The Blog of Ebrahim Suliman

Caribana Toronto 2009

ebintus — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:31:43 +0000

“We put theatre on the streets for all to see. Theatre is represented through the revelers wearing costumes of art, design, creativity and beauty that challange the imagination” Louis Saldenah - Mass Band Assoc

Every summer, Toronto blazes with the excitement of calypso, steel pan and elaborate masquerade costumes during the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana) Festival.

Caribana 2009 celebrated its 42nd anniversary, it is the largest Caribbean festival in North America. Presented by the Festival Management Committee, the three-week Festival attracted over a million participants, including hundreds of thousands of American tourists.

About Caribana: Caribana is a unique celebration of Caribbean culture that finds its roots in Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago. Toronto’s Caribana festival began in 1967 when the Canadian government asked the Caribbean community to get involved to help celebrate the Centennial year. It was organized by a group of ten Caribbean individuals living in Toronto. Their goal was to develop a platform to showcase the beauty, joy and music of Caribbean culture. Caribana weekend usually coincides with Simcoe Day (the first weekend in August), marking the abolishment of slavery in Upper Canada.

The 21st Annual Beaches International Jazz Festival, Toronto

ebintus — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:14:20 +0000

For 21 years the Beaches International Jazz Festival has attracted millions of fans and made a major contribution to promoting Canadian jazz excellence in Toronto and on the world stage.

StreetFest is a Beaches International Jazz Festival original event showcasing the finest in Big Band, Swing, Dixieland, Smooth, Post-Bop, Afro-Cuban, Fusion, Funk, R&B and Soul sounds that Canada has to offer.

Upwards of 50 bands entertain along a closed 2 km stretch of Queen Street East at any given time! It’s an annual 3-afternoon into evening pilgrimage for close to a million folks who come out to groove to the music and soak in the ambience. Despite an early downpour and the cooler weather, the crowds turned up with blankets and umbrellas and enjoyed the music, walked along Queen Street, shopped at the various vendors selling BBQ corn, sweet potatoe, caramal popcorn or candy along the way. A well run festival enjoyed by all who attended

It is said that people who live in the Beaches love three things: fireworks, ice cream, and jazz. Seriously, those are their only interests. That means that when they do indulge in one of those things, they go all out. That’s what makes the Beaches International Jazz Festival such a successful event.

Hello world!

ebintus — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:01:54 +0000

Glad to be on this bus, I am looking forward to an amazing journey