RASTAFEST 2009
July 2009
CELEBRATING FAMILIES AND THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF CANADIAN SOCIETY
Entertainment, art and craft, great food, and lots of positive vibes for the entire family are what you will find at Rastafest 2009. The festival this year kicks off at the Jamaican Canadian Centre,995 Arrow Road on Friday, July 17th, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with several workshops aimed at increasing women’s knowledge on lifestyle management and inspiring them to become wholistically healthy. The Workshops will be facilitated by Mertella J. Montague (Doctoral Candidate) and coordinated by Sistahfest in partnership with Empress of Zion Canada. The festival travels to the parking lot of Jane Finch Mall on Saturday, July 18th, 2009, commencing at 1:00 p.m. and ending at 10:00 p.m.
Activities include: Emperor and Empress stage show featuring internationally known artists Admiral Tibett, General Trees and Horace Martin, along side Jakki James, Tony Anthony, Exco Levi, Tasha T, Petra de Empress, Dovie R and Trinity Drummer.
Backing band: Mountain Edge Crew!
Music: Demolition sound system. DJ:Boxer Joe from CHRY 105.5 fm. MC: King David from CHRY 105.5 FM.
Throughout the festival children and youth activities will be featured at Simba’s Children Village. Titillate your palate at the ital food demonstration and taste testing at the Kijiji Market
Place. In addition to the ital food at the market place there will be an art and craft exhibition, information booths from community organizations and an array of other cultural products on display and for sale. Visit Ngoma Drum and Dance Yard where you will experience traditional drumming and chanting, reason with elders and understand more about the Rastafari livity, healing practice, culture and language.
Rastafest is a multi-disciplined festival showcasing different aspects of the Rastafari culture. The festival draws from the rich and diverse Rastafarian lifestyle and history. Rastafest is a continuation of international and national Rastafarian initiatives, namely:
Rastafari Cultural Workshop in Toronto - 1977; First International Rastafarian Conference in Toronto - 1982; Second International Rastafarian Conference in Jamaica - 1983; Voice of Thunder: Dialogue with Nyah Binghi Elders in Toronto – 1984; Kulchajam in Toronto - 1985; Rastafest in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal – 1993; Rastafest in Ottawa – 1994/1995; Rastafest in Jamaica – 1996/1998; Rastafest at Harbourfront from Saturday, August 5th to Sunday, August 6th, 2006 and at York University on Saturday, September 30th, 2006. The following year, the festival was staged at York University from July 19th to July 22nd 2007, however, due to the overwhelming support from the community Rastafest ventured out to the Jane and Finch
community on Saturday, July 19th, 2008 where it found a new home at Jane Finch mall.
Contact: upfront@eglintonavenuewest.com or by telephone at 416-916-4068.
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