indicates kid-friendly events
indicates queer-friendly events
Thursday, February 20
BOB MARLEY – THE MAKING OF A LEGEND Film screening and discussion. 6:30 pm. Free. York Woods Library, 1785 Finch W. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
BREAKING BARRIERS – ARTISTIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP Talk by digital artist Lamin Martin. 6:30 pm. Free. Fairview Library, 35 Fairview Mall. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
DWAYNE MORGAN Spoken word celebration. 6 pm. Free. Kennedy/Eglinton Library, 2380 Eglinton E. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
THE GREAT BLACK NORTH ANTHOLOGY Evening of poetry readings. 6:30 pm. Free. Downsview Library, 2793 Keele. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
ISRAEL’S WAR ON AFRICAN ASYLUM SEEKERS Talk by journalist David Sheen. 7 pm. Free. Beit Zatoun, 612 Markham. beitzatoun.org.
LEGACY: BRINGING IT HOME COBA (Collective of Black Artists benefit) presents a dance show. Today to Feb 22 at 8 pm, Feb 23 at 2 pm. $20-$35. COBA Studio Theatre, Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E. cobainc.com.
MONESTIME A photo exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of the election of Canada’s first black mayor, Saint Firmin Monestime, opens today with guest speakers and continues to Feb 23. 7-9 pm. Free. City Hall, 100 Queen W. facebook.com/fkzotoronto.
Friday, February 21
COLOUR ME Screening of a documentary about race, identity and what it means to be black in Canada followed by a discussion. 7 pm. $10. Ted Rogers School of Management Theatre, 55 Dundas W. colourmescreening.com.
DIVINE DECADE Soweto Gospel Choir performance. 7:30 pm. $62. Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front E. sonycentre.ca.
Saturday, February 22
A CELEBRATION OF CURLS Workshop on styling textured hair with celebrity stylist Felicia Leatherwood. 3:30 pm. $25, adv $15. Emmanuel Howard Park United Church, 214 Wright. 647-686-4130.
KENNY ROBINSON The comedian performs. 2 pm. Free. Bendale Library, 1515 Danforth Rd. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
MUSIC AND STORIES FROM THE CARIBBEAN Songs and stories tracing the Caribbean folk roots of calypso. 10:30 am. Free. Taylor Memorial Library, 1440 Kingston. 416-396-8939.
SHAUN BOOTHE AND LIVE YOUR LEGACY: AN EXPLORATION OF BLACK CULTURAL ICONS The hip-hop artist discusses issues of race, media, black history and the importance of living a legacy. 2 pm. Free. Cedarbrae Library, 545 Markham Rd. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
PAUL MOONEY The writer/comic performs part of his Out Of Darkness – The Last Stand tour in this benefit for Stolen from Africa. $35-$75. Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor W. stolenfromafrica.org.
THE STATE OF BLACKNESS OCAD U and the Ontario Arts Council present this one-day interdisciplinary conference on black artistic production and teaching. 2-7 pm. Free. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queen Quay W. Register at thestateofblackness.com.
VOICES OF ORISA Chanting, dance, live music and narration are part of a show about a continent’s desire to share the truth about its own spirituality. To Feb 23, Sat 8 pm, Sun 3 pm. 20-$25. Creative Creatures Studio, 822 Dundas W. africanwomenacting.org.
Sunday, February 23
BLACK HISTORY MONTH READING Austin Clarke, George Elliott Clarke, Camille A Isaacs and Orville Lloyd Douglas read from their work. 4 pm. Ben McNally Books, 366 Bay. 416-361-0032.
KNOW YOUR HISTORY CELEBRATION Sickle Cell Association of Ontario benefit with drumming by Creole Drummatix, dance by Ballet Creole, speakers, Caribbean food and more. 12:45 pm. $25. Assembly Hall, 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park. uponastarbooks.ca/KYHC.html.
MOI AUSSI Movie night celebrating artists of the African diaspora with a screening, drumming, performances and more with artists Abdoulayee Kone and Robert Small. Doors 6:30 pm. Free. OCAD U, 100 McCaul. facebook.com/events/687240881316741.
WORD SOUND POWER Open mic and community networking with music by DJ Black Lotus and others. 8 pm. Free. Harlem, 67 Richmond E. facebook.com/events/183646371823377.
Monday, February 24
AN EVENING WITH CHRIS TUCKER Q&A with the actor and comedian in celebration of Black History Month. 7 pm. $20 (eventbrite). Cineplex Odeon Varsity & VIP Cinemas, 55 Bloor W. td.com/thenandnow.
GEORGE ELLIOTT CLARKE Reading from his work and talking about what it’s like to be our city’s poet laureate. 1 pm. City Hall Library, Queen and Bay. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Tuesday, February 25
AFRICAN ROOTS IN MUSIC OF THE AMERICAS Discussion and performances with Nova Scotia musician/music producer Lionel Williams. 7 pm. Agincourt Library, 155 Bonis. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
DANCES OF MADAGASCAR Tsingory Dance perform the dance and music of the island. 2 pm. Free. North York Public Library, 5120 Yonge. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
MARY MINK, THE MAKING OF A MYTH Author Guylaine Petrin explores the story of Mary Mink, the daughter of 19th-century local black businessman James Mink. 6 pm. $5. St Matthew’s Clubhouse, 450 Broadview. riverdalehistoricalsociety.com.
Wednesday, February 26
CARIBBEAN STORIES AND MUSIC Music and stories tracing the folk roots of calypso. 1:30 pm. Free. Oakwood Library, 341 Oakwood. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
THE GREAT BLACK NORTH ANTHOLOGY Poetryreading with Kevan Anthony Cameron, Andrea Thomson, Ian Keteku and others. 6 pm. Free. Riverdale Library, 370 Broadview. torontopubliclibrary.ca.
TALKING POINTS Cocktail reception and conversation on black representation in contemporary visual arts with Wedge Curatoria Projects director Kenneth Montague and artist Jérôme Havre. 6 pm. $12. Textile Museum, 55 Centre. 416-599-5321 ext2228.
Thursday, February 27
CONVERSATIONS ON HAITI United Black Students at Ryerson presents a discussion. 6-9 pm. Free. Ryerson Student Centre, SCC115, 55 Gould. rsuonline.ca/index2.php/section/20.
FROM NEGRO HISTORY WEEK TO AFRICAN LIBERATION MONTH Talk by Norman (Otis) Richmond. 7 pm. Free. GCDO Hall, 290 Danforth. 416-469-2446.
N’ ROLL: THE AFRO ALTERNATIVE MUSIC SHOWCASE Performances by Complaints Dept, Pursuit Grooves, Adrian X, 88 Days of Fortune’s Ayo Leilani and Brendan Philip. 9 pm. The Piston, 937 Bloor W. daltonhiggins.wordpress.com.
ROMEO AND JULIET U of T African Students Assoc re-telling of the classic Shakespeare play set in an African city. Today and tomorrow 7 pm Mar 1, 1 & 7 pm. $20, stu $15. Miles Nadal JCC, 750 Spadina. eventbrite.ca.
WRITE ON! OPEN MIC NITE SERIES Dialogue and performances that highlight the cultural contributions of queer African-Canadians through music, spoken word, dance, performance art and a panel discussion. 6 pm. $10. 519 Community Centre, 519 Church. facebook.com/writeonopenmic.
Friday, February 28
QUEERING BLACK HISTORY MONTH An evening of queer black history, performances, speakers and more. 5:30 pm. Free. Ryerson Student Centre, SCC115, 55 Gould. facebook.com/events/604572219612687.
Monday, March 3
VIOLA DESMOND AWARD CEREMONY Awards presentation by the Black History Awareness Committee at Ryerson. 5-8:30 pm. Podium Building, POD250, 350 Victoria. facebook.com/events/479806302130132.
Thursday, March 6
WORDZ IN MOTION Poet Motion explores words and sounds. 4:30 pm. Free. Centennial Library, 578 Finch W. 416-395-5490, torontopubliclibrary.ca.
