices of the Savannah will share some African harmonies and pay homage to African customs by conducting this workshop in the oral tradition. All are welcome! Karibuni!
Mafattet – Stage in the Round
Sunday August 14: 2:30 – 3:15 pm
The Lesotho-born and Mafattet band-leader, Fatha Ma is a multi-instrumentalist. He draws his influences from legendary sweet melodies, harmonies and rhythms of Southern Africa.
Sangele: Traditional Head-Wrap Workshop with Sani Abu – South Lawn Tent
Sunday August 14: 3:00 – 3:45 pm
Learn the creative art and cultural traditions of Sangele, traditional African head-wraps in this workshop led by Sani-Abu Mohammed Allen of Ijovudu Dance International.
 
Siraba: Djembe Drum Workshop with Amadou Kienou – Boulevard Tent
Sunday August 14: 3:15 – 4:00 pm
Join Master drummer and griot Amadou Kienou at the Siraba as he shares the universal language of the drum. Djembes will be available. Hosted by College Boreal.
Fojeba & the Sunshine Band – Stage in the Round
Sunday August 14: 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Rooted in folk and traditional African music, with pop and jazz influences Fojeba’s repertoire is made up of various music styles including makossa, ngwa, zouk and Afro-pop, with lyrics in Bamiléké, Lingala, French and English. Hosted by College Boreal.
South African Pantsula Dancing with Salé Almirante – Boulevard Tent
Sunday August 14: 4:30 – 5:00 pm
Learn South African pantsula dancing with dance instructor/choreographer Salé Almirante. This dance evokes the urban street culture characterized by its quick-stepping, syncopated, low to the ground form of dance.
Film: Beats of the Antonov – Studio Theatre
Sunday August 14: 4:45 – 5:15 pm
From Sudanese native and grassroots activist Hajooj Kuka, Beats of the Antonov is a celebration of defiant cultural expression and a unique perspective on the complex realities of a divided Sudan.
Afrafranto – Concert Stage
Sunday August 14: 5:00 – 6:00 pm
The Kings of highlife and palm wine music, Afrafranto takes the Concert Stage to entertain audiences with its dance-driven music and electric performances.
Sadakah with ijovudu Dance International – Stage in the Round
Sunday August 14: 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Sadakah means to give. Inviting our divine deities to give us the energy to spread blessings. Alubarika! Join the ijo vudu Dance parade to the centre of Habari Africa.
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