OWARE CANADA MESSAGE TO CBC Metro Morning September 21, 2011

Good morning,

I am presently working on a exciting new initiative called Oware: Africa in the Classroom. Oware is an ancient African board game from the "pit and pebbles" class with some 300 different versions played around the world and originating in Africa. Playing Oware is a fun and exciting way to introduce Africa in the classroom. MACPRI is looking to take Oware Canada to the National level with the staging of the first ever International Oware Tournament in Toronto scheduled to take place at the Africentric Alternative School on October 29, 2011. I am really interested in continuing a great history with CBC Metro Morning. I have been interviewed by both the program's previous hosts and both interviews were well received by your audience. Peter Gzowski and Andy Barrie's interviews both achieved the status of interview of the day and Mr. Gzowski's interview of the week. Who am I? I am Adisa Oji (feel free to google), I am the former UofT student who led the successful challenge that closed down the controversial "Into the Heart of Africa" exhibit at the ROM in 1990. In a recent conversation with Dan Rahimi (Vice President), I have reconciled unofficially with the ROM.

I look forward to your reply.

Adisa S. Oji
aka Brother Oji

OWARE TOURNAMENT SUPPORT GROWS!

Dear friends of MACPRI,

interest in the Toronto International Oware Tournament, Family Day and African Market Place is steadily growing. The Harriett Tubman Community Organization has already signed on bring 20 or more members. Visions in Green has agreed to set up the All African Inventors Museum.

I am also pleased to announce that ACHA, the African Canadian Heritage Association has offered to move their entire Saturday program to the Africentric School for this historic day. Please see message below from Louis March, ACHA Communications for more details. Other activities at the Oware Tournament Family Day include: Workshops on African martial Arts, Jewelery Making, Head Wrapping, Drumming, Storytelling...and more. There will also be performances from the children and adults and a brief and inspiring presentation by MACPRI founder on the Importance of Entrepreneurship in the Development of the African Canadian Community.

The community is encouraged to support the vendors at the event. Considered purchasing your gifts for the gift giving season at our African Market Place.

The Oware Day will be very packed, fun and exciting for all. Food and drinks will be on sale throughout the day. This is a free admission family event, where tournament participants pay to register. Donations will be accepted in support of the Africentric Alternative School.

If you can support this event in any way: funds, time you name it, Call me at 647-991-1753 or bounce me back an email.
Special thanks as always to Evans Electrical Services, our principle sponsor.

Bless You,

Brother Oji

OWARE SOCIETY, ENGLAND ENDORSES TORONTO INTERNATIONAL OWARE TOURNAMENT

TORONTO INTERNATIONAL OWARE TOURNAMENT

Toronto, Ontario, August 29, 2011: Just two months to go before the staging of the first International Oware Tournament to be held in Canada.

MACPRI is proud to announce that the England based Oware Society (www.oware.org) which promotes Oware world wide has endorsed the Toronto International Oware Tournament.

MACPRI in partnership with the Africentric Alternative School will present the 1st Toronto International Oware Tournament Saturday October 29th, 2011 from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM at 1430 Shepherd Ave. West. The Toronto International Oware Tournament is a FREE ADMISSION FAMILY EVENT with fun children’s activities, performances, storytelling and an African Market Place.

Players can register at a fee of $10.00 each or $25.00 each (includes official tournament t-shirt). Players pay to register for the opportunity to win our grand prize of $1000.00.

We are seeking 256 players. With a minimum 128 players, MACPRI will honour the $1000 grand prize. A $500 grand prize will be presented if we are only able to secure 64 players. Players must be 12 years or older on October 29th, 2011. Everyone participating in the tournament will receive a prize made possible by owarecanada.com and Evans Electrical Services.

In addition to coming out and cheering for friends and family members in the tournament, the community will have an opportunity to shop at our all day African Market Place and participate in various fun activities designed for all ages. MACPRI “made in Africa” art will be a special feature in the Market Place.

For more information about Oware and the Oware (Abapa) tournament games rules visit www.owarecanada.com.

Businesses and community organizations interested in increasing brand awareness, services and exposure through sponsorship of the Oware tournament can contact Naza Hasebenebi at 647-207-7395 or email owarecanada@gmail.com. For other inquires please call Adisa S. Oji, MACPRI chief and Oware Canada Director at 647-991-1753.

OWARE FAMILY FUN DAY ACTIVITIES FOR ALL SO FAR INCLUDE

Capoeira African Martial Demonstrations, International All African Inventors Museum, Jewellery Making, Drumming Workshops, Storytelling Circles, Head Wrapping Workshops, Afrobics, performance by community artists and more to come,…

Gmail - PRESS RELEASE: OWARE TOURNAMENT IN 2 MONTHS - macpri@gmail.com

Gmail - PRESS RELEASE: OWARE TOURNAMENT IN 2 MONTHS - macpri@gmail.com

For Immediate Release:

July 13, 2011

TD IRIE MUSIC FESTIVAL
July 29, 30, 31 & August 1 2011
www.iriemusicfestival.com
FREE! THE FEELING IS IRIE!

IRIE KIDS’ ZONE PROGRAMMING ANNOUNCED

Saturday July 30^th- August 1^st at Queen’s Park North

The annual TD IRIE MUSIC FESTIVAL presents IRIE KIDS’ ZONE at Queen’s Park North on Saturday, July 30^th from 4 p.m to 8 p.m., Sunday July 31^st from 1 p.m to 8 p.m. and Monday August 1^st from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. The IRIE KIDS’ Zone hosts storytellers, the TD mural wall, MACPRI Oware Challenge, face painting, inflatables and more! Kids of all ages are welcome to participate!

The MACPRI Oware Challenge returns to the Irie Music Festival for the third consecutive year. Oware is one of the famous original African board games enjoyed by adults and children alike around the world, and is now very popular in Toronto. Join MACPRI and Oware Canada at Irie Fest - learn to play Oware, share your skills and teach others. Participate in our mini tournament on Monday August 1^st and win prizes courtesy of www.owarecanada.com. MACPRI will also be taking registration for Canada's First International Oware Tournament to be held at the Africentric Alternative School in Toronto on Saturday, October 29^th 2011.

The TD mural wall is a collaborative adventure for all ages to share their creative expressions. Active and fun, the mural showcases the talent of children of all ages. Join in - grown-ups are welcome - or watch as the wall fills with creative, colourful, original works of art!

PUBLIC INFORMATION: 905-799-1630

The TD IRIE Music Festival is a free event that celebrates music, dance, art, food and culture, providing an opportunity to promote a greater
understanding between diverse cultures and traditions of Toronto - the
world's most culturally diverse city.

Please add this information to your listings. We are presently confirming interviews. For further information please go to www.iriemusicfestival.com

MEDIA INFORMATION
Planet3 Communications: Sacha Miller/ Piera Savage/ Joanne Smale
E: info@planet3com.net T: 647-346-4101

Oware - Mancala World

Oware - Mancala World

MACPRI News!!!

July 2011-07-21

The African Image Revolution: One for the History books

“I am prepared to reconcile with the ROM, but this doesn’t mean I won’t be critical of the institution’s actions where necessary,” said Brother Oji in a recent self inspired private visit. Yesterday Oji went to the ROM to see Dan Rahimi, Vice President of Gallery Development to discuss future possibilities.

The African community’s historical challenge of the ROM in 1989 – 1990 closed down the controversial “Into the Heart of Africa” exhibit and landed Oji in the courtroom and jail along with other members of the Toronto African community. Since then Rahimi has been the only ROM official to gain some level of respect from the leaders of the “Coalition for the Truth about Africa (CFTA)” that formed to close down the exhibition. His honesty and forthrightness in our 2003 CBC interview with Andy Barrie is with me to this day.

“The challenge of the ROM’s Into the Heart of Africa exhibit,” said Rahimi, “is the single most significant event that politicized museums around the world forever and museums will now think twice when mounting exhibits on any community.”

As a result of the CFTA challenge of the ROM, a community consultation process was put in place, a number of doctorial thesis have been written, a documentary film was made, more Africans are telling their own story and CFTA members have moved on to do great things in our communities in various countries around the world. This story is yet to be told.

More than 20 years since this historic action, Oji paid a visit to the ROM accompany by a friend (Kwame) and met with Rahimi who has expressed interest in doing some work with the Africentric Alternative School. This will give the ROM an opportunity to continue to make positive changes inclusive of all the communities their art represents.

Adisa S. Oji

MACPRI

Toronto, Canada