THUNDER BAY — The first Afro-centric arts and music festival, Afro Vibe Fest, concluded in the city on Sunday.
The festival kicked off with a horse-led parade, cultural performances and a show by headliner and six-time Juno Award winner Exco Levi with his band High Priest, saw the return of crowd hits, including a demo of the horse parade at 4 p.m. and a Djembe workshop.
"We had more than 12 Djembe players. I've never seen that before live like this and it happened just here yesterday and people were so happy and again, we're going to do this one today because the people asked again," said Liliane Breiland, the festival's director.
With many more people expected to attend the festival's finale, it also showcased several international crafters and food vendors, local DJs and dance group performances, various services and sponsors, Afro Beauty — a fashion show — a kids' corner offering braiding, face painting and Afro games and more.
Hosting the festival and celebrating Afro culture, Breiland said, was very important because they all come from all backgrounds.
"The Afro descent have different origins and it's important that an event like that bring(s) all of us together to show to the community, who is receiving us here, what we have as the heritage left to us by our forefathers," said Breiland.
She added that people should come and celebrate with them.
"This culture is to share with our welcoming city of Thunder Bay. Come out. Come and see the beauty of the Afro culture. (It) is so beautiful here in the Marina Park today. We want you to come, come and dance with us," said Breiland.
Charles Chamirai Nyabeze, the CEO of the Northern Ontario Black Economic Empowerment Program, was also in attendance at the festival to meet with Black entrepreneurs and business owners.
He said business ownership is a way to build wealth and they believe that wealth creation is one mechanism for eliminating things like systemic racism: "We really want to empower people to become wealthy."
"Our organization… is here to support you in your journey towards business start-up and business growth and making sure you establish a business successful," said Nyabeze.
"So, I'll say to the people, please look us up. We are here to help you grow your business from idea all the way to a business that you can eventually sell off or do something else with it."
Rose Viel, executive director for Centr'Elles, a sexual assault and abuse centre for French-speaking women in Northwest Ontario, hoped that people would also be able to come out and see what inclusivity, equity and inclusion are all about.
"I think it's important to be able to identify with others that are here as well and to come and taste the food, which is great, enjoy the music that is amazing and enjoy the people that are here," said Viel.
With Liliane part of their French community, she said she thought it was very important to be there.
"We also have a project with Wage (Women and Gender Equality) Canada right now… for French-speaking immigrants, so we're hoping to be able to get a few other people to be able to come and participate in activities and workshops that we're doing for immigrants," she added.
A few members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) coalition of racialized workers also came from Toronto, Ottawa and the local area to celebrate the inaugural opening of the festival.
"We're just here to continue celebrating and to show support and solidarity for the work that Liliane has put forward in ensuring that this festival will be like no other," said Carol Mundley, the coalition's chair.
"And it's the start of something amazing and we're hoping that we will be able to partner on an ongoing basis with Liliane."
Mundley said the festival is like nothing they've ever participated in before.
She hoped that the festival would be an annual event for OPSEU to participate in.
