By Neil Armstrong As coincidence would have it, “Get That Hope,” a play set in Little Jamaica about a family getting ready to celebrate Jamaica’s independence will have its opening night at the Stratford Festival on August 10, the same day that the Jamaican Canadian Association in Toronto will host its signature 62nd Jamaica independence […]
By Lincoln DePradine Trinidadian Darryl Henry has been making music for more than 30 years and is in high demand as a soca artiste. Most of his fans do not know him as Darryl but as “Farmer Nappy”, the man who sang memorable hits like “Hookin’ Meh”, “Chippin’ With Meh Own Woman”, and “Big People […]
By Camille Hernández-Ramdwar This year the Toronto Caribbean Carnival (still fondly referred to as Caribana by many) turns 56 years old. It has undeniably been a major cultural institution not only for Toronto, but for the entire country. Within Caribbean communities in Canada, it has been a central fixture for generations. At the same time, […]
By Stephen Weir Photos by Gilbert Medina If it wasn’t the largest annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival Junior Caribbean Parade, it must have been close. Organizers of the annual parade estimate that 20,000 people showed up in Malvern to cheer on the children. Eric Delfish, the longtime organizer of the parade, said it was perfect […]
By Lincoln DePradine Panorama, the competition held annually in Toronto to determine the top steel orchestra in Canada, will be hosted at a new venue this year, and will be missing a longtime member-band of the Ontario Steelpan Association (OSA). The contest, also referred to as “Pan Alive”, is moving from Lamport Stadium on King […]
By Vibert Cambridge, Professor Emeritus, Ohio University I start by suggesting that Norman Cameron’s 1951 book, A History of the Queen’s College of British Guiana, which aggregated existing knowledge of the then 107-year-old institution, “launched” what we can call Queen’s College Studies. Although a minor stream in contemporary Guyanese historiography, QC is an important institution […]
By Stephen Weir The Queen of Soca, Destra, is coming to Toronto next week to perform. Don’t look for her on the Lakeshore or at any Carnival events (unless she makes a surprise appearance or two); the Trinidadian singer will be on stage, outdoors at Harbourfront on August 2nd. The Harbourfront Centre will once again […]
By Henry Gomez The KAISO 365 Calypso Monarch Competition is the significant calypso event on the Toronto Caribbean Carnival calendar. Traditionally, it takes place eight days after the Junior Carnival Parade. The parade culminates with a Junior Showcase of the Caribbean carnival arts in which children eighteen and younger sing calypso or soca, play the […]
By Janet Grant “Deadpool & Wolverine” is a 2024 American superhero film that uniquely and intriguingly combines two iconic Marvel characters: Deadpool and Wolverine. Here is a brief overview of the plot: “Deadpool & Wolverine” is a buddy road trip story complicated by the multiverse. Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool (played by Ryan Reynolds), finds himself […]
By Yolanda T. Marshall Are you ready to play mas? This year, I am not a masquerader as usual. While the parade graces the streets of Toronto and my ancestors receive the songs and dances of freedom, I will be at the Harbourfront Centre as a featured artist for ‘Island Soul’, educating children about our […]
