Afrofest Toronto 2016

Hey Guys!! yes, I know, it's been months since I've posted anything on this blog, which is sad. But I promise you that there will be more content coming out as the year goes on.

This past Sunday, on July 10, my friends and I decided to attend Afrofest in Toronto, which is the largest African Festival in North America. It has been years since I've gone to the festival, the last time I  remember going was when the venue us to be Queen's Park. 

There has been some controversy with the City of Toronto and the organizers of Afrofest this year. The city wanted to cut the 2-day festival to 1-day, which would be horrible, as the festival draws thousands of people from Toronto and abroad to the City of Toronto. Thankfully the people of Toronto came together and voiced their love of Afrofest and the city granted them their regular 2-day permit.

If You want to submerge yourself in African culture, Afrofest is the best place to be. You get to walk around to all of the different type of vendors from different countries in the wonderful continent. People were selling textiles, clothing, jewellery, beauty products and live paintings, along with some amazing food. If you want organic products, it is the perfect place to be.

It was nice to visit some of the vendors and talk to them about their products, I even purchased a hair product from London Ivy a Toronto based hair care line, that is 100% Vegan and Cruelty-free. Artist like Toronto's own YouTuber Femi Lawson was there selling his Tantalization merchandise and meeting his supporters, Kofi Frempong was at Afrofest doing live paintings, that were for sale.

Now that I am reflecting about what has happened in the last couple of weeks in the world, I've realizing that I don't support a lot of local or black local artist, or businesses. Afrofest and other festivals alike are the best place to discover local businesses.

There are so many festivals happening in Toronto this year, which one's are you going too?

Bye Bye 2015, Hello 2016

2015 has come to an end.

WOW, that was fast. I wold have to say 2015  has been the year of dreams and goals. 

At the beginning of 2015 I told myself that 2015 was going to be my year of travel, and that's exactly what it was.

 January and February of 2015, I embarked on my first solo flight to Germany, where I started my 2 month Study Abroad trip with my school. I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to 5 different countries while I was there; London, Spain, France, Germany and Switzerland.

I will remember that trip for the rest of my life.

Once I got back to Toronto, I found out that my cousin was getting married and that it was going to be in Jamaica. I saved everything from my summer job and in October my cousin and myself jetted off to sunny, beautiful Jamaica for a week, it was beautiful.

Just when I thought my year of Travel was about to end, my family decided to take a trip to New York for American Thanksgiving. Even though it was a short 3 day trip, I was back in New York to celebrate Christmas with family and friends, and also to bring in the New Year in Manhattan.

2015 has surly been an eventful year for myself, it was about family, friends and having a good time, I wouldn't change anything about it.

For 2016 my affirmation is STABILITY, and I found the perfect motto for 2016 on Instagram EAT. PRAY. SLAY. I want to be stable in everything I do an grow this year.

Do you have any resolutions or goals for the New Year?

To see more pictures,

 make sure to check out the Instagram @youngblackventure

Toronto A.K.A Panamania: Tessanne Chin

The year of 2015 will go down in history for the City of Toronto.

Courtesy of Instagram @leighazon

Most North Americans and Caribbean's know that the 2015 Pan American Games are being held in the Canadian city Toronto, and if you didn’t know, now you know.

The city has been buzzing with tourist from all over the world who have come to watch the games, some knowing and some who just came to Toronto on vacation at the right time. because of all the tourists, the city of Toronto has gone out of it’s way to make the city appear exciting and energetic, with cool new statues, like the big ‘Toronto ‘ in front of city hall and free events held all over the city.

Courtesy of Instagram @astroroy

At least once a week a free concert is held in front of Toronto’s City Hall, with headlining artists from different countries within the Pan American region, as well as cultures acts from the Americas. I recently saw Tessanne Chin, an up and coming singer from the island of Jamaica, perform in the heart of the city.

If you don’t know who Tessanna Chin is, she is the Jamaican artist who got her big break after winning season 5 of the hit show The Voice, as a contestant on Adam Levine’s team. If there is one thing Jamaicans are famous for, it is supporting one another. To say that Toronto’s Jamaican/ West Indian community came out to support Tessanne would be an understatement. The support of Toronto was real; people from all nationalities and cultures came out to hear her beautiful voice see her perform live.

Courtesy of Instagram @janaydw

Tessanne performed a medley of songs from her album Count on My Love. During her performance she did a Bob Marley tribute, singing 'Redemption Song', along with a dedication to Whitney Houston, by singing 'I Will Always Love You'. You should also check out her new song ‘Fire' from her album.

Tessanne's performance, along with the exciting acts that are to come within the next two weeks, al aid in creating an amazing atmosphere within the city. Toronto has always been a hub of exhilarating festivals  and events, and the Panamania concerts are a well-welcomed addition to the city for the summer. 

To find out when someone Panamania events are happening, check out Toronto 2015’s website.

To see more pictures,

 make sure to check out the Instagram @youngblackventure

Andy Warhol Invades Toronto

A couple days ago, a good friend and myself decided to go visit the Andy Warhol exhibit in Toronto.

Andy Warhol: Revisited is a Warhol exhibition in Toronto that provides an engaging and educational walk through of the development of Warhol 's artistic language and it's greater effect on culture.  The exhibition brought Warhol 's most recognized pieces to he city.

This was my first time ever going to an art exhibit, so this was a new experience for me. The price to get into the exhibit is $10 but if your a student, like myself all you have to do is show your student ID and you pay $5.

To be totally honest with you, I recently discovered who Andy Warhol is. I knew he was a famous artist, but through my school course that I'm doing I learned he had/ still has a very big impact in the art world and also pop culture.

Out of all the amazing painting a and prints that were on display at the museum, I would have to say that the Energy Power painting was my favourite. Something about the painting caught my attention compared to all the others, especially when I read the little article that went wit it. 

" The painting portrays a hand cradling a symbol of a nuclear war which was a looming anxiety shared by the Americans at the time. The quick gestural lines along with the stark black and white contrasting colors serve to convoy a sense of visual and further highlight the anxiety at the time."

You have until December 31st to come and see the exhibit. If you live in the Toronto area or will be visiting soon, I recommend you go and check it out. 

To see more pictures,

 make sure to check out the Instagram @youngblackventure