4th annual MAMAYA festival on Saturday August 8 in Toronto

TAMALA (Toronto African Music and Living Arts) has announced the date of the big African Music and Culture Festival in Toronto's Distillery District.

Here is the press release for the event:

TAMALA (Toronto African Music and Living Arts), Toronto, July 10, 2009

TAMALA is proud to present the 4th annual MAMAYA festival on Saturday August 8, 2009 at the Distillery District from 2:00 – 10:00 pm.

MAMAYA is a traditional celebration of music and dance with origins from Kankan, the second largest city in Guinea, West Africa. In Guinea Mamaya is celebrated once a year, bringing everyone together to share the beautiful nature of culture. MAMAYA festival acknowledges and celebrates the diversity and unity of all people. The festival has spread to Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, New York and Toronto.

This year’s MAMAYA will feature traditional African music and dance performances, workshops and children’s activities. The festival is free for all ages and located in an outdoor setting to give it a traditional feeling and atmosphere. MAMAYA will take place at the Distillery District located at 55 Mill Street in Toronto.

Performers include Snow Griots with Katenen ‘Cheka’ Dioubaté, Balla tounkara, Canafric Theatre, Manding Foli Kan Don With Mohamed Diaby and Kassoum Diamoutene.

MAMAYA 2009 welcomes everyone to come to join in the celebration. The stage host Justine Gogoua will explain the history, tradition and significance of the event, the meaning behind the colours, the role of the griot, dancing and music. Special guests, ‘patrons’ and ‘paterie’ of the event will be introduced. The featured performers will invite the audience to participate in the celebration. Sky blue or ‘bakha’ as it is called in Guinea is the traditional color of MAMAYA.

The festival attendees wear the same sky blue coloured clothing to signify unity and equality. This shows that all people are the same: women or men, rich or poor. In our Canadian version people may choose to wear a sky blue dress, t-shirt or other article of clothing. This year MAMAYA will host a Festival Launch Party on Friday August 7th at 224 Parliament St. featuring Snow Griots with Cheka Katenen, Balla Tounkara and special guests, doors open at 8pm . concert at 9:00-10:00 pm. Tickets are $ 10 at the door. TAMALA presents MAMAYA Festival Launch Party Where: 224 Parliament St. TorontoWhen: Friday, August 7, 2009Time: 8:00-10:00 pm.

TAMALA presents MAMAYA Festival 2009
Where: Distillery District, 55 Mill St. Toronto
When: Saturday, August 8, 2009 Time: 2:00 – 10:00 pm.

For more information call 416 703 3451
or visit:

http://www.mamayatoronto.com


http://www.chekakatenen.com


Thanks for the support of the Toronto Arts Council and Ontario Arts Council.