REFLECTION & REASON

The last of eleven Caribbean carnival band launches wrapped up this past weekend in Toronto with Atlantic Mas and their presentation of Semba at the Rebel nightclub, the most commonly known entertainment venue in the city. Already the Toronto Carnival wire is buzzing with electricity because--once again--the energy is shifting in the city, which will make for an exciting carnival season. To those who don't pay attention to the logistics (and politics, oftentimes) of the Toronto Carnival culture, all of those above-mentioned details are completely insignificant. Band launches? Venues? Themes? The majority of Torontonians actually have no idea about how the annual Peeks Toronto Caribbean Carnival operates, and what it takes to produce North America's largest street festival. Despite annual news coverage, one-on-one interviews with band leaders and chatting with costumed masqueraders on Grand Parade day...despite informing the public about the changes of the festival and the...

FOR THE LOVE OF TORONTO CARNIVAL AND THE PRESERVATION OF CARIBBEAN CULTURE IN CANADA! We love Carnival, we love Toronto, and we love to celebrate the beautiful elements of this Caribbean tradition! This year we’ll be featuring the details of  ALL  masquerade band’s presentation/costume details, to encourage carnival enthusiasts from within the GTA and internationally to take part in our city’s beautiful tribute to Caribbean culture: the  Toronto Caribbean Carnival ! (*Unofficial reporting, based on our independent compilation) BAND : Atlantic Mas 2018 THEME : Semba BAND LAUNCH DATE : Saturday, May 19, 2018 BAND LEADER(S) : Akil Heywood MAS CAMP LOCATION : 2180 Lawrence Avenue East WEBSITE : www.atlanticmas.com EMAIL : contactus@atlanticmas.com INSTAGRAM : http://www.instagram.com/atlanticmastoronto FACEBOOK :  https://www.facebook.com/atlanticmastoronto/ TWITTER : For photos, pricing, and additional details, please connect...

David Tufino Photography Inspiration manifests from many sources; in Kerra Denel's life it naturally emerged from her love of Caribbean culture and the humanitarian passion of her family's influence. Owner of Kerra Denel Entertainment , the Trinidadian-born beauty is a cultural ambassador of many talents, who shares her expertise internationally as an event and artist manager, PR consultant, voice talent , and entertainment host. This Saturday, May 19, 2018 Ms. Denel will be hosting an afternoon of enlightenment and empowerment at the Caribbean Women's Power Lunch , powered by KD Entertainment. Taking place at 5941 Leslie Street in Toronto from 1 p.m to 4 p.m., the lunch will be an afternoon of "food and sisterhood" where attendees and invited special guests can "eat, build, and empower" one another through their experiences and presentations. "Networking is not about collecting contacts, it is about forming relationships," the event ...

FOR THE LOVE OF TORONTO CARNIVAL AND THE PRESERVATION OF CARIBBEAN CULTURE IN CANADA! We love Carnival, we love Toronto, and we love to celebrate the beautiful elements of this Caribbean tradition! This year we’ll be featuring the details of  ALL  masquerade band’s presentation/costume details, to encourage carnival enthusiasts from within the GTA and internationally to take part in our city’s beautiful tribute to Caribbean culture: the  Toronto Caribbean Carnival ! (*Unofficial reporting, based on our independent compilation) BAND : D'New Regulars 2018 THEME : Straight Outta John John BAND LAUNCH DATE : Saturday, May 5, 2018 BAND LEADER(S) : MAS CAMP LOCATION : WEBSITE :  EMAIL :  INSTAGRAM : www.instagram.com/dnewregulars FACEBOOK : TWITTER : For photos, pricing, and additional details, please connect with the bands and section leaders directly: COSTUME SECTION 01: Blue Diamond SECTION LEADER CONTACT (IG): @xtazeeca...

FOR THE LOVE OF TORONTO CARNIVAL AND THE PRESERVATION OF CARIBBEAN CULTURE IN CANADA! We love Carnival, we love Toronto, and we love to celebrate the beautiful elements of this Caribbean tradition! This year we’ll be featuring the details of  ALL  masquerade band’s presentation/costume details, to encourage carnival enthusiasts from within the GTA and internationally to take part in our city’s beautiful tribute to Caribbean culture: the  Toronto Caribbean Carnival ! (*Unofficial reporting, based on our independent compilation) BAND : Costume Creators Cultural Arts 2018 THEME : Birds of Paradise BAND LAUNCH DATE : Saturday, May 5, 2018 BAND LEADER(S) : Whitfield Belasco MAS CAMP LOCATION : WEBSITE :  EMAIL :  INSTAGRAM : www.instagram.com/cccreatorsmasband FACEBOOK : TWITTER : For photos, pricing, and additional details, please connect with the bands and section leaders directly: COSTUME SECTION 01: TBA SEC...

FOR THE LOVE OF TORONTO CARNIVAL AND THE PRESERVATION OF CARIBBEAN CULTURE IN CANADA! We love Carnival, we love Toronto, and we love to celebrate the beautiful elements of this Caribbean tradition! This year we’ll be featuring the details of  ALL  masquerade band’s presentation/costume details, to encourage carnival enthusiasts from within the GTA and internationally to take part in our city’s beautiful tribute to Caribbean culture: the  Toronto Caribbean Carnival ! (*Unofficial reporting, based on our independent compilation) BAND : Fantazia Carnival 2018 THEME : Elements BAND LAUNCH DATE : Saturday, April 28, 2018 BAND LEADER(S) : Will and Lisa Morton MAS CAMP LOCATION : WEBSITE :  https://www.fantaziacarnival.com/ EMAIL :  INSTAGRAM :  www.instagram.com/fantazia_carnival FACEBOOK : TWITTER : For photos, pricing, and additional details, please connect with the bands and section leaders directly: COSTUME SECTI...

Roots reggae is the heart and soul of reggae music. While its mainstream popularity may fluctuate over the years, and it is often subject to trends and social movements, it still remains a staple of Jamaican culture, and an eternal asset to the genre of reggae music because its central tenets will never change. Roots reggae will never go out of style because by nature, it is rooted in messages of reality, Black/African pride, themes of spirituality, honouring God, and the preservation of social consciousness. It is an underground movement that continues to grow, indefinitely. Distinguished by its minor key melodies, strong vocals, smooth and soulful basslines, and "militant rockers rhythms," roots reggae is clearly defined by messages of politics, observation of the people, and a keen awareness of Jamaica's colonial past and global appeal. After the 1966 visit of Haile Selassie to Jamaica, political unrest became a common feature of roots reggae music, along with ...