Habari Africa Festival 2026

Habari Africa Festival 2026 at Harbourfront Centre
Batuki Music Society is proud to present the Habari Africa Festival at Harbourfront Centre from Friday August 7 to Sunday August 9, 2026. This multi-disciplinary African arts festival is free with activities for all-ages. Join us for a weekend of exploration and engagement with the art, sounds and tastes of the continent. CIUT 89.5 FM will be broadcasting live from the festival on Friday August 7 from 7-11 pm and Saturday August 8 from 7-11 pm.
Music and Dance Performances:
The music Keïla creates mirrors her heritage: rich, diverse, and profoundly unique. Weaving together French, Creole, English, and shiKomori, her songs reflect both her roots — Comorian-Malagasy and Caribbean.
Born in Dakar, Senegal, ILAM draws from his Fula roots to propose a musical style inspired by Sahel blues and afropop, with accents of reggae, jazz and soul.
Lorraine Klaasen, the daughter of the legendary South African Jazz singer Thandie Klaasen, is one of the few artists who have preserved the classic sound of Township Music, which continues to be the most distinctive sound to come out of South Africa.
Neema Children’s Choir raise their voices in songs of love, gratitude and praise, testifying to the hope that brought them through unimaginable challenges. Neema captivates and inspires their audiences with joyful songs and dances of their Ugandan heritage.
Zale Seck, a luminary in Senegalese music, is a maestro of diverse rhythms, born and raised in a griot family in Dakar. In a fusion of tradition and innovation, Zale's melodies carry the essence of his cultural heritage, transcending boundaries and captivating audiences globally.
Sounds of the Maghreb: Maryem Tollar is a renowned Egyptian-Canadian vocalist, known for her world music performances. Multi-instrumentalist Fethi Nadjem was born in Algeria where he grew up in a family of musicians. Hassan el Hadi, born in Marrakesh, blends jazz harmonies, Berber rhythms, and Arab-Andalusian subtleties. Percussionist Naghmeh Farahmand is the daughter of one of the leading percussion masters of Iran
A central figure from the golden age of Ethio-Jazz, saxophonist Girma Woldemichael’s journey is one of extraordinary resilience and artistic triumph. Vocalist Melat Mengesha, winner of the first season of Balageru (Ethiopian Idol) will be a special guest for this performance.
The Rhythm Section band features veteran Highlife musicians of Ghanaian heritage. Their musicianship is exceptional, showcasing both innate talent and proficiency in their respective instruments
Jonathan Nvita is a Congolese-born, Toronto-based singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist blending African rhythmic traditions with modern jazz harmony and improvisation.
From the moment the Toronto Burundi Drummers enter carrying drums on their heads, their performances are a fusion of thunderous percussion, acrobatic dance and traditional chanting that embodies their cultural identity.
Soul, Folk and Sun: Kunlé, a singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, his folk and soul music bridges contemporary styles with roots in West African rhythms and stories. Dipo is an artist who blends soul, R&B, jazz, folk, highlife and Fuji, capturing hearts with velvety vocals and genre-bending style. Ṣẹwà is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and budding producer blending Afrobeat, Fuji, Jazz, R&B, Soul, Blues, and Pop.
Aron Nitunga is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and award-winning producer with a long career touring and recording with many international and national artists in Canada and abroad.
Lansana Camara, also known as Boblée, is a versatile artist: a dancer, acrobat and aerialist. Guinea is known to produce some of the top acrobats worldwide and he was chosen from hundreds of acrobats to join the international tour with Cirque du Soleil’s Cavalia Odysséo.
ZahraMoves will demonstrate the diversity of African street styles through a diasporic lens. Drawing from a range of movement traditions and contemporary expressions, they will highlight how culture, identity, and innovation intersect within the African diaspora.
Indanga showcases the beauty, energy and spirit of Burundian culture through powerful rhythms, traditional dance and cultural expressions passed down through generations.
DJ Moussa, born in Côte d’Ivoire, spins a diverse selection of the latest African music hits and classics. His unique style mixes music genres that include zouglou, coupé-décalé, makossa, mbalax, rumba, ndombolo, high-life, afrobeats, zouk, kizomba and hip hop.
Sadaka means to give. Inviting our divine deities to give us the energy to spread blessings. Join master drummers, musicians and friends in a parade to the heart of Habari Africa. Everybody is welcome to drum, dance, clap and sing along!
Interactive all-ages workshops:
Keïla will lead an interactive session dedicated to Maloya, a traditional form of music, song and dance unique to Reunion Island. Maloya was originally rooted in ancestral worship, specifically the servis kabaré ceremonies. Maloya is part of UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Balafon Village instructor Adama Daou will introduce you to the African wooden xylophone through simple rhythmic and melodic exercises. Grab your sticks and create your own sound, inspired by your inner soul!
Everyone is welcome at the Drum Village Experience with Saikou Saho. At the heart of this drum village is communal music-making, inviting individuals from all walks of life to partake in the rhythmic journey. There will be a limited supply of drums provided, so you are welcome to bring your own drum.
Toronto Burundi Drummers invite you to experience the traditional rhythms of Burundi through sharing knowledge on the traditional grip, syncopated rhythms and the historical "call and response" beats of the Ingoma drum.
Verses VR (Lofty Sky Entertainment) – Enter a virtual reality traditional village and experience rich traditions of West Africa.
Children’s Activities:
Blank Canvases “Patterns of Identity” inspired by Toronto-based artist and photographer Adetona Omokanye's celebrated series Spiritually Fashionable, participants are invited to explore the vibrant patterns, textiles, and visual traditions that shape African personal and cultural style.
Njacko Backo leads this interactive fun children’s workshop in the Kalimba Village to learn to play Manganbeu, a traditional music from Cameroon that reminds everyone to exist in harmony and respect each other. Njacko will provide 25 new kalimbas for participants to try on a first come first serve basis.
Film Screenings:
Mbira Talks, the documentary by Adrienne Amato offers a glimpse into rural life in Zimbabwe through the eyes of Moyo Rainos Mutamba, a Zimbabwean musician and storyteller. The film follows Moyo’s journey to reconnect with his ancestral roots through the mbira, a sacred instrument used in traditional ceremonies for centuries and once banned during colonial rule.
The Blind Couple from Mali, Amadou and Mariam, the musical duo from Mali whose legendary sound has captivated audiences worldwide, embark on an extraordinary journey to record a new album, reconnect with their roots, and redefine their iconic music.
More films to be updated soon.
Visual Arts Exhibit:
Kombo Mwachikobe (artist name Shareefznz) was born in Tanzania, East Africa. From a young age, he was always making and creating art. A self-taught artist, he is now based in Toronto.
Habari Africa Festival 2026 - Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, M5J 2G8
Friday August 7: 6:00pm – 11:00pm
Saturday, August 8: 12:00pm – 11:00pm
Sunday, August 9: 12:00pm – 7:00pm
For information please visit: http://batukimusic.com/site2 Email: [email protected]
Media Inquiries: Daniel Rosenberg [email protected]
Batuki Music Society gratefully acknowledges support from Harbourfront Centre, the Government of Canada, Canadian Heritage, Ontario Arts Council, Government of Ontario, Toronto Arts Council, Pôle Régional des Musiques Actuelles (PRMA) and CIUT 89.5 FM.