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

Toronto International Oware Tournament Date Set: October 29th 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO INTERNATIONAL OWARE TOURNAMENT

Toronto, Ontario, June 16th, 2011: MACPRI in partnership with the Africentric Alternative School presents the 1ST International Oware Tournament scheduled for 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 a African Market Place.

Tournament registrants should be a minimum of 12 years old on or before October 29th, 2011. A maximum of 256 players can register at a fee of $10.00 each or $25.00 each (includes official tournament t-shirt) for a chance to win the GRAND PRIZE of $1000.00. For registration details, please call 647-991-1753 or email owarecanada@gmail.com.

For Oware (Abapa) tournament games rules visit www.owarecanada.com.
Businesses and community organizations interested in increasing brand awareness, services and exposure through sponsorship can contact Naza Hasebenebi at 647- 207-7395 or email forthepeoplecanada@yahoo.ca.

What is Oware?
Oware belongs to the “pit and pebbles” classification of games with it origin in Africa. There are approximately 300 games in this class, with Ghana’s Oware being one of the most popular internationally. There are versions of the games in all 54 African countries. The Philippines, Indonesia, India, Germany and the Eastern Caribbean also have their own versions of the game. Some elders from Antigua have argued that the game may have migrated during the middle passage in the memories of the Africans.

Oware puts Africa on the Canadian landscape, in our homes, in our classrooms and therefore in our hearts and minds. Oware continues to be an important part of African tradition on and off the continent and playing Oware keeps that tradition alive.

Oware Canada and the Oware “Africa in the Classroom” campaign provides a window of opportunity through a simple, but intriguing game for Canadians of all backgrounds to develop innovative ways of social engagement. Oware and the games of Africa are excellent but underutilized educational resources. MACPRI Oware Canada is proud to be at the forefront of the Oware “Africa in the Classroom” campaign and our tournament serves the purpose of exposing this great social engagement and learning tool to a broader audience. Please post in your community listing and we look forward to your support.

MACPRI Chief, Adisa S. Oji will be on site Saturday June 18th, from 10:00 AM – 6:00PM at the 30th Annual Driftwood Community Festival to officially launch tournament details at 4401 Jane St. Interested participants can register for the tournament at the MACPRI table.
The Festival will also be broadcast live on CHRY 105.5 FM. Please follow the link below for 2010 interviews http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJo663ajubg.

Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival: FIGURE & GROUND, MAY 1 - 31 / 2011African Image Revolution

Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival: FIGURE & GROUND, MAY 1 - 31 / 2011African Image Revolution

Oware Canada :: Welcome

Oware Canada :: Welcome

Facebook | Adisa Oji

Facebook | Adisa Oji