This year 2007 also marks the bicentennial (200 years) of Afrikan resistance and ancestral overcoming that led to the passage of a British law against their “slave trade” in Afrikan flesh in 1807. The Arts Feastival acknowledges the ongoing commemoration of the passage of that law across Ontario.

We invite you to join us as we enjoy, celebrate, talk to, think about and represent the unbroken transformative impact of peoples of Afrikan ancestry in shaping today’s cultural world.

Afrika’s arts have flourished throughout recorded history, right up to our day.

Looking around us, we can’t help seeing that the youth of today’s world has embraced Afrikan culture and feels nourished by it.

Between October 1 and December 31, Caliban Arts Theatre and The Trane Sudio break new ground by presenting over 100 activities within the frame of a major grassroots feast of Afrikan arts — Toronto’s first Feastival.

Our Arts Feastival will showcase many kinds of Afrikan-inspired music from early beginnings with the djembe (drum), lacumbe (thumb piano) agira (harp) and other indigenous instruments.

There are over 80 professional concerts (Afrikan percussive/folk/gospel/ spirituals/ blues/ jazz/ soul/ r'n'b/ funk/ world fusion/reggae-loversrock/ calypso jazz/ parang/ latin jazz/ hip hop and more), which will feature both local and international award winning artists.

Among over 80 special concerts there are 24 tribute concerts, presented by Caliban Arts Theatre as a part of its Black Underground Series.

This series of concerts honors the legacy and music of legendary greats in Jazz and R & B who left their special mark on the world of art, music and culture.

A few of the legends we will be honouring include — Nina Simone, Thelonious Monk, Dinah Washington, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Sam Cooke, Luther Vandross, Mahalia Jackson, Nancy Wilson, Grover Washington Jr., Bob Marley, Oscar Peterson, Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, our own Doug Richardson and many more.

In Toronto the Black Underground Project has been paying tribute to Black musical genius since 1996.

In this unique lineup of spectacular talents are local legends and award winning artists such as — Joe Sealy, Archie Alleyne, Shakura S’aida, Tiki Mercury Clark, Jay Douglas and the All Stars, Neil Brathwaite, Eddie Bullen, Kingsley Ettienne, Carlos Morgan, Wade O. Brown, Sasha Williamson, Demo Kates, Saidah Baba Talibah, Waleed Abdulhamid, Kenny Neal, Washington Savage, Glen Ricketts, Rich Brown, Adam Solomon, Alexander Brown, Sharron McLeod, Michael Stuart, DK Ibomeka, Michael St. George, Nick Brownman Ali, Christopher Rouse, Yvonne Moore, Donné Roberts, Meirion Kelly, Shelley Hamilton and hundreds more.

Adding to this unique gathering of talent are world-class international artists Marc Cary and his trio from NYC; Ursula Rucker from Philly; Kahil El Zabar, Ernest Kabeer Dawkins and Hamiet Blueitt from Chicago; Noa Bursie from Buffalo, Josh White Jr. from Detroit and many other special guests.

Through their works the vision of 3 visual artists — Syrus Ware (October), Angela Haynes (November) and Sandra Brewster (December) — will be a significant feature of the Feastival.

Presenters include: Manga Clem Marshall, Norman Otis Richmond, Afua Cooper, Josh White jr., Kahil El Zabar, Ernest Dawkins, Ursula Rucker, Frances Anne Solomon and others.

All events will take place at our super-cool and ultra-hot cultural arts/jazz venue — The Trane Studio at 964 Bathurst St. just a few danceable steps from Bloor.

We believe this project will prove inviting and informative for younger audiences.

On The Series:

The Special Concerts are just that! Special and Amazing! They are concerts in praise of music in general in its multi-dimensional form. This is the spirit of African based or inspired music. The Caliban Arts Theatre Special Concerts Series originally began in 2001.

With the Special Concerts we bring a range of artists and a range of styles from jazz, blues, spirituals, gospel, folk, soul, reggae, calypso, rn’b, avante-garde, dub-poetry, fusion, latin jazz, spoken word and more. The Special Concerts features young professionals and award winning artists such as Carlos Morgan, DK Ibomeka, Waleed Abdulhamid, Christopher Rouse, Donné Roberts, Kenny Neale Jr., Shelly Hamilton, Rich Brown, Sasha Williamson, Ania, Michael St. George to name a few; local legends such as Archie Alleyne, Adam Solomon, Jay Douglas, Tiki Mercury Clarke, Eddie Bullen, Kingsley Ettienne, Shakura S’aida, Washington Savage, Glenn Ricketts, Sharron McLeod, Yvonne Moore and many more; international artists such as Ursula Rucker, Kahil El Zabar, Noa Bursie, Ernest Dawkins, Josh White Jr., Marc Cary, Hamiet Bluiett, Stella Chiweshe and others.

Note: Special Gospel Series Concerts on Sundays. Please check Calendar and/or Website for Gospel lineup. Gospel Artists include: Tiki Mercury Clarke, Sister Lois, Shakura S’aida, Eddie Bullen and Friends and others.

The Black Underground Project is a dynamic contemporary urban jazz experience. Launched in 1997… The Underground pays tributes to legendary musicians and vocalists who have shaped the world in a profound cultural way. The Black Underground focuses primarily on the contribution made by artists of African descent. It is also an educational tool for younger audiences.

Honorees throughout the Feastival include: Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Dinah Washington, Luther Vandross, Nina Simone, Sam Cooke, Ella Fitzgerald, Art Blakey, Bob Marley, Donny Hathaway, Nancy Wilson, Doug Richardson and others.

Redlight Poetry is a poetic/ literary and cultural discursive series, which began in 1998 as a Caliban Arts Theatre project. It provides an intimate space where the writer/presenter has an opportunity to present his/her work and discuss with the audience. Redlight Poetry can be attended on Monday nights in November. Please check calendar or website for dates and times

Featured Artists include: Ernest Dawkins, Josh White Jr., Ursula Rucker, Frances Anne Solomon and others.

Note: Redlight Poetry is followed by The Other Film Festival (began: 1998) Special Screenings. Please check calendar or website for film info and time.

The Afrikan Dialectic: A Pan-Afrikan Discourse into the lives of Afrikan people and how we are affected. The Dialectic is an open dialogue on Afriakan life, politics, spirituality, culture, arts and more. Presented by Manga Clem Marshall, writer, expert in Afrikan art, freethinker-at-large, The Afrikan Dialectic can be attended on Monday nights in October and December. Please check calendar or website for dates and times.

Note: The Afrikan Dialectic is followed by The Other Film Festival (2007) Special Screenings. Please check calendar or website for film info and time.

Special Events
Feastival Launch: October 1st and 2nd
Remembrance Day Event Sunday November 11
3 visual artists art showings. Syrus Ware (October) Angela Haynes (November), Sandra Brewster (December)
Feastival Wrap Party December 30
Special New Year’s event honoring Duke Ellington

Special Guests and MCs
Mercedes Ellington
Eric Mercury
Norman Otis Richmond
Manga Clem Marshall
Dwayne Morgan
Itah Sadu
Frank Francis
Hajile Kalaike
And others

Sponsors
The Trane Studio
Long and Mcquade
Taye Drums
CKLN
Ryerson University: The Evolving Stories Project
Warsteiner
Hacker Schorr
The Live Music Report

Other Business Sponsors/Donors
Big it up
Premier Brands
Appleton Estate
360 Financial
Nella Cucina
Ken Montague Dental Offices
Courtney Betty Law Offices
Gamtron Accounting
Adele’s
Harvey Cowan
Loblaws