Afraspektion
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A celebration of the contributions & creativity of the Afrodiaspora during Emancipation Month!
What You Can Expect!
This 2026 Afraspektion Festival is a special one, we will be celebrating our 5 Year Anniversary! Come have fun with us on Saturday, August 15 from 2 – 7 PM.
We’ll be celebrating Emancipation Month at Riverside Common Park (657 Queen E, just west of Queen/Broadview) in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood with entertainment and fun activities!
Performances
Listen to the sounds of drumming and song by local talent, dance with us, and take part in interactive experiences!
Marketplace
Curated market focusing on local Afrodiaspora vendors including food and hand-made goods
Activities
Fun giveaways and a kids/family corner with activities like Superhero face-painting, cosplay photo opts & more
ReCap
Afraspektion 2025
Take A Look
A collection of some of our favourite moments from the Afraspektion 2025 event held at Riverside Common Park.
Hosted By Dynesti
A veteran of the Toronto hip-hop and soul music scene, her presence recently surged on social media with comedic skits, personal development tips, and dynamic live footage from opening for Jamaican superstar Sean Paul and viral hip-hop sensation Dax.
Opening Ceremony:
Featured Performances:
Pan Fantasy Steelband
Pan Fantasy is under the umbrella of the North York Inter-Community Youth Group (NYICYG), a dedicated community-based organization founded in 1986 – providing on-going activities within the steelpan community over the past 39 years to make a positive change in the lives of young people.
House of Monroe
A part of the Toronto Kiki Ballroom Alliance, House of Monroe is Toronto’s premier voguing and ballroom scene house established in 2006. It formed when a group of dedicated friends decided they wanted to bring a new twist to an old dance form
Northern Jumbies
Northern Jumbies is a Moko Jumbie arts collective based in Toronto, Canada, dedicated to carrying this Caribbean tradition into new cultural spaces. We offer workshops, performances, and educational programming that celebrate the history and spirit of Moko Jumbie.
Zaina is an Illustrator based in Toronto. She aspires to provide her supporters with a feeling of joy through her work. Her approach to art focuses on lighthearted topics often involving humor, bright colours, and the occasional clown.
Chef Lee Catering works to ensure every event reflects your own taste and personal touches. Our goal is to relieve you of the many details that go along with hosting a successful event so that you, as well as your guests, can thoroughly enjoy this special day.
Cooking Demonstration By Chef Lee
Chef Lee Catering works to ensure every event reflects your own taste and personal touches. Our goal is to relieve you of the many details that go along with hosting a successful event so that you, as well as your guests, can thoroughly enjoy this special day.
Having circulated the Canadian club scene for a number of years, performing at some of the most culturally relevant events like Moonshine, YYY, Bambii’s JERK, and Pep Rally, Toronto based DJ & radio show host Ace Dillinger is known for seamlessly blending nostalgic favourites with their own unique Club, Global, and House finds. Ace is the perfect example of how exploratory their sound is while still expressing what it means to be a Toronto native. Most recently Ace was chosen to open for the Beyonce during her Renaissance World Tour. Being able to showcase her sound on such stage is a huge milestone in her career.
Additional performances include:
African drumming, a drag and science extravaganza, collaborative mural, and cosplay activities.
Moko Jumbies
Dr. Rawbyn Diamonds is a sparkly, emotive, and approachable diva! Whether she is delivering science education or engaging in a lip sync performance, she aims to deliver a powerful performance to elevate the experience for her audiences. She stands out because she is more than just glitz, glamour and tricks on stage— her drag is grounded in connecting with her authentic self, her audiences and letting go of her inner saboteur.
African Drumming by Baba
Feel the rhythm and energy of traditional African drumming in this vibrant, interactive performance. Babarinde “Baba” Williams began creating music at 3 years old and today he is a drummer and a multi-instrumentalist. He founded Drums et al as a means to reach out to his community.
Take photos and participate in Superhero Trivia with some of our cosplayers, or get your face painted!
Meet TrinidadianSuga also known as Camile Jerome who is a mother, wife ,and Chef who loves to live, love and laugh. WonderWoman905 who also goes by Natalie Higgins, who is known for her Wonder Woman cosplay and is also a mother and photographer. And Celeste, a cosplayer known for portrayals of cosmic characters like Sailor Moon and Storm.
Meet Najla Nubyanluv, a queer, Black playwright, actor, author, doula, producer and facilitator. She is a multidisciplinary storyteller who loves belly laughter and painting faces.
Superhero Face Painting
with Najla Nubyanluv
Featured Vendors:
Featured Vendors
Additional vendors you'll find at Afraspektion!
- Amina Shoo: Beaded jewellery and handcrafts
- Esemuede Business World: Bras, corsets, night wear and wig braids
- Cups and Glasses: Fashionable prescription grade frames and sunglasses, related accessories, and message mugs
- Priss Culture Inc: Clothes and beaded bags
- Handmade by Lissa: Handmade items such as scarves hats, fingerless gloves crocheted Tunisian crocheted
- Kungwaani’s: African / Caribbean Pepper Sauces
- Madagascar’s Finest: Monofloral Honey, fine chocolate from Madagascar
- Afri’Kôra: African drinks, snacks and small chops
- Passport to Caribbean Food: Caribbean themed foodie forward events and JamaicanEats magazine
- HueMan Brand: Natural skincare company specializing in premium, organically sourced skincare products centered around raw African Shea Butter and authentic African Black Soap.
- Ase Community Foundation for Black Canadians with Disabilities: A national Black-led, Black-serving, and Black-focused organization rooted in Disability Justice, Black feminism, and decolonization.
- Hook and Peel Crochet: Plush toys crocheted
Afraspektion Run of Show
We'll have giveaways throughout the day!
2:00 PM – Welcome
2:05 PM – Opening Ceremony with Nenookaasi and Libations with Kemba Byam-King
2:25 PM – Face painting with Najla and Portrait illustrations with Zaina (will continue until 6 PM)
2:35 PM – African Drumming
3:15 PM – Superhero Pictionary featuring cosplayers
3:40 PM – Drag and Science Performance by Rawbyn Diamonds
4:10 PM – Pan Fantasy and Northern Jumbies
4:40 PM: Musical Performance by Dynesti
5:00 PM – Live Cooking Demonstration with Chef Lee
5:40 PM – Ballroom Performance with House of Monroe
7:00 PM – Official Close of the Event
Questions
A bit more information about the event.
The country of Canada federally proclaimed August 1 as Emancipation Day (2021) in recognition of the Slavery Abolition Act, 1833, eliminating slavery in most of the British colonies at that time. Furthermore, in 2021, the Emancipation Month Act was passed designating the month of August as Emancipation Month in Ontario.
According to the City of Toronto website: “Emancipation Month recognizes the struggle for human rights and the rich contributions made by people of African descent. Recognizing Emancipation Month in August acknowledges an abhorrent period in our history and our ongoing commitment to eliminate discrimination in all forms.”
Afraspektion is taking place at Riverside Common Park (657 Queen E). This is just west of Queen/Broadview.
For more information on how to get to Riverside Common Park, visit: https://riverside-to.com/directions/
Afraspektion is free! Come out and have a good time with us. We will be accepting donations and you should bring your pocket change to support the vendors.
Afraspektion is an outdoor event.
Washrooms can be found at the surrounding businesses.
See You At Afraspektion!
Thank you to all of our supporters!
Afraspektion was curated by Queen Kukoyi and Nico Taylor and hosted by the Riverside BIA, thanks to support from the City of Toronto’s Main Street Innovation Fund. Special thank you to the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI).