Caribana References in Some Books in Toronto

By Neil Armstrong

Photo credit: Anthony Berot      Grand Parade, Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival

What books would you recommend reading that mention CARIBANA in Toronto…apart from Cecil Foster’s “Caribana, the Greatest Celebration”?

Since this will be the weekend of the grand parade of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival or what many still call Caribana and the many parties featuring soca, calypso and reggae artists in the city, I’m thinking about books that I’ve read which mention CARIBANA.

I recently read G. Barton-Sinkia’s debut novel, “By the Next Pause,” which has a vivid depiction of Caribana. As a result of that, I pulled a few books from my library that showcase some aspects of the festival.

“A Map to the Door of No Return: Notes to Belonging” by Dionne Brand

“How to describe this mix of utter, hopeless pain and elation leaning against this door? Caribana, on Lakeshore Boulevard in the city of Toronto. There are  some one million people there, some are costumed, all are in the throes of the most unfettered pleasure: dancing, singing, joking, eating. This is the major Black festival in Canada, Caribbean in origin, Black now in enactment.”

Brand goes on to describe the shout outs: “Every once in a while a band leader or DJ comes along and calls out these origins: “Anybody from…?” placing a country or territory after the preposition, to which there are screamed acknowledgements from sections of the crowd.” – (page 41)

“A Place Called Heaven: The Meaning of Being Black in Canada” by Cecil Foster

“I remember my first year in Canada, how four months after arriving in a new country and feeling homesick, I went to the Caribana festival in downtown Toronto and instantly felt at home. There, I found the music, the faces, the people, the accents, the food and the excitement of the Caribbean. Over the years, we would joke that Caribana is the best spiritual tonic for the social and political alienation so many of us feel in Canada, including so many of us born and raised in this country.” – (page 248, Chapter 10 ‘Caribana Dreams’)

“In the Black: My Life” by B. Denham Jolly

“The first Caribana was the largest-drawing centennial event held in Toronto that year, and its success persuaded the Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Clifford Campbell, to cancel his trip home from Montreal’s Expo 67 so he could swing by Toronto to attend the Sunday event.

“Caribana has gone on to become North America’s biggest street festival and biggest Caribbean festival. It’s final parade attracts a million attendees, and the overall festival attendance is typically around two million.” – (page 143)

Jolly also mentions that he attended most of the early festivals and for many years hosted an after-party at his house. He shares the reason he stopped hosting the parties.

“Emancipation Day: Celebrating Freedom in Canada” by Natasha L. Henry

“Early Emancipation Day celebrations in the British Caribbean began to take place as part of Carnival and integrated numerous elements of other African-influenced cultural rituals such as jonkunnu in Jamaica and canboulay in Trinidad. These festivities involved the playing of musical instruments, singing and dancing, parading, theatrical acts/shows, and feasts. Over a century later, Caribana, a carnival festival in Toronto, would originate from these roots.”

These are just four of the many books here in Toronto about CARIBANA. Which books would you add to a reading list about the festival?

SOME EVENTS HAPPENING AUG. 2-6, 2018

Photo credit: Anthony Berot      Joella Crichton (Face of the Festival) has won the "Queen of the Bands" nine times consecutively.

Joella Crichton (Face of the Festival) has nine consecutive wins as “Queen of the Bands.” She is aiming to walk again with that title for the tenth time tonight.

Aug. 2, 7pm-11:55pm – King & Queen Showcase, Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Allan Lamport Stadium, Toronto 

Aug. 3, 7pm-midnight - Pan Alive, Allan Lamport Stadium, Toronto

Aug. 3, 12:00pm – Flag Raising to mark Jamaica’s 56^th anniversary of Independence, Brampton City Hall

Aug. 4, 8:30am-8:30pm – Grand Parade, Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Exhibition Place (CNE), Toronto

Aug. 3-6 - Island Soul, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto

Aug. 5, 12pm-11pm – Blockobana, Park, Regent Park, Toronto

Aug. 5 & 6 – JAMBANA One World Festival, Rose Theatre and CAA Centre, Brampton

Aug. 5, 1pm – Flag Raising to mark Jamaica’s 56^th anniversary of Independence, Toronto City Hall, Podium Roof

Aug. 5, 3pm - Jamaica Independence Church Service; (after City Hall flag raising); Faith Sanctuary Pentecostal Church, 1901 Jane St., Toronto. Call 416-746-5772, Ext. 249

SOME OTHER EVENTS IN THE WEEKS AHEAD

SATURDAY, AUG. 11

Jamaican Canadian Association’s 56^th annual Independence Gala; 7:00pm; Jamaican Canadian Centre, 995 Arrow Rd., Toronto. Keynote speaker: Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Jamaica. Call 416-746-5772/vicepresident@jcaontario.org

Cost: $80

THURSDAY, AUG. 16

Book Launch: ‘The African-Jamaican Aesthetic: Cultural Retention and Transformation Across Borders’ by Dr. Lisa Tomlinson; 6:30pm; A Different Booklist Cultural Centre, 777-779 Bathurst St., Toronto.

FRIDAY, AUG. 17

Chronixx and Zinc Fence Redemption performs at the 12^th annual Manifesto Festival of Community and Culture; Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto. mnfsto.com

SATURDAY, AUG. 18

Rastafest Health & Wellness Community Fair; 12:00-6:00 p.m; Yorkgate Mall, 1 Yorkgate Blvd., Toronto.