By Neil Armstrong
 |
| Photo contributed Kemba Byam, Acting Manager of the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit (CABR), City of Toronto |
The following is the schedule of the programming over the three days.
Theme: Books Open Our Worldview, Bans Limit It.
Tagline: “Affirming African presence and history, no erasure here — International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024)”
 |
| Photo contributed Sarah Onyango will interview GauZ' about his novel, Standing Heavy, which was shortlisted for the 2023 International Booker Prize. |
Thursday, October 12, 2023
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Opening of the Black and Caribbean Book Affair, Reflections on the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024 by Kemba Byam, Acting Manager, City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit, the presentation of the My People Award to children's literature author Yolanda T. Marshall, and a virtual Conversation with GauZ’ (Armand Patrick Gbaka-Brédé) about his book, Standing Heavy, now published in English. Biblioasis. He will be interviewed by Ottawa-based translator and radio and television personality, Sarah Onyango, on Zoom.
Shortlisted for the 2023 International Booker Prize. A funny, fast-paced, and poignant take on Franco-African history, as told through the eyes of three African security guards in Paris.
 |
| Photo contributed Community historian Kathy Grant will host a presentation of Serena Virk's book, We Remember the Black Battalion, for students and teachers. |
Friday, October 13, 2023
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. — (an event for students and teachers) — We Remember the Black Battalion by Serena Virk. FriesenPress. Deijaumar Clarke of Blackhurst Cultural Centre will introduce Kathy Grant.
Have you heard of No. 2 Construction Battalion? It is never too late to learn about No. 2 Construction Battalion, also known as the Black Battalion. In the First World War, when so many brave young men enlisted to fight, there were many Black men who wanted to join, but many were denied. Instead, the Black Battalion was created.
 |
| Photo contributed Illustrator Ken Daley will host a presentation for students and teachers on what in involved in illustrating books |
1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. — (an event for students and teachers) — Illustrator Ken Daley opens the world of illustration and books to young people. Iman Hassan of A Different Booklist will introduce him.
6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Book Launch — Sheila White in Conversation with Itah Sadu about her book, The Letters: Postmark Prejudice in Black and White. Yorkland Publishing. Author Gayle Gonsalves will introduce them.
Vivian Keeler is an intelligent, attractive and determined white woman from a traditional Nova Scotia family who risks it all by falling in love with a Black man. Billy White is a charismatic and gifted member of a prominent Black family; he’s the brother of celebrated classical singer Portia White and the son of a renowned Black minister who garnered fame as an officer during the First World War.
 |
| Photo contributed Kwame Scott Fraser, President and Publisher of Dundurn Press |
 |
| Photo contributed Maria Martelle, Owner of Tinlids Inc. Both publishers will host the workshop about book distribution |
Saturday, October 14
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. — Workshop: The World of Distribution – the Dos and Don’ts with publishers Maria Martella and Kwame Scott Fraser. Geeta Raghunanan of A Different Booklist will introduce them.
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. — “Audley Enough: A Portrait of Triumph and Recovery in the Face of Mania and Depression.” Written by Lesley Whyte Redford and Patricia Lavoie. Tellwell Talent. Audley will sign copies of the book and be interviewed about being the subject of it. The host will be poet and educator Michelle Muir.
1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. — Yolanda Marshall and Suzette Vidale — “Culture Days”
It will be a storytime and steel pan event. Yolanda and Suzette Vidale will be incorporating reading and soca music for kids.
 |
| Photo credit: Lawrence Kerr Author Nadia L. Hohn |
2:30-3:15 p.m. — Book Presentation — Nadia L. Hohn, The Antiracist Kitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes). Orca Book Publishers. Author Gayle Gonsalves will introduce her.
An anthology featuring stories and recipes from racialized authors about food, culture and resistance.
What if talking about racism was as easy as baking a cake, frying plantains or cooking rice? The Antiracist Kitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes) is a celebration of food, family, activism and resistance in the face of racism.
 |
| Photo contributed Author Asha Bromfield |
 |
| Photo contributed Author Gayle Gonsalves |
3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. — Book Launch — Songs of Irie by Asha Bromfield. MacMillan Publishers. Asha will be in conversation with author Gayle Gonsalves.
Perfect for fans of The Black Kids, Songs of Irie is a sweeping coming-of-age novel from Asha Bromfield about a budding romance struggling to survive amidst the Jamaican civil unrest of the 1970s.
 |
| Photo contributed Karen Flynn, Associate Professor, Department of Women and Gender Studies and the Department of African-American Studies Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign |
 |
| Photo contributed Dr. Funké Aladejebi, Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of Toronto |
 |
| Photo contributed Catherine Grant-Wata, PhD candidate, Department of History, University of Toronto |
5:00-6:30 p.m.— Scholars Dr. Karen Flynn, Dr. Funké Aladejebi and PhD candidate Catherine Grant-Wata in conversation about “Black Women, Oral History and Social Activism in Canada”
As the keepers of memories, communities, and family histories, Black women lives and experiences respond to important silences, gaps, and omissions often missing, buried, or unrecorded in traditional archives and national histories. In this session, three Black women historians, at different stages in their careers, explore ways to collate, tell, and preserve the life stories of Black women in Canada. In conversation with community members, we will consider how oral histories challenge traditional historical narratives and why it is important for Black women to tell their histories on their own terms. Building on the works of Karen Flynn’s Moving Beyond Borders and Funké Aladejebi’s Schooling the System, this session will explore the ways oral history projects can shift conversations in Canadian history and reveal the significance of Black women’s lived experience and ways of knowing.
The 2023 Black and Caribbean Book Affair is Supported by:
Biblioasis
Yorkland Publishing
Orca Book Publishers
MacMillian Publishers
Toronto Arts Council
Caribbean Camera
No comments:
Post a Comment