The Event

Essence:

An entertainment extravaganza of Black Canadian artists and performers. A giant birthday party. A one-night Black Canadian talent spectacular with representation from all regions of Canada. Music, dance, theatre. Celebrating the 400th birthday - filmed, taped for television, radio.

History/Timeline:

In 2000 the “Juba’lee” talent event was held in Halifax. It was the coming out of Black Nova Scotian talent. And as the promotion buzz said – “about time”. With the security of a $70,000 millennium fund grant, a veteran promoter (Brooks Diamond - Atlantic Folk Festival/Rita MacNeil’s manager/“Drum”/Halifax Comedy festival), and an all-round community effort, it was the most successful event in Black Nova Scotian entertainment history. A sellout, with bills paid (important, considering the last Black Nova Scotian monster event, the Halifax Gospel Festival in 1991, lost $200,000).

The Event would be like Juba’lee, but on a national scale. The coming out of Black Canadian talent. “About time” - a marshaling and mustering of Afro-Canadian talent for a one-night birthday party. Target date: spring 2007/2008 - Easter.

Goal:

Birthday party - climax for the three-year celebrations of Black Canadiana. A cultural statement

Legacy:

Feeling/energy/links/high revenue/artists profiled/tourism impact.

The question is where to hold it.

• Halifax: Nova Scotia is the birthplace and cradle of Black Canadian heritage and culture. Mathieu Da Costa, 1605; La Jeune, 1628; La Liberte, 1620; the Maroons; Black loyalists; roots. The unanimous positive feeling from Juba’lee, the learned experience, and the fact that all concerned would love to repeat the event mean great prospects.
• Toronto: 70% of the 800,000-strong Black Canadian population lives in southern Ontario. A hundred-plus Black community groups. Air Canada Centre, SkyDome, organizing infrastructure.

Recommendation: Halifax
Toronto has so many national Black events that for the rest of Black Canada, Halifax would be preferable. Plus, there are the extra costs in Toronto - money goes much farther, perhaps triple, in Halifax. There is also not much time to galvanize groups in Toronto. Team Brooks Diamond and others want to re-mount Juba’ lee... film it, broadcast excepts on radio, include scenes from Africville the Musical…

copyright - Da Costa 400