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What
is Mamaya
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.
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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.
| Biography|
The
Band - Snow Griots
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
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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. |
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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
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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 |
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Sponsorship
Level one - $250
- 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
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History of Mamaya
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. |
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Thank You! To our sponsors!
Madame Camara Mama Sy
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| TAMALA 31 Sutton Avenue #A,
Toronto , ON M5A 1Y2
647-783-0856 |
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