by Kabrena Robinson Colourful feathers and jewels glisten under the warm Toronto sun. Jubilant sounds fill the air, transporting you to another place — the essence of the islands on Canadian soil. In the coming days, many will take to the streets to admire and indulge in the grand cultural spectacle that is the Toronto […]
By Rhoma Spencer Born in Dublin to an Irish mother and the very popular Trinidadian HIV Doctor, Professor Courtnay Bartholomew (deceased), Finbar ‘Barry’ Bartholomew, Trinidad and Tobago’s celebrity Chef comes to Toronto for the Canadian Premiere of his nephew, Adam Bartholomew’s film, Panazz: The Story, where he trades his Chef hat for that of being […]
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 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 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 […]
By Lincoln DePradine The current outpouring of grief for the late Louis March is reminiscent of the mourning seen for community icons and stalwarts such as Dudley Laws and Charles Roach of the Black Action Defense Committee. “It’s like the loss of a significant family member,’’ said Floydeen Charles-Fridal, commenting on the death of March. […]
