(EMAILWIRE.COM, September 19, 2011 ) Toronto, Canada -- TAMALA is proud to present the 6th annual MAMAYA Festival and Griot Night Concert on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at the Centre for Culture, Arts, Media & Education at 918 Bathurst Street.
MAMAYA Festival will feature traditional African music and dance performances and activities for the whole family. The Concert is a ticketed event. The festival is free for all ages and everyone is invited to learn the Mamaya dance.
The FREE Mamaya Festival will be held on September 24th and will feature a line-up of outstanding performers including Thch Maredza band, Snow Griots with guests Dielimory Tounkara, Nma doumbouya, (gbadona), Ablay Cone, (Bolokan) Sonia Aimy with PaJoe, Ebenezer Ajvekum, Suleman Juna & Kwami Saki, Manden Folikan with Mohamed diaby and Maria Pino
MAMAYA is a traditional celebration of music and dance. It originated in Kankan, the second largest city in Guinea, West Africa. In Guinea, Mamaya is celebrated once a year, and brings everyone together to share in the beauty of culture. The MAMAYA festival acknowledges and celebrates the diversity and unity of all people. From its Guinea origins, the festival has spread to Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cote DÂ’Ivoire, New York and Toronto.
MAMAYA 2011 welcomes everyone to join in the celebration. Francis and Quammie Williams will explain the history, tradition and significance of the event, the meaning behind the colours, the role of the griot, the dancing and the 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 truly Canadian version people may choose to wear a sky blue dress, t-shirt or other article of clothing.
We are thankful for the support of the Toronto and Ontario Arts Councils, Inter- Action Canada Multiculturalism and Contributions, Afrogui (Guinea Community) Canoraa Maison des Jeunes, Batuki Music Society, Mr. Abou Nabe, and Madame Camara Mama Sy.
