Arts & Culture

An important part of our city, province, and country’s roots and culture is brought to light during the month of February, Black History Month.

“It’s important to acknowledge that, although we designate February as Black History Month, we need to celebrate it all year round, paying tribute to the diversity of black writers, historians, musicians and artists in all facets of our culture,” explains city librarian Vickery Bowles.

City Librarian Vickery Bowles addresses the audience at the Black History Month Gala kickoff party.

With a sponsorship from TD Bank, we are pleased to bring fun, thought-provoking and diverse events to locations across the city and we are also pleased to house one of Canada’s most noteworthy black and Caribbean literary collections.

In 2015, we kicked off Black History Month at the gala party, “From Griot to Hip Hop: The Music IS the Story.” Five great artists, Roger Gibbs, Amadou Kienne, Tich Maredza, Tiki Mercury-Clarke and Rasselas Asfaw, shared stories and music of Africa and from the urban experiences of Toronto’s black and Caribbean communities.

Roger Gibbs (top left), Amadou Kienne (top right), Tiki Mercury-Clarke (bottom left), and Tich Maredza (bottom right) perform at the Toronto Reference Library on Fri., Feb. 6, 2015.

Literary fans got their kicks at the Toronto Urban Book Expo (TUBE) and at author talks across the city featuring Donna Bailey Nurse, Cecil Foster, Olive Senior, Bryan Prince, and community activist Dalton Higgins. For the poets among us, spoken word artist Dwayne Morgan shared his motivational insights, and Guinness World Record-setting rapper Duane Gibson dared teens to a freestyle challenge.

More programs on the musical front included workshops with African instrumentation and music, calypso, the jazz-infused poetics of Andrea Thompson, and The Arsenals – one of Toronto’s most exciting ska bands. Of course, when there is music, there is dance! Children were treated to a fun and frenetic program, Gumboots Dance.

Audiences of all ages enjoy music, songs, and stories from Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, the Caribbean and Canada.

A series of thought-provoking lectures, including “Malcolm X: 50 Years After – Pertinent or Passé?”, “Season of Rage: Racial Conflict in a Small Town,” and “G.I.A. Productions’ Real Talk: Race Resolutions and Redemption” focussed on a number of current issues the black community faces in present times. A mini film-fest, in partnership with the National Film Board, brought these societal issues to the big screen.

“Freedom City: Uncovering Toronto’s Black History” an exhibit that celebrated the early black citizens of Toronto was featured in the TD Gallery at the Toronto Reference Library. Through original paintings, drawings, photographs, manuscripts and broadsides, “Freedom City” covered the history of black Toronto – from the days of early settlement to the end of the 19th century. The exhibit was enhanced by the research and contributions of prominent authors and historians Karolyn Smardz Frost and Afua Cooper.

Rasselas Asfaw puts on an energetic show: From Griot to Hip Hop: The Music IS the Story.

Accessible all year round, The Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection is a gem in our Special Collections. Recognized as one of the most significant black and Caribbean heritage collections in Canada, it features over 16,000 print and audiovisual items for adults, children and teens that focus on the black and Caribbean historical and cultural experience – with special emphasis on Canadian material. To ensure the enhancement and growth of this collection, the Rita Cox Endowment Fund was established.