AFROFEST 2011 at Queen's Park on July 9th - 10th

Afrofest, a free celebration of the richness and diversity of African culture, is set for Queen’s Park in Toronto on Saturday July 9th and Sunday July 10th.  Featuring world-renowned African musicians and top African groups based in Canada, an African marketplace, food and craft vendors, artistic displays, music workshops, and organized activities for youth and children. Afrofest is THE cultural event of the summer. 

Discover Africa in the Heart of Toronto!

African music legend Thomas Mapfumo will be a feature act of Afrofest 2011.

"The Lion of Zimbabwe" is considered both the Bob Dylan and the Bob Marley of Southern Africa for the immense impact his songs and life example have made on the music and culture of his homeland.  The "Chimurenga" music he created was the soundtrack of the revolution in Zimbabwe.  A titan of African recording, Mapfumo, with more than 20 albums of outstanding original music to his name, has been performing his songs of love, freedom and justice for more than 40 years. 

Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited will also be performing an ‘Afterfest’ concert at the Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas Street West, on Monday, July 11. Admission is $20 at the door, $15 in advance – Tickets available at Afrofest and other locations to be announced.  

 

 

Master musician Cheick Hamala Diabate is a virtuoso on the ngoni, a Malian traditional instrument, the banjo and the guitar. His 2007 collaboration "From Mali to America" was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Traditional World Music Album.

Diabate is a genuine ‘griot,’ singing and performing songs of history and legend in the 800-year-old West African tradition. 

South Africa’s Dizu Plaatjies and Ibuyambo will make their Canadian debut performance at Afrofest 2011. Dizu led his band Amampondo in wowing the crowd at Nelson Mandela’s famous birthday concert at Wembley Stadium in 1988. They were later made official ambassadors of South African music, and their 2000 show at Afrofest stands as one of the festival’s finest ever performances. A startingly original act, not to be missed!

The Afrofest headliners will be supported by some of the top African groups based in Canada, including JP Buse (Zaire), Femi Abosede & Culture Force (Nigeria), Zekuhl (Cameroon), Ruth Mathiang and Waleed Kush (Sudan), Ijo Vudu Dance International (Nigeria), Afrafranto (Ghana), The Tich Maredza Band (Zimbabwe), Anastasio & Zalang (Equatorial Guinea), Amadou Kienou (Guinea), Beyond Sound (various Africa), Justine CanAfric (Ivory Coast) Rumba Iyambo (Cuba) and Symphonix Steel Orchestra (Trinidad).

For more information on Afrofest and stage performers see the Afrofest 2011 Program Guide

Music Africa thanks World Remit for its Gold sponsorship of Afrofest 2011.

Music Africa thanks all those who supported keeping Afrofest at Queen's Park in 2011. In spite of City statements that conditions are still to be met, there should be NO DOUBT that Music Africa will resolve them all and put on an Afrofest to be remembered. See the City of Toronto letter of conditional approval here.

Music Africa gratefully acknowledges the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Toronto Arts Council,and the Ontario Arts Council.
Many thanks also to media partner CIUT 89.5 FM and media supporters Planet Africa, Amet-TV and CBC Radio 99.1 FM