Thursday, February 19
Black Men In Theatre Piece of Mine Festival presents seven contemporary playwrights showcasing new works-in-development including Araya Mengesha, Chevy X and Luke Reece. Feb 19-20 at 7:30 pm. $10-$15. 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture & the Arts, 918 Bathurst. pieceofminesfest.com.
Commemorate! Black History Month Exhibit A visual art exhibit runs to Mar 4, see website for details. Free. Bluffs Gallery, 1859 Kingston Rd. scarborougharts.com.
Father Figure: Exploring Alternate Notions Of Black Fatherhood Artist Zun Lee blends documentary photography and personal visual storytelling to offer a personal perspective into often-overlooked aspects of black family life. Feb 19-Apr 2. Free. BAND Gallery, 1 Lansdowne. zunlee.com.
Freedom City: Uncovering Toronto’s Black History Original paintings, drawings, photographs, manuscripts and broadsides with contributions from historians Karolyn Smardz Frost and Afua Cooper. To Mar 28. Reference Library, 789 Yonge. tpl.ca.
History Of Our Music Showcase that highlights the genres of musical eras and the barriers and struggles that connect the global community. Participants can listen to entertainers, access black-owned businesses, receive mentorship through workshops and activities. 6-10 pm. Pwyc donations accepted for Doctors Without Borders. Oakdale Golf & Country Club, 2388 Jane. 647-764-0009, info@aim2impact.com.
Jean-Michel Basquiat Exhibition runs to May 10 ($16.50-$25). Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas W. ago.net.
Olive Senior The author of Dying To Better Themselves: West Indians And The Building Of The Panama Canal talks with Donna Bailey Nurse. 7 pm. Free. Reference Library, 789 Yonge. tpl.ca/ehlist.
Real Talk: Race, Resolutions And Redemption Shadeism and other topics engage youth in issues that remain pertinent in black communities. 5 pm. Free. Centennial Library, 578 Finch W. tpl.ca.
Reverb Regent Park Spoken word poetry and an open mic with MC Britta Badour and emerging artists Lensa Ali, Destiny Henry, Tsion Nicodemus, Tiyan Shiribabadi and others. 6-8 pm. Free. 3rd floor lounge. Centre For Social Innovation Regent Park, 585 Dundas E. 416-736-2100 ext 88608.
Self-Reliance And Independence: The Message Of Early Black Ontario Newspapers Talk by Camille Isaacs on the black newspapers The Provincial Freeman and Voice Of The Fugitive. 7-8 pm. Free (pre-register). North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge. 416-395-5660.
Stella Fayikesi Photo exhibit Tutu explores “cool” as an intangible notion that is deep-rooted in African and African-diasporic cultural and societal codes. Feb 19-Apr 2. Free. BAND Gallery, 1 Lansdowne. facebook.com/events/1393050787668026.
TALWST Nubians, a diorama exhibit, explores black identity in North American and Western art. To Mar 6. Free. Drake Lab, 1140 Queen W. talwst.com.
Through Generations Group art exhibit looks at past, present and future narratives of black consciousness in the African Diaspora. Includes an AGO-produced Jean-Michel Basquiat interactive installation and works by Ato Seitu, Ella Cooper, Komi Olaf and others. To Mar 1. Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E. danielsspectrum.ca.
The Unfinished Conversation: Encoding/Decoding Videos/visuals exploring black and post-colonial history. To May 18. The Power Plant, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4949.
Friday, February 20
Malcolm X: 50 Years After, Pertinent Or Passé? Toronto poet laureate George Elliott Clarke hosts with Lillian Allen, Clifton Joseph and Andrea Thompson in a recital and rap session honouring the legacy of Malcolm X. 2 pm. Free. Reference Library, 789 Yonge. tpl.ca.
Mighty Jerome Screening of the film about the track and field star. 2 pm. Free. Brentwood Library, 36 Brentwood N. tpl.ca.
Saturday, February 21
#Occupy Multidisciplinary performances by Troy Human Positive Jackson, Sedina Fiati, Dainty Smith, Naomi Abiola and Chy Ryan Spain. 8-11 pm. $5-$10. 3rd floor. Glad Day Bookshop, 598 Yonge. facebook.com/events/855989207796716.
Amadou Kienou & Katenen Cheka Music Africa’s BHM Concert Series presents music from Burkina Faso and Mali. 9 pm. Free. Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen W. afrofest.ca.
Beat Box 101 Workshop for teens with poet Eddy Daoriginalone on how to make music without instruments. 2 pm. Free. Fairview Library, 35 Fairview Mall. tpl.ca.
Black History Month @ Mackenzie House Visit print shop to print a personalized copy of The Provincial Freeman, the first newspaper to be published by a woman of colour in Canada. Tour included w/ admission. Every Sat-Sun in February, noon-5 pm. $3-$7. Mackenzie House, 82 Bond. 416-392-6915.
Roger Gibbs Island In The Sun: Barbados In Song Concert of Barbadian folk songs and calypsos from the 1800s to the present. 2 pm. Free. Main Street Library, 137 Main St. 416-393-7700.
Sunday, February 22
All Black Comedy Show The Nubian Disciples’ monthly comedy show w/ Allen Lewis, Eddie King, Keesha Brownie, Marito Antonio Lopez, Sandra Battaglini, headliner Zabrina Chevannes, host Kenny Robinson and others. 8:30 pm. $20. Yuk Yuk’s, 224 Richmond W. 416-967-6425, yukyuks.com.
Black Future Month Group Exhibition Multidisciplinary group art exhibition. Feb 22-Mar 6, reception Feb 22. OCAD U, 100 McCaul. 416-977-6000.
Black History Month @ Mackenzie House Visit print shop to print a personalized copy of The Provincial Freeman, the first newspaper to be published by a woman of colour in Canada. Tour included w/ admission. Sat-Sun in Feb (and Feb 16), noon-5 pm. $3-$7. Mackenzie House, 82 Bond. 416-392-6915.
Day Of Solidarity for Black Non-Believers Screening the film Contradiction by Jeremiah Camara followed by a discussion about the experiences of blacks who identify as atheists, agnostics, skeptics, freethinkers, etc. 3 pm. Free. Luna Theatre Room, 25 Capreol Court. facebook.com/blacknonbelieversGTA.
In Convo: Combat Jack with DJ Kid Capri Conversation on the history and growth of hip-hop. 2-5 pm. Free (RSVP required). Eaton Theatre. Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park. rom.on.ca.
Word•Sound•Power Open Mic & Forum With DJ Black Lotus, 7 pm. Harlem, 67 Richmond E. harlemrestaurant.com.
Monday, February 23
Art House Monday: Black Is Beautiful Works by Trudi Ferguson, Ricardo McRae and Carl Cassell. 8 pm. Studio C, 745 Queen W. facebook.com/events/769778163102038.
Tuesday, February 24
Commemorate! Music Musicians Archie Alleyne and Tika Simone talk about their careers and about helping emerging young talents in music. 6-8 pm. Free. Bluffs Gallery, 1859 Kingston Rd. scarborougharts.com.
Hue: A Matter Of Colour Screening of the NFB film by Vic Sarin. 2 pm. Free. Taylor Memorial Library, 1440 Kingston Rd. tpl.ca.
Karyn Olivier Public talk by the artist on her current installation Eye Around Matter. 6-8 pm. Reception to follow. Free. 5th floor, room 7514. OCAD U Graduate Gallery, 205 Richmond W. thirdspaceprojects@gmail.com.
Wednesday, February 25
Bryan Prince The author of My Brother’s Keeper: African Canadians And The American Civil War in conversation with Donna Bailey Nurse. 1 pm. Free. City Hall Public Library, 100 Queen W. torontopubliclibrary.ca/ehlist.
Karyn Olivier Public talk by the artist on her current installation Eye Around Matter. 2:30-4:30 pm. Free. 3rd floor, room 305YL. York University, 4700 Keele. thirdspaceprojects@gmail.com.
Mary Mink: The Making Of A Myth Guylaine Pétrin explores the story of the daughter of James Mink, a successful black businessman in 19th century Toronto. 7:30 pm. Free. Northern District Library, 40 Orchard View. 416-393-7610.
Thursday, February 26
Beat Box 101 Workshop for teens with poet Eddy Daoriginalone on how to make music without instruments. 5 pm. Free. Jane/Sheppard Library, 1906 Sheppard W. tpl.ca.
Been A Long Time Comin’ KasheDance and Wind in the Leaves present a performance reflecting on the African diasporic experience in North America through visual art, music, dance and poetry. 8 pm. Pwyc. Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, 130 Navy. 905-815-2021, oakvillecentre.ca.
Lorraine Klaasen South African classic/traditional folk songs in this tribute to Miriam Makeba. 8:30 pm. $32.50-$35. Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas W. hughsroom.com.
