The annual Festival AfroMonde returns for its 16th edition, promising Montrealers a unique event as they celebrate cultural diversity through music, food, and performance. Held at the Quai de l’Horloge at the Old Port of Montreal, the event highlights African culture, music and heritage while uniting various diverse groups to celebrate life and culture.
“You have African, you got people from Senegal, you got people from France, you got people from all over,” says Hantz Felix of the AfroMonde foundation.
Felix, who is the International Talent booker for the festival says promoting artistic performances from all over the world is vital because because it promotes the culture and provides a platform for voices that aren’t often heard from.
“Afro-Monde doesn’t mean Africa only, it’s Afro-Monde, Afro people, the people in general,” he said. “It could be black, white, Chinese, name it, you are part of the people and you welcome to the festival.”
Organized by the non-profit AFROMONDE, their mission is to contribute to the education and appreciation of the arts for more effective leadership. Felix adds that AfroMonde wishes to create links through arts and culture, which promises an unforgettable celebration of vibrant rhythms, and unique flavours of food.
“The theme of this festival this year is actually heritage, the heritage,” he said. “The heritage of our ancestors, the heritage of everything that the people of the people of this world brought in and will always keep.”
The four day event features performances from local and international artists like Phyllisia Ross, Montreal artist Shreez and FRANKO who says blending music and culture is core to his style.
“Hip-hop is a culture,” FRANKO said. “Hip-hop is a lifestyle.”
The festival features dance, drumming, and cooking workshops and conferences discussing Montreal’s cultural industry and the transmission of cultural heritage among Afro-descendant Montrealers, along with an in-depth exploration of systemic racism.
One of the biggest highlights will take place on Sunday with the festival showcasing the AfroMonde Carnival, where hundreds of people represent their cultures and country through dance, and show off their traditional and cultural attire.
“That carnival is going to be something very interesting we’re going to see a lot of people like jumping, celebrating from all over the world, different genres, different countries,” Felix said. “I’m looking forward to see a lot of people from the city and outside of the city to enjoy the moment.”