MACPRI Oware Day 2011: "Brother Oji's Finest Hour"

4 days to go...

before the MACPRI Toronto International Oware Tournament and Family Fun Day in partnership with the Africentric Alternative School in Toronto, Canada. Our principle sponsor is Evans Electrical Services.

Once again Adisa S. Oji (aka Brother Oji), the visionary behind the African Image Revolution will step out from the backstage of the Toronto community with another one of his landmark historic events which answers the Honorable Marcus Garvey's question. "Can we do it?"

The Oware Family Fun Day is an event intended to bring the Toronto African Canadian Community and friends together in a unique way with great possibilities. If you have never had the opportunity to see Brother Oji's leadership style manifested, this coming Saturday at the Africentric Alternative School will be a wonderful opportunity.

While registration for the Oware Tournament is officially closed, the day is packed with many great activities for the whole family to participate in. Please see the Inside Toronto link below for more details and if you have a Share Newspaper, event details can be found on the In Focus page.

Players who have registered for tournament and want to ensure that they will be able play, must arrive at the school at 10:00 AM. You will not be able to play if you arrive late and a refund will will be provide. This tournament will truly be an inter-generational extravagance as we will have participants ranging in age from 12 years to 80 years old sitting and playing together. There will also be an Open Oware Session for those interested who are not in the tournament.

There will be a special Oware Day Commemorative Program Booklet available: everyone will get a free copy made possible by our advertisers. Additional copies will be $2.00 each with proceeds in aid of the transition rites ceremony for Mama Apana, the old lady from Zobisi Village, Bolgatanga, Ghana West Africa. She died at approximately 120 years old. Mama Apana is the signature image from the 2007 "Mother God" photo-exhibition celebrating MACPRI's 20th Anniversary of the African Image Revolution.

The Creator and our beloved Ancestors be praised!
See you Saturday

Respectfully,
I AM Brother Oji


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For Media
The following representatives will be available for interviews October 29th at Oware Family Fun Day.

Thando Hyman-Aman, Principal of the Africentric Alternative School

Andrew Martin, MACPRI Deputy Chief

Kofi Sankofa, Oware Family Fun Day Coordinator


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INTERNATIONAL ALL AFRICAN INVENTORS MUSEUM WILL LAUNCH OWARE FEATURE OCT 29

PRESS RELEASE

Toronto (October 11, 2011) MACPRI Toronto International Oware Tournament and Free Family Fun Day in partnership with the Africentric Alternative School will take place Saturday October 29^th, 2011 from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM at 1430 Sheppard Ave. West (near Keele St.).

This free event open to the public will be of significant benefit to the community as there will be a number of exciting activities for children, youth and adults to participate in throughout the day in addition to the tournament. These activities include: Performance and presentations by local artists and motivational speakers, Storytelling, Arts and Crafts, African Martial Arts Demonstration, Drumming Lessons, Jewellery Making, Head Wrapping Workshop and an African Market Place.

Visions in Green, the International All African Inventors Museum (IAAIM) are proud sponsoring partners of the MACPRI Toronto International Oware Tournament and will launch a special exhibit on the history of Oware one of Africa’s and the world oldest (mathematical) board games.

Anyone 12 years and older interested in playing in the tournament can register for a fee of $10.00. An official tournament T-shirt can be purchased at the time of registration for an additional $15.00. Our initial goal was to register 256 players and award a grand prize of $1000.00. We are now realistically looking at 64 players sitting for the tournament and the winner will receive $500.00 cash. Prizes will be awarded to players who finish 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th place as well. Small gifts courtesy of MACPRI and our principle sponsor Evans Electrical Services will also be awarded to everyone who participates in the tournament. Donations will also be accepted in support of programming at the Africentric Alternative School.

What is Oware? Oware is a counting game and a fabulous tool for teaching math skills in a fun and exciting way. Oware is living African history and a unique way to incorporate an enriching aspect of African culture in our daily lives.

Based on observations of children, young people and adults who have been introduced to the game over the past 6 years, playing Oware aids in the development of self esteem among all children and adults alike, but in particular the children from whose countries the pit and pebbles games such as Oware originate.

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For more information and to register please contact Adisa S. Oji, founder of Oware Canada, by email at owarecanada@gmail.com or call 647-991-1753

Visit our website www.owarecanada.com