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Caribana 2009

Martin Luther King had a dream! Forty-two years ago, so did the creators of Caribana - to showcase Carribean Canadian culture in Canada! The result was Caribana which they based on the huge and exciting Trinidad & Tobago Carnival. ( see past events ) The founders of Caribana envisioned Caribana as a gift of culture. Caribana is a cultural explosion of Caribbean music, ( Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Hip Hop, Chutney, Steel Pan and Brass Bands ) Caribbean cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. According to Caribana, it is the largest Carnival in North America! Caribana is now run by the Festival Management Committee, a group of business people and City of Toronto officials. It is aimed at not only continuing this gift of culture but also at fiscal stability for all participants in Caribana and for the benefit of the City of Toronto, the Province of Ontario, and the Government of Canada and the corporate sponsors.

The 42nd Annual Caribana Festival was held in Toronto from July 14 to August 4, 2009. The main events of the festival were:

  • July 14, 2009: Official Launch @ Nathan Phillips Square
  • July 23 to August 3, 2009: Roots to Rhythm- COLOURBlind International Art Exhibition at ROM
  • July 24, 2009 Caribana Gala
  • July 31, 2009: Pan Alive
  • July 31, 2009: King & Queen Xtavaganza
  • August 1, 2009: Parade of Bands
  • August 2, 2009: De Caribana Island Lime @ Ontario Place
  • August 3, 2009: Caribana Tent Villages @ Ontario Place

The Caribana Gala was held on July 24, 2009 at the Liberty Grand on the C.N.E. Grounds in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It honoured key contributors to Caribana. The evening consisted of a reception with Hors D&$39oeuvres and drinks. The dinner menu was a beautiful Boston Bib and Lola Sala with the entree of curried braised short rib and curry braised chicken. The desert was a toasted coconut and mango cheesecake. The entertainment was Macomere Fifi, BLACK-I, Sipatia Deltones and Sobriquet Delee. It was a great evening and as well as honouring the key contributors, two scholarships will be made to students. Check back next year for this great event!

The jewel of the festival is the Caribana parade - imagine pulsating rhythms of Calypso, Soca and Steel Bands dancing along Lakeshore Blvd., with thousands of brilliantly costumed Mas Bands spirited together and an estimated one million people watching. Also part of Caribana are the many feets or parties at night clubs which usually start late around 11:30 and go until sunrise.

The 2009 Caribana Band of the Year (Category A):

RANK - THEME - MAS BAND ---- (BANDLEADER)

1st IN FULL BLOOM Carnival Nationz (Marcus Eustace, Bryce Aguiton & Dwayne Pitt)
2nd A TRIBUTE TO HAROLD SALDENAH THE GOLDEN YEARS Louis Saldenah Mas-K Club (Louis Saldenah)
3rd BRAZIL BACHANNAL IN RIO Toronto Revellers (Jamaal Magloire)
4th BIRDS OF PARADISE Tribal Knights (Dexter Seusahai)
5th THE GANGES MEETS THE NILE Callaloo (Marlon Singh)
6th INTO D WILD Mas Toronto (Errol & Alicia Achue)
7th DIS IS AFRICA Nip Davis & SCSC (Selwyn NipāDavis)
8th ALL ABOARD Jessie Matthews & All Ah We Toronto (Cy & Jessie Matthews)

Based upon the success of the 42nd annual Caribana 2009, its creators' dream has come true - this festival puts Canadian Carribean culture in the spotlight!! - check back to Toronto Arts and Events for Next Year's Caribana!!

@ Gala

@ Gala

@ Gala