RastaFest 2019 proves that diamond’s are a girl’s best friend!

BY MICHAEL THOMAS

The 26^th annual Rastafest took place on Saturday, August 17^th, at Black Creek Pioneer Village (7060 Jane Street), and as always fans were not disappointed. This year the festival boasted a star-studded line up of entertainers from home and aboard who were well received by the anticipating crowd.

Entertainers like: the amazing Papa G fresh from his Africa, Jamaica and USA tour, Jade Faith, a singer and songwriter for the past 20 years, Miss Carol Brown a Jamaican-Canadian singer who has been thrilling audiences since she was 14, The Mighty Mystics is a Canadian base vocal group, the talented Miss Nana McLean, mother of Canadian Rap and Reggae fusion Michie Mee, respected singer and recording artist Mr. Horace Martin “The Gyal Dem Plantain”, music producer, businessman and artist Sampalue, world-renown Reggae icon Johnny Clarke and to top it off Reggae foundation members classic trio The Mighty Diamonds.

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper spoke with Reggae icon Mr. Clarke the day before he performed. Clarke who started performing in the 70s, has had a number of hits to his credit including “Move Out of Babylon” which he sang on Saturday. He told us that he has performed in Toronto previously and he plans to enjoy it again. When asked what the public can expect of him at Rastafest he said,” Every time we always strive to do things greater than before; it’s just going to get sweeter and sweeter.”

Toronti Caribbean Newspaper spoke with Capo Diamond, one of the members of the trio The Mighty Diamonds, who told us that he came to Toronto a very long time ago, together with the late singer John Holt. When asked what he remembered of his first visit to Toronto? Capo said, “All I can tell you is that it was very cold, but the reception from the people was very warm indeed.” The group (who has five decades of music to their credit) had the crowd in stitches at Rastafest with a nonstop string of hits right up until the end, proving as one of its members reminded the audience “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had an opportunity to learn more about Rastafest’s history when we spoke with the founder, organizer, and coordinator of Rastafest Masani Montague, who gave Toronto Caribbean Newspaper a breakdown of what the festival is all about; Rastafest. During our interaction, she let us know that the festival had gone through name changes, and a few locational changes on its way to what it is today.

As founder she has seen a lot, Montague said “Three days after the legendary reggae star Bob Marley performed here in Toronto in 1975, mainstream media put out a barrage of negative press about Rasta and the Rastafari movement in general, and as a result of this propaganda, some members of Toronto Police Force began a harassment, brutality and demonizing campaign against the Rastas here and some even went as far as cutting off the dreadlocks of some Rastafarians right here in this city.” It is because of all this,” she said, “that a handful of Rastas formed a committee to educate the public on whom, and what Rasta is all about. In 1977 we formed the first Rastafari Cultural Workshop in Toronto.”

When asked how she feels after all these decades of working and producing the event, Montague said, “Every year I say it’s my last. I am getting older and this is why we are introducing young blood on board to make sure the legacy stays intact, or else the festival will die. It’s a lot of work putting on the event, but at the end of the day, I enjoy it all, and would like the public, sponsors, and vendors, to know I appreciate and need their support to keep Rastafest alive and well.”

As for what’s on the horizon for Rastafest? Starting in early December, there will be a Rastafest Camp Site in Saint James, Jamaica, just 10-15 minutes away from Negril. It will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year. Visitors can book their spot online at Rastafest.com.