From a media release & hot off the press:
The Lion of Zimbabwe:
Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited to Headline Toronto's Afrofest
July 9 & 10 at Queen's Park
TORONTO: AFROFEST, a free celebration of the richness and diversity of African culture, is set for Queen’s Park in Toronto on Saturday July 9th and Sunday July 10th. Featuring world-renowned African musicians and top African groups based in Canada, an African marketplace, food and craft vendors, artistic displays, music workshops, and organized activities for youth and children. Afrofest is THE cultural event of the summer. Discover Africa in the Heart of Toronto!
African music legend Thomas Mapfumo
, with his band The Blacks Unlimited, will be a feature act of Afrofest 2011. “The Lion of Zimbabwe” is considered both the Bob Dylan and the Bob Marley of Southern Africa for the immense impact his songs and life example have made on the music and culture of his homeland. The "Chimurenga" music
he created was the soundtrack of the revolution in Zimbabwe.
A titan of African recording, Mapfumo, with more than 20 albums
of outstanding original music to his name, has been performing his songs of love, freedom and justice for more than 40 years. Mapfumo has twice before performed at Afrofest, this year he’ll take the stage to complete the weekend line-up, on Sunday, July 10.
• Thomas Mapfumo
will also be performing an ‘Afterfest’ concert at the Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas Street West, on Monday, July 11. Admission is $20 at the door, $15 in advance – Tickets available at Afrofest and other locations to be announced.
South Africa’s Dizu Plaatjies and Ibuyambo will make their Canadian debut performance at Afrofest 2011. Dizu led his band Amampondo in wowing the crowd at Nelson Mandela’s famous birthday concert at Wembley Stadium in 1988. They were later made official ambassadors of South African music, and their 2000 show at Afrofest stands as one of the festival’s finest ever performances.
The Afrofest headliners will be supported by some of the top African groups based in Canada, including:
• JP Buse (Zaire)
• Femi Abosede & Culture Force (Nigeria)
• Zekuhl (Cameroon)
• Ruth Mathiang (Sudan)
• Ijo Vudu (Nigeria)
• Soukous Tchatcho (Congo)
• The Tich Maredza Band (Zimbabwe)
• Anastasio & Zalang Band (Equatorial Guinea)
• Amoudou (Guinea)
• Beyond Sound (various Africa)
• Justine CanAfric (Ivory Coast)
• Symphonix (Trinidad).
• More acts will be announced very soon. For more information on Afrofest and stage performers go to www.musicafrica.org
More acts will be announced very soon.
• For more information on Afrofest and stage performers go to www.musicafrica.org
Music Africa thanks all those who supported keeping Afrofest at Queen's Park in 2011. There should be no doubt that Music Africa will resolve all outstanding issues and put on an Afrofest to be remembered.
Music Africa gratefully acknowledges the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Ontario Arts Council. Many thanks also to media co-partners CBC Radio 99.1 FM and CIUT 89.5 FM.
Image is the cover of Thomas Mapfumo - The Chimurenga Singles 1976 - 1980 - Earthworks 1984
The Lion of Zimbabwe:Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited to Headline Toronto's Afrofest
July 9 & 10 at Queen's Park
TORONTO: AFROFEST, a free celebration of the richness and diversity of African culture, is set for Queen’s Park in Toronto on Saturday July 9th and Sunday July 10th. Featuring world-renowned African musicians and top African groups based in Canada, an African marketplace, food and craft vendors, artistic displays, music workshops, and organized activities for youth and children. Afrofest is THE cultural event of the summer. Discover Africa in the Heart of Toronto!
African music legend Thomas Mapfumo
, with his band The Blacks Unlimited, will be a feature act of Afrofest 2011. “The Lion of Zimbabwe” is considered both the Bob Dylan and the Bob Marley of Southern Africa for the immense impact his songs and life example have made on the music and culture of his homeland. The "Chimurenga" music he created was the soundtrack of the revolution in Zimbabwe. 
A titan of African recording, Mapfumo, with more than 20 albums of outstanding original music to his name, has been performing his songs of love, freedom and justice for more than 40 years. Mapfumo has twice before performed at Afrofest, this year he’ll take the stage to complete the weekend line-up, on Sunday, July 10.• Thomas Mapfumo
will also be performing an ‘Afterfest’ concert at the Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas Street West, on Monday, July 11. Admission is $20 at the door, $15 in advance – Tickets available at Afrofest and other locations to be announced. South Africa’s Dizu Plaatjies and Ibuyambo will make their Canadian debut performance at Afrofest 2011. Dizu led his band Amampondo in wowing the crowd at Nelson Mandela’s famous birthday concert at Wembley Stadium in 1988. They were later made official ambassadors of South African music, and their 2000 show at Afrofest stands as one of the festival’s finest ever performances.
The Afrofest headliners will be supported by some of the top African groups based in Canada, including:
• JP Buse (Zaire)
• Femi Abosede & Culture Force (Nigeria)
• Zekuhl (Cameroon)
• Ruth Mathiang (Sudan)
• Ijo Vudu (Nigeria)
• Soukous Tchatcho (Congo)
• The Tich Maredza Band (Zimbabwe)
• Anastasio & Zalang Band (Equatorial Guinea)
• Amoudou (Guinea)
• Beyond Sound (various Africa)
• Justine CanAfric (Ivory Coast)
• Symphonix (Trinidad).
• More acts will be announced very soon. For more information on Afrofest and stage performers go to www.musicafrica.org
More acts will be announced very soon.
• For more information on Afrofest and stage performers go to www.musicafrica.org
Music Africa thanks all those who supported keeping Afrofest at Queen's Park in 2011. There should be no doubt that Music Africa will resolve all outstanding issues and put on an Afrofest to be remembered.
Music Africa gratefully acknowledges the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Ontario Arts Council. Many thanks also to media co-partners CBC Radio 99.1 FM and CIUT 89.5 FM.
Image is the cover of Thomas Mapfumo - The Chimurenga Singles 1976 - 1980 - Earthworks 1984
Watch parts of the Canadian debut performance of Dizu Plaatjies and Ibuyambo at Afrofest at this HD video
ReplyDeletehttp://vimeo.com/26459114
You can embed the video to your web page.