By Neil Armstrong

The inclement weather on Simcoe Day did not dampen the spirit of those who stood in the rain as they belted out tunes or danced to the musical notes of musicians at the annual JAMBANA One World Festival in Bramptono.

Celebrating Emancipation Day in Chinguacousy Park, the event featured the legendary Fab 5 Band, Juno Award winner Kirk Diamond and the Movement of Ahryel, Joshua Lucas, Spexdaboss, Ammoye, the all-female reggae band Rayzalution, DJ Rych Kidd with hosts Master T and Nate.

Produced by Jones & Jones Productions Ltd, founded by Jamaicans Allan Bucka Jones and the late Denise Jones in 1987, the family festival represents Canada’s growing cultural diversity.

Denise Jones died in December 2020 of glioblastoma, a brain cancer, at her home in Brampton and was buried in Portland, Jamaica. Her sons Jesse and Jerimi, and Allan, continue to organize the annual celebration.

In its 26^th staging of the annual Island Soul, a festival celebrating Caribbean culture over the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, formerly Caribana, weekend, Harbourfront Centre featured several artists, including Trinidadian singer and songwriter Nailah Blackman, reggae singer Etana, veteran musician Jay Douglas, guitarist Maurice Gordon, singer Jah’Mila based in Nova Scotia, “dancehall godfather” Johnny Osbourne, and the screening of a documentary film series, “Sounds and Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land,” featuring Johnny Osbourne and Nana McLean.

At the height of the golden age of reggae, some of Jamaica’s brightest stars left their homeland behind to shine their light in an unlikely hub of Caribbean creativity — Toronto.  

“Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land” follows the journeys of these icons. This captivating five-part anthology series takes viewers from Kingston, Jamaica, to Kensington Market in Toronto through rare archives and infectious beats to see and hear how reggae made roots in Canada against all odds. 

The sneak peek at the Harbourfront Centre showcased two exclusive episodes before the full National Film Board of Canada documentary series launches on August 23. After the film screening, there was a panel discussion with Nana McLean, Johnny Osbourne, and directors Graeme Mathieson and Chris Flanagan.

Over at Stackt Market, an artsy complex designed out of shipping containers, there was Blockobana — an annual African, Black and Caribbean LGBTQI+ affirming space — “to share food, lime and jump up.” The organizers, some of whom are of Jamaican heritage, note that, “Caribana weekend is and has always been queer, and it’s our time to celebrate.”

Meanwhile, there were flag raising ceremonies in Brampton and Toronto to commemorate Jamaica’s 62^nd anniversary of independence under the theme, “Jamaica 62…One Love to the World!”

Organized by the United Achievers’ Club in Brampton, many gathered at the community flagpole at Ken Whillans Square, Brampton City Hall, on August 3.

A day later, the Jamaican Canadian Association held a flag raising ceremony at the Jamaican Canadian Community Centre. The consul general noted there that there are many things that fill Jamaicans with national pride but “perhaps amongst the highest on that list is to see the black, green and gold flutter high, especially in a foreign land.”

This was followed by a service of thanksgiving to celebrate Jamaica’s independence at the West Toronto Church of God featuring sevaral clergy members from the community.

The 62nd Jamaica Independence and Jamaican Canadian Anniversary Gala will be held on August 10 at the Jamaican Canadian Community Centre in Toronto.