The Mamaya Festival is an African festival that acknowledges and celebrates the unity of all people.
2011 will mark the 6th celebration of the traditional Mamaya Festival to be held in Toronto. We have established the festival within the local downtown Toronto community during this time and are poised to launch the festival to audiences and participants across the GTA.
Mamaya is open to Toronto’s diverse cultural population and exposes audiences to the unique African cultural expression of unity and diversity. The Festival features educational workshops, dance and music, encouraging the sharing of culture and the exchange of information aimed at bringing people of different faiths, cultures and neighborhoods together to celebrate unity.
Cheka
Katenen Dioubate
Griot, Singer,Composer, Storyteller & Founder
of Mamaya Toronto
What is a griot? (Pronounced "gree-oh") or jali / djeli (European: bard) A griot is a West African poet, praise singer, and travelling musician, considered a repository of oral tradition and history. In the caste system, most griots only marry other griots. People who are not griots are not usually performers.
Katenen Dioubate is a Griot from a traditional family lineage of famous griots. Griots are in great demand not only for ceremonies and parties in West Africa, where they have traditionally appeared, but all around the world.
Snow Griots (pronounced "gree-oh") Guinean artist, Cheka, sought musicians to participate in Toronto’s first ever “Mamaya” celebration on January 6, 2007. This community event originated in Guinée and was performed in Toronto for the first time, under her direction. The music was rare and distinct as was the event, so she enlisted the cream of the crop of Toronto’s African musicians.
THE “SNOW GRIOTS”
Cheka Katenen Dioubate: griot, vocalist, composer, Artistic Director
Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison: guitar, Djembe Music Director
Kassoum Diamoutene: balafon, Ngoni
Tamsir Seck: vocalist, percussionist, dancer
Amine Fofana: song composer
2011 Special Guest Lineup
Mamady Kouyate will be performing in Mamaya Toronto 2011
Mamady Kouyate is a guitar virtuoso who hails from Guinea, West Africa. Influencing Guinean music for over 40 years, he now resides outside of New York City where he continues to direct, compose and lead in his band, The Mandingo Ambassadors, as well as other Mandingo bands in the region. He not only plays music, but educates people about politics, history and music of his country in museums and schools across the United States. To learn more about Mamady Kouyate, click here.
Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011
Mamaya Concert Griot Night & Workshops
Workshop-Artists:
Marimba Workshop: Pasipamire Gunguwo & Mutamba Rainos
Dance Workshop: Mabinty Sylla
Concert Artist:
Mamady Kouyate with Cheka Katenen & Snowgriots
And more ...
Centre for Culture, Arts, Media & Education
918 Bathurst North of Bloor Street -TORONTO
Doors Open 6:00pm - Workshop 8:30pm - 9:30pm
Concert 9:45pm - 11:00pm
Tickets: $15
Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011
Mamaya Celebration - FREE!!!!
Nma Doumbouya Gbadona
Ablay Cone (Bolokan)
Djelimory Tounkara
Sonia Aimy with: Pajoe, Ebenezer Ajyekum, Suleman Juma & Kwami Saki
Manding Foli Kan Don
Snowgriots
And more ...
Centre for Culture, Arts, Media & Education
918 Bathurst North of Bloor Street -TORONTO
Doors Open 4:00pm - Performances 6:00pm - 11:00pm
- Recognition by on stage Host and MC throughout the day
- 2 guest t-shirts
- Company information or product display at Mamaya Festival table in vendor area
Level two – $500
- Signage at the event (specify size and that company must provide)
- Recognition by on stage Host and MC throughout the day
- 2 guest t-shirts
- Company information or product display at Mamaya Festival table in vendor area
Level 3 - $1,000
- Logo featured on Mamaya stage (specify size and company provide sign)
- Recognition by on stage Host and MC throughout the day
special reserved seating and event t-shirts for three guests - Company information or product display at Mamaya Festival table in vendor area
Level Four – $2,500
- Logo featured as the presenting sponsor on promotional and media
materials and on Mamaya stage
(specify size and company provide sign) - Link from Mamaya® website to your company website
- Recognition by on stage Host and MC throughout the day
- Special reserved seating and event t-shirts for five guests
- Company information or product display at Mamaya Festival table in vendor area
- First right of refusal for Mamaya sponsorship Sponsorship in 2011
Click here to download Sponsorship Application
Mamaya is an all-ages dance, a song and an event originating from the city of Kankan, the second largest in Guinée (W. Africa). It has spread to Mali Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and now Canada. In Guinée, Mamaya is traditionally celebrated once a year, bringing everyone together to celebrate the beautiful nature of culture in happiness, peace and joy.
Selected musicians are gathered in a chosen outdoor area. The public participates altogether by becoming dancers, each one wearing a similar type of light blue coloured clothing called bakha (sky blue). The wearing of similar coloured clothing symbolizes unity.
In our Canadian version, some people may choose to wear sky blue dress or T-shirt. This shows that every person is the same, united and equal: women and men, rich and poor. It also looks beautiful and tells everyone that something great is about to happen.
Thank You! To our sponsors!
Madame Camara Mama Sy
647-783-0856