Toronto’s Afrofest 2008 Will be Held in Queen’s Park July 5th & 6th

Music Africa presents Toronto’s 20th annual Afrofest, a celebration of African music and culture, free on Saturday July 5th and Sunday July 6th at Queen’s Park from noon to 10:30pm. Afrofest is a multi-disciplinary event with concerts, dance, theatre, food, a marketplace, and activities for youth and children. Traditional and contemporary styles of music by top international touring acts and dozens of African performing groups from across Canada will be seen and heard. The festival has grown every year, and in 2008, 3 different outdoor stages will come to life with music and dance in this 20th anniversary extravaganza.

Afrofest at Queen’s Park is a showcase of the richness and diversity of African culture and the 20th anniversary celebration is shaping up to be the best ever. Enjoy free music workshops at the Baobab Tree Stage along with African Theatre and the Youth Zone, which has an expanded program oriented to youth. For the younger ones there is a Children’s Village area, with activities designed to teach and inform about African culture through art and crafts, drumming, and storytelling.

The popular Babatunde Olatunji drum stage will again host many different drumming ensembles and teachers including performance, drum circles and instruction. There is also a dazzling display of authentic African arts, crafts and delicious foods in the bustling African marketplace. Afrofest is the African culture event of the summer!
 
 Afrofest 2008 will be broadcast from Queen’s Park on both days live on CIUT 89.5FM. Afrofest will also feature some events at other locations to be announced. The first announcement on artists performing will made in early May, with the full festival and activity roster to be released in the first week of June.
 
 For information call  (416) 469-5336 or see www.musicafrica.org.
 
 Music Africa gratefully acknowledges the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, SOCAN Foundation and Western Union.