Many thanks to the sponsors of this event
Habari Africa Fête en direct 2026
au Harbourfront Centre, 235 quai Queens ouest, Toronto
Festival LIVE très attendu, idéal pour toute la famille !
La Batuki Music Society est fière de présenter la 13e édition du festival Habari Africa, du vendredi 7 au dimanche 9 août 2026. Le festival Habari Africa est un festival pluridisciplinaire de musique et d’arts qui présente les cultures riches et diverses de l’Afrique. Rejoignez-nous pour un week-end d’exploration et d’engagement avec l’art et les sons du continent à travers des présentations qui célèbrent l’unicité, la richesse et la diversité de la musique, de la danse, du cinéma et des arts africains.
Schedule of Events
Friday August 7
As Available
Senegalese Teranga Village
Brigantine Tent
Discover the rich Wolof tradition of Attaya, Senegal's famous tea ceremony where green tea is prepared in a slow, deliberate manner and served in small glasses.
7 - 7:45 pm
Sounds of the Maghreb: Maryem Tollar, Hassan El Hadi, Fethi Nadjem, Naghmeh Farahmand
Stage in the Park
Maryem Tollar is a renowned Egyptian-Canadian vocalist, known for her world music performances. Multi-instrumentalist Fethi Nadjem was born in Algeria where he grew up in a family of musicians. Hassan el Hadi, born in Marrakesh, blends jazz harmonies, Berber rhythms, and Arab-Andalusian subtleties. Percussionist Naghmeh Farahmand is the daughter of one of the leading percussion masters of Iran.
8 - 9 pm
Lorraine Klaasen
Concert Stage
Lorraine Klaasen, the daughter of the legendary South African Jazz singer Thandie Klaasen, is one of the few artists who have preserved the classic sound of Township Music, which continues to be the most distinctive sound to come out of South Africa.
9 - 9:30 pm
Indanga Dance
Stage in the Park
Indanga showcases the beauty, energy and spirit of Burundian culture through powerful rhythms, traditional dance and cultural expressions passed down though generations.
9:30 - 11 pm
Rhythm Section
Concert Stage
The Rhythm Section band features veteran Highlife musicians of Ghanaian heritage. Their musicianship is exceptional, showcasing both innate talent and proficiency in their respective instruments.
Saturday August 8
1 - 5 pm
Kalimba Village with Njacko Backo
Kids' Tent
Njacko Backo leads this interactive fun children’s workshop in the Kalimba Village to learn to play Manganbeu, a traditional music from Cameroon that reminds everyone to exist in harmony and respect each other. Njacko will provide 25 new kalimbas for participants to try on a first come first serve basis.
As Available
Senegalese Teranga Village
Brigantine Tent
Discover the rich Wolof tradition of Attaya, Senegal's famous tea ceremony where green tea is prepared in a slow, deliberate manner and served in small glasses.
1 - 4 pm pm
Verses Virtual Reality - West African Village
Servery (in Main Building)
Enter a virtual reality and experience rich traditions of West Africa.
As Available
ShareefZnZ Visual Art
Brigantine Tent
Kombo Mwachikobe (ShareefZnZ) was born in Tanzania, East Africa. From a young age, he was always making and creating art. A self-taught artist, he is now based in Toronto.
2 - 3 pm
DJ Moussa ft Boblée Cirque Danse
South Lawn Tent
DJ Moussa, born in Côte d’Ivoire, spins a diverse selection of the latest African music hits and classics. His unique style mixes music genres that include zouglou, coupé-décalé, makossa, mbalax, rumba, ndombolo, high-life, afrobeats, zouk, kizomba and hip hop. Lansana Camara, also known as Boblée, is a versatile artist: a dancer, acrobat and aerialist. Guinea is known to produce some of the top acrobats worldwide and he was chosen from hundreds of acrobats to join the international tour with Cirque du Soleil’s Cavalia Odysséo.
3 - 3:45 pm
Aron Nitunga
Stage in the Park
Aron Nitunga is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and award-winning producer with a long career touring and recording with many international and national artists in Canada and abroad.
3 - 4 pm
Drum Village Experience
Boulevard Pavilion
Everyone is welcome at the Drum Village Experience with Saikou Saho of African Drums & Art Crafts. At the heart of this drum village is communal music-making, inviting individuals from all walks of life to partake in the rhythmic journey. There will be a limited supply of drums provided, so you are welcome to bring your own drum.
4:15 - 6 pm
Film with Q&A: Mbira Talks
Studio Theatre
Mbira Talks, the documentary by Adrienne Amato offers a glimpse into rural life in Zimbabwe through the eyes of Moyo Rainos Mutamba, a Zimbabwean musician and storyteller. The film follows Moyo’s journey to reconnect with his ancestral roots through the mbira, a sacred instrument used in traditional ceremonies for centuries and once banned during colonial rule.
5 - 5:45 pm
Girma Woldemichael ft Melat Mengesha
Stage in the Park
A central figure from the golden age of Ethio-Jazz, saxophonist Girma Woldemichael’s journey is one of extraordinary resilience and artistic triumph. Vocalist Melat Mengesha, winner of the first season of Balageru (Ethiopian Idol) will be a special guest for this performance.
5:15 - 6 pm
Workshop: Maloya Traditional Music with Keïla
South Lawn Tent
Keïla will lead an interactive session dedicated to Maloya, a traditional form of music, song and dance unique to Reunion Island. Maloya was originally rooted in ancestral worship, specifically the servis kabaré ceremonies. Maloya is part of UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
6 - 6:20 pm
Boblée Cirque Danse
West Lawn
Lansana Camara, also known as Boblée, is a versatile artist: a dancer, acrobat and aerialist. Guinea is known to produce some of the top acrobats worldwide and he was chosen from hundreds of acrobats to join the international tour with Cirque du Soleil’s Cavalia Odysséo.
6 - 7 pm
Neema Children’s Choir
Boulevard Pavilion
Neema Children’s Choir raise their voices in songs of love, gratitude and praise, testifying to the hope that brought them through unimaginable challenges. Neema captivates and inspires their audiences with joyful songs and dances of their Ugandan heritage.
6:30 - 8 pm
Film: Amadou & Mariam - Sons du Mali (The Blind Couple from Mali)
Studio Theatre
The Blind Couple from Mali, Amadou and Mariam, the musical duo from Mali whose legendary sound has captivated audiences worldwide, embark on an extraordinary journey to record a new album, reconnect with their roots, and redefine their iconic music.
7 - 7:45 pm
Jonathan Nvita
Stage in the Park
Jonathan Nvita is a Congolese-born, Toronto-based singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist blending African rhythmic traditions with modern jazz harmony and improvisation.
8 - 9 pm
ILAM
Concert Stage
Born in Dakar, Senegal, ILAM draws from his Fula roots to propose a musical style inspired by Sahel blues and afropop, with accents of reggae, jazz and soul.
9 - 9:30 pm
ZahraMoves
Stage in the Park
ZahraMoves will demonstrate the diversity of African street styles through a diasporic lens. Drawing from a range of movement traditions and contemporary expressions, they will highlight how culture, identity, and innovation intersect within the African diaspora.
9:30 - 11 pm
Keïla
Concert Stage
The music Keïla creates mirrors her heritage: rich, diverse, and profoundly unique. Weaving together French, Creole, English, and shiKomori, her songs reflect both her roots — Comorian-Malagasy and Caribbean.
Sunday August 9
1 - 5 pm
Blank Canvases Arts & Crafts: Patterns of Identity
Kids' Tent
Blank Canvases “Patterns of Identity” inspired by Toronto-based artist and photographer Adetona Omokanye's celebrated series Spiritually Fashionable, participants are invited to explore the vibrant patterns, textiles, and visual traditions that shape African personal and cultural style.
As Available
Senegalese Teranga Village
Brigantine Tent
Discover the rich Wolof tradition of Attaya, Senegal's famous tea ceremony where green tea is prepared in a slow, deliberate manner and served in small glasses.
As Available
ShareefZnZ Visual Art
Brigantine Tent
Kombo Mwachikobe (ShareefZnZ) was born in Tanzania, East Africa. From a young age, he was always making and creating art. A self-taught artist, he is now based in Toronto.
1 - 2 pm
Balafon Village with Adama Daou
Boulevard Pavilion
The Balafon Village instructor Adama Daou will introduce you to the African wooden xylophone through simple rhythmic and melodic exercises. Grab your sticks and create your own sound, inspired by your inner soul!
2 - 3:30 pm
Toronto Burundi Drummers
Stage in the Park
From the moment the Toronto Burundi Drummers enter carrying drums on their heads, their performances are a fusion of thunderous percussion, acrobatic dance and traditional chanting that embodies their cultural identity.
3 - 3:15 pm
Boblée Danse Cirque
West Lawn
Lansana Camara, also known as Boblée, is a versatile artist: a dancer, acrobat and aerialist. Guinea is known to produce some of the top acrobats worldwide and he was chosen from hundreds of acrobats to join the international tour with Cirque du Soleil’s Cavalia Odysséo.
3:15 - 4 pm
Soul, Folk & Sun: Kunle, Ṣẹwà, Dipo
Stage in the Park
Soul, Folk and Sun: Kunlé, a singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, his folk and soul music bridges contemporary styles with roots in West African rhythms and stories. Dipo is an artist who blends soul, R&B, jazz, folk, highlife and Fuji, capturing hearts with velvety vocals and genre-bending style. Ṣẹwà is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and budding producer blending Afrobeat, Fuji, Jazz, R&B, Soul, Blues, and Pop.
4 - 5:30 pm
Zale Seck
Concert Stage
Zale Seck, a luminary in Senegalese music, is a maestro of diverse rhythms, born and raised in a griot family in Dakar. In a fusion of tradition and innovation, Zale's melodies carry the essence of his cultural heritage, transcending boundaries and captivating audiences globally.
5 - 6 pm
Workshop: Toronto Burundi Drummers
Boulevard Pavilion
Toronto Burundi Drummers invite you to experience the traditional rhythms of Burundi through sharing knowledge on the traditional grip, syncopated rhythms and the historical "call and response" beats of the Ingoma drum.
5:30 - 6 pm
Neema Children's Choir
Stage in the Park
Neema Children’s Choir raise their voices in songs of love, gratitude and praise, testifying to the hope that brought them through unimaginable challenges. Neema captivates and inspires their audiences with joyful songs and dances of their Ugandan heritage.
6 - 7 pm
Sadaka Parade & Show
Festival Grounds, Stage in the Park
Sadaka means to give. Inviting our divine deities to give us the energy to spread blessings. Join master drummers, musicians and friends in a parade to the heart of Habari Africa. Everybody is welcome to drum, dance, clap and sing along!
