African Reggae Star Alpha Blondy Headlines Afrofest - July 6 & 7 2013 in Toronto

Update July 6:
Here's a post with bit of the shows that I caught - including Alpha Blondy

 
From a release:

Music Africa Presents
Afrofest Toronto 2013
July 6 & 7 2013
Woodbine Park - 1pm to 10pm daily
Free - rain or shine

See map


Toronto’s largest celebration of African music, heritage and culture is back for its 25th year! Afrofest 2013 will take place Saturday July 6 and Sunday July 7, at Woodbine Park, Lakeshore Boulevard East and Coxwell Avenue. Presented by Music Africa, the vibrant two-day festival is a chance to immerse yourself in the beauty and diversity of the African continent.

Michael Stohr, President of Music Africa, says Afrofest was formed from a vision to broaden and challenge the stereotypes of Africa. "Afrofest brings Africans together in celebration while educating all visitors about the vast diversity of the continent,” says Stohr. The colourful festival will feature performances by top international groups and local stars of African music, along with dancing, drumming and theatre.

This year’s stellar Main Stage line up will feature Alpha Blondy (Ivory Coast), one of the world’s most popular reggae artists and classic highlife  singer Jewel Ackah (Ghana).  Also performing are Culture Force (Nigeria), Njacko Backo and Kalimba Kalimba (Cameroon), Okavango African Orchestra (Trans Africa) Waleed Kush (Sudan), Donne Roberts (Madagascar), Kae Sun (Ghana), Ijo Vudu (Nigeria), Jean Asamoah (Ivory Coast) and more.  We will keep you posted with additional updates!

In addition to the performances on the Main Stage, the popular Baobab Stage will have non-stop activity with music and dance workshops and performances by the rising stars of African music.  This year’s line up includes workshops by Sani Abu (Dance), Amadou Kienou (Drum), Evelyn Mukwedeya (Mbira), Bokwa Demos (Dance), performances by Runs Tee, Concept Books, Jemini, Destiny, Hodan Hussein, VITAL, Spoken, Star 5 and more.

The Children's Village provides organized fun and educational activities for youth including: face painting, working with clay, storytelling, beading, a drum area, easels for painting and more.  Belinda Ageda will again coordinate activities with additional story telling by Ruth Danziger.

In the bustling African marketplace there will be an impressive display of authentic African arts, crafts and traditional dishes representing the culinary scene of Africa and the Diaspora.

Afrofest has truly become a summer tradition in Toronto!

This year, 89.5 FM CIUT will be returning to broadcast the event LIVE in Southern Ontario and worldwide at www.ciut.fm.

• Image of Alpha Blondy at Solidays Festival, 2008 (Hippodrome de Longchamp, France) - 4 July 2008; Source  http://www.flickr.com/photos/28332366@N07/2650289658/ - Author KellyChlew

AFROFEST 2013 SCHEDULE
Main Stage – Broadcast live on CIUT 89.5FM
• Saturday 6th July

DJ Apollo
Akwaba Cultural Exchange (Ivory Coast) 1:15pm
Mohamed Diaby and Manding Foli Kan Don (Guinea) 2:15pm
Kae Sun (Ghana) 3:15pm
Waleed Abdulhamid (Sudan) 4:30pm
Donne Roberts (Madagascar) 5:40pm
Blaise LaBamba (Congo) 6:50
Alpha Blondy (Ivory Coast) 8:45pm

• Sunday 7th July
Maracatu Mar Alberto (Brazil) 1:15pm
Amadou Keinou (Burkina Faso) 2:15pm
Ijo Vudu (Nigeria) 3:15pm
Okavango African Orchestra (Africa) 4:15pm
Culture Force (Nigeria) 5:45pm
Njacko Backo & Kalimba Kalimba (Cameroon)  7:15pm
Jewel Ackah (Ghana) 9:00pm



Baobab Stage - Presented by G98.7FM
• Saturday 6th July

DJ Magicflow   1:00pm
Sani Abu    1:45pm
Amadou Keinou 2:30pm
DJ Magicflow    3:00pm
Spoken    3:55pm
Fashion Show  4:15pm
Jemini  4:45pm
DJ Flowmaster  5:05pm
Yusra Khogali  5:35pm
Dance Competition   5:55pm
Yusra Khogali   6:35pm
Ozee Bee 6:50pm
Quabena Maphia  7:15pm
Blandine 7:45pm
Destiny  8:30pm



• Sunday 7th July
DJ Vanestin  1:15pm
Bokwa Demos   1:45pm
Evelyn Mukwedeya  2:20pm
Multinational Fashion Show   2:55pm
Hodan Hussein  3:25pm
Team GLR   3:55pm
Koncept Dance Group   4:30pm
TK Smoothe   4:55pm
Maria Da Silva   5:15pm
Runs Tee   5:40pm
Dance Competition Finals  6:00pm
Concept Books 6:45pm
Trinity    7:30pm
Neza      8:15pm
Star 5        8:30pm

About Music Africa:
Music Africa is a non-profit community-based organization whose main objective is to promote African music in Toronto through the Afrofest music festival and other occasional events. Established in 1990, Music Africa is among the oldest and most respected organizations promoting African music in Canada.

Music Africa also supports the activities of other non-profit cultural organizations through partnerships for various events. Through its activities, Music Africa is committed to enhancing appreciation and awareness of African music among Canadians while also striving to establish Toronto as a thriving global centre for African music.

Music Africa gratefully acknowledges the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council.

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