Toronto, Canada - Bana y’Afrique is a free outdoor celebration of African music and culture for the whole Family to enjoy. The 5th annual African festival will take place at Metro Hall Square (55 John Street ) on Sunday, August 28th from 12 noon – 11:p.m. The Bana y’Afrique 2005 festival features a main concert stage with performances by award-winning African musical groups and exciting traditional dancers.

The Bana y’Afrique market will feature vendors and cultural organizations with a wide array of crafts and clothing from the continent and the opportunity to sample delicious African foods. A journey to the continent of Africa right in downtown Toronto.

This African music and arts celebration, Bana y’Afrique Festival is a free event organized by Africa New Music – La Maison de la Musique Africaine. Africa New Music is non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of African music and culture in Toronto.

Program:

1-Moto et Kapia du Congo (Congolese Soukous & Mutuashi)

Moto is from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he trained as a professional dancer at the National Institute of Art in Kinshasa (INA) and became one of the elite dancers with the National Ballet of Congo. The leopard skin that Moto wears as an integral part of his performance has an important meaning in culture for traditional dance. Instead of the simple costume of his early years, it is given to signify that a high level of training and expertise is reached, and is worn to perform for chiefs, royalty and for other important occasions.

Moto has performed with many of Congo’s big names, popular bands, and traditional music groups such as; Wenge Music, Choc Stars, Eden Music, Tambour Levallois and Swede-Swede. He is able to blend traditional Congolese dances from various regions of this vast African country with modern forms of dance and expression while relating traditional themes, contemporary stories and cultural messages.

2 - Adam Solomon

3- Madagascar Slim, Ndidi Onukwulu and Donne Robert

4- Caribbean Folk Performers

Caribbean Folk Performers is an Afro-Caribbean based Performing Arts Company, committed to preserving and promoting traditional African and Indigenous Caribbean Culture through dance, music and drama.

Since the company's inception in 1988 as a dance company, it has grown towards its conceived future to become a "Performing Arts Company." Members are of various regional backgrounds particularly the Caribbean, Canada, and Africa.
Some of its performance highlights include Metro International Caravan - 1997 & 1998 (Winner of Metro International Award "Citation of Caravan's theme"), Kimoyo: The evolution of Black Dance - a sold out performance at Hart House Theatre, and Emancipation - school tour 1996 to 1998.

5- Black Ice

Step Dancing is a style of dance deeply rooted in the traditions of African Ancestry where the body is used as the sole instrument for creating music. It wasn't until the 1920s that stepping became an art form for African American Fraternities and Sororities and the 1990s in Toronto.

Black Ice Step Dance Crew has thrilled audiences throughout Ontario and the United States with their highly spirited and energizing dance repertoire.Founded in 1992, this Toronto based step collective presents step dancing in a non-traditional style incorporating modern and contemporary movements and themes.

6- Chemagne Martin

Chemagne was hypnotized with the Art of Bellydance in 1999. She has been dancing professionally for 4 years and continues her bellydance training with many recognized teachers in Canada and the U.S. Her dance background includes Bellydance, Latin dance, and African dance forms. Chemagne has danced at many venues in Toronto, such as the Toronto African Festival, Lula Lounge, Rivoli Nightclub, Revival, and Café Mirage.

7 - Mosaic Arabic

From the many corners of the Arab World, the Mosaic Arabic Folklore Ensemble brings together different dialects, heritages and traditions, representing the richness and diversity of Arab Culture. As Arab-Canadians, this group of young men and women hope to bridge the distances of cultures by presenting to their audiences a mosaic of dance, music and folklore from the Arab World.

Since its birth on May 28, 1999, Mosaic has incorporated many individuals playing key roles in the unified objective of promoting the culture and bridging the distances of such diversities. The richness and the diversity of Arab Culture is represented in this group of young adults, who have joined together in presenting the values of their heritage.
After six very strong years, Mosaic continues to be a unique landmark in the growth of Arabic Culture in Toronto and Canada.

8 - Saliha Sami

[Photo: Madagascar Slim].