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While it’s hard to beat Harbourfront Centre’s stellar lineup of African music this summer, including Senegal’s fabulous Orchestra Baobab (July 10), South Africa’s Vusi Mahlasela (July 20), Congo’s So Kalmery (July 25), Algeria’s Saoud Massi (July 26) and Guinea’s Bembeya Jazz (August 22), this weekend’s Afrofest 2003 celebration Saturday and Sunday (July 5 and 6) at Queen’s Park is impressively stacked with 18 international and local artists performing non-stop for free.
The big draws are certain to be the always amazing Drummers of Burundi percussion ensemble (Saturday) and the Toronto debut of Zimbabwean mbira queen Stella Chiweshe (Sunday). But don’t miss the Congolese soukous swingers Star Five Band (Saturday) and Montreal-based Senegalese kora master Boubacar Diabate (Sunday) as well as magnificent Moroccan oud picker Hassan El Hadi (Sunday). For more information, call Afrofest at 416-469-5336 or check their Web site at www.afrofest.org
