AfroFest, an event that highlights and pays tribute to African culture in the National Capital Region, will be holding its first in-person event in Ottawa this September.
The festival is designed to appeal to all Canadians, and it will feature an assortment of African cuisine, fashion, crafts and other items on sale. There will also be musical performances in both traditional and modern African styles.
Last year’s inaugural event was streamed online and featured artists such as Ottawa-based singer Omada, R&B performer Deborah Ikirezi, Francophone rapper and singer Ralami and Afrobeat musician Skilloj. In addition to music, the inaugural festival featured displays of dance, fashion and other arts.
A line-up for this year’s event has not yet been announced, but the festival has issued an open call for local artists and vendors. AfroFest is a production of Africa Live Canada, a non-profit organization that aims to promote African-Canadian culture and which regularly holds workshops and skills training. Festivals promoting diverse cultures, often advertised through time-tested tools like poster printing, as well as word of mouth, are common across Canada, with popular examples including Ottawa’s GreekFest and Toronto’s Caribana.
AfroFest 2021 is set to take place at Mooney’s Bay in Ottawa on September 4 and 5. The event is free to attend, but requires the ordering of an online ticket to avoid overcrowding.
