Community News
Heritage Skills Development Centre presents award-winning Afro-Carib Fest
BY MICHAEL THOMAS
The eighth annual Afro-Carib Fest took place on Saturday, August 24th-25th from 12 pm to 9pm at Albert Campbell Square,150 Borough Drive in Scarborough.The event featured something for everyone from: a live music dance competition, kids zone, cultural parade, drum and dance, vendors, cultural food, award-winning local and international artists, arts and craft, prize giveaways, raffle draws, beer tent, and fabulous networking opportunities.
The award-winning Scarborough Afro-Carib Fest (SACF) was established in 2012 by the non-profit organization Heritage Skills Development Centre as a two-day community festival that aims to celebrate the diversity, culture, art, and heritage of the African and Caribbean communities, as well as other groups that make up our cultural fabric. The event helps to bridge: social, cultural, and economic gaps, while promoting community development and engagement.
Heritage Skills Development Centre is a grassroots organization that was established in 1993. It was founded by a group of women who observed a gap in the integration services available to new immigrants, refugees, and minorities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Services have expanded over the past 12 years to serving: at-risk, low-income children and youth, seniors and marginalized groups.
Canada’s largest Caribbean Newspaper, The Toronto Caribbean Newspaper was present and got a chance to speak with some of the performers, as well as Madeline Nwokeji the Program Director of Afro-Carib Fest who kept a watchful eye on the event even as she was interviewed. “This event means everything to me, it means: diversity, culture, food, and beautiful people merging their cultures together.”Nwokeji had high praises for her team and said it means a lot of sleepless nights, but at the end of the day, it is worth it and they love it.
When asked how she feels knowing that this year’s event was a success, Nwokeji replied, “It feels amazing. It feels that my four hours of sleep last night was worth it; this event is growing annually, we are going to bring a lot of exciting international artists to the city of Toronto who have not been here before. We have new things every year; this year we have our first cultural parade and it was lots of fun.”
When speaking of fun, Bob Turner aka General Genius, happened to be one of the entertainers of the evening. He joined in and had loads of fun with the children doing his hit song and dance called Raptors Foot; the children could not get enough of Turner and his moves.
The Toronto based entertainer told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, “The song was created a few years ago as a cheering song for the Toronto Raptors and the children really love it; it was to the extent that some parents would ask for my photograph after I performed, while their children would do the moves to my song. Turner who has been performing since he was a child said, “I try to stay relevant all the time”
Another performer who had the audience rocking to her smooth and soulful reggae vibe was Tonya P. This seasoned entertainer told Toronto Caribbean Newspaper “I have been in the business for a long time now, and most recently I have had two singles that I collaborated on with Canada’s Mother of Hip Hop Michie Mee. I love this crowd; they give me energy and that makes me perform better. They are so appreciative.”
The crowd at Afro-Carib Fest really appreciated a touch of Cameroon that was presented by Mr. Remi Ray who did not disappoint with his African Hip Hop styles and smooth lyrical flow. In conversation with Toronto Caribbean Newspaper, the Afrobeat/Afro-fusion artiste who has been here three times now said, “I feel like Toronto is a city that everyone should visit because of its diversity which is a blessing.”