BY: LEANNE BENN
AfroChic 2018 was bigger and better than ever. This annual community event hosted a new two-day celebration of African and Caribbean inspired visual art, music, fashion and culture on July 14th and 15th in the heart of downtown Toronto.
AfroChic has grown over the years and executive producer of the event Amoye Henry now considers it a full-on festival. Approaching their 8-year celebration, the headliner this year was Ms. Erykah Badu, known for being a singer, rapper, DJ and activist or also as DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown.
Day one of the festival took place at the Carlu and focused on displaying the ever-expanding market of African themed goods available for purchase, from body essentials to fashionable accessories. The selection of booths at the event helped to create a lively atmosphere as each invites a different experience.
“We are excited to present the top talent in art, music, and culture that this great city has to offer. We’re always grateful to reconvene each year with our loyal audience as well as many new patrons.” Henry remarked.
Lead partner for this year’s event was Aurora and this year there was an interactive health and wellness lounge for guests to enjoy. The lounge was an escape from the live music and the roaming groups of people shopping in the market way. The lounge featured free hand massages, a walk-through meditation ring, calming music, lush tropical backdrops for pictures and an array of Himalayan salt lamps. This lounge promotes the idea of self-care and the concept of taking care of yourself first. Aside from the lounge, day one of the festival also featured performances by Shi-Wisdom, a live yoga session by Trap Yoga Bae from the USA, an aerial dancer, and performances by Jayd Ink and 11:11. The surrounding artwork in the event space was provided by Kofi Frempong, Benny Bing, Dunnieo, Komi Olaf, Indiigo Cocoa, Strawberry Shortemper and Angela Kamal. All of the live performances on day one were led by co-hosts Amanda Parris and Femi Lawson.
Day two of AfroChic focused on getting in depth with the headliner of the festival Erykah Badu, it was a more intimate Q&A style format held at the Globe and Mail Centre. Before the in-depth Q&A, there was a networking session followed by a panel discussion with wealthy investors. Day two held a more serious yet enlightening undertone. The environment of AfroChic is anything but traditional, it’s about free expression creativity and beauty through different mediums. The wealth discussion on day two was put together by TD bank another festival sponsor. The panel featured Lauren Simmons, the only female trader on New York’s Stock Exchange. At the Q&A, Erykah Badu opened up about her extensive career, her music, life, and motherhood. She urged people to grow at their own pace and to stop comparing themselves to others. “Don’t compare yourself to someone beside you because you are here to experience the consequences of your choices and judgments that have nothing to do with anyone else – your lane is for you.”
Ms. Badu’s words really resonated with the overall theme of AfroChic, being yourself, taking care of yourself and being frankly just chic. With a successful 8th year under their belt, stay tuned to what AfroChic brings to the City of Toronto in the future, highlighting Afro-Caribbean art and culture on a global scale.
