TAN – The Afro News

Myck Kabongo,

Basketball:  Toronto’s Myck Kabongo, a 6’1” freshman guard is highly touted as NBA material.  He begins his college career as a Texas Longhorn, the team that sent Ontario natives Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph to the NBA as first round draft choices.

Mississauga native Andrew Nicholson is a 2012 NBA Draft Prospect.  He played college ball at St. Bonaventure (Allegany, New York) where he won numerous awards. Other NBA prospects include North Vancouver’s Robert Sacre, currently a senior at Gonzaga University and Torontonian Junior Cadogan (Marquette University).  Montreal is home to freshman forwards 6’9” Khem Birch, and 6’7” Kris Joseph.  Birch will play for Pittsburgh University, Joseph for Syracuse University.

Major League Baseball:  Toronto Blue Jays superstar Jose Bautista has won the Hank Aaron Award for the 2^nd consecutive year.  He was voted top offensive player of the year in the American League and led the majors in homeruns, also for the 2^nd straight year.  His 43 homers added to his career-best batting average of .302, with 103 RBIs.  He also led the majors in slugging percentage (.608), walks (132) and on-base slugging (1.056) to become the first player since Barry Bonds (2001) to lead in four offensive categories.  Bautista signed a long-term contract with the Jays last year.

MLS: Dwayne De Rosario made history this year as the only MLS player to score a goal for three different teams in the same season.  He is one of three finalists in the running for MVP.  Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo) and Brek Shea (FC Dallas have also been named finalists.  He was recently named to MS Best X1 for the 6^th time.  De Rosario joined David Beckham and Thierry Henry on the all-star squad.

Soweto Gospel Choir

Vancouver Around The Town

Storytelling Event Takes Place in Abbotsford

Saturday, February 11th in honour of Black History Month

from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the InterCultural Hub at Matsqui Recreation Centre, 3106 Clearbrook Road in Abbotsford.

For more information about this Black History Month event, contact Bernard Piprah at 604-375-2369 or Piprah.b@gmail.com, or Danica DenomméSime at 778-552-6317 or DanicaDenomme@live.ca. The event can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/blackhistorymonthabbotsford.

Canada Africa Partnership on AIDS (CAP AIDS) Speaker Tour:

Naomi Ayot, Program Director, CAP AIDS Uganda

February 18, 7-11pm

Rhizome Cafe : 317 East Broadway, Vancouver (1.5 blocks east of Main St.)

Find out about how CAP AIDS supports grassroots efforts to resist, survive and overcome HIV/AIDS in Africa!

Refreshments, Raffle, Ugandan Jewelry Sales!

For more information: claire@capaids.org

www.capaids.org

Black Dot Roots & Culture Collective presents

the 5th annual PAN AFRICAN SLAM

PAN AFRICAN SLAM is the annual flagship event of the Black Dot Roots & Culture Collective. It is a celebration of spoken word, poetry, monologue, dance, music, and more featuring the stories of people of African descent.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 @ Calabash Bistro (428 Carrall Street)

8pm $5 suggested donation

Carnival Is Coming

Come fete at Carnival 2012

It doesn’t matter whether you’re from T&T, or whether you’re from one of the many other musical islands of the West Indies, or if you just wish you were Caribbean. The time has come and you can now get in the spirit of Carnival by witnessing sweet Caribbean live music, right here in Vancouver.

Event Details

Date Saturday, February 18, 2012

Time 7:00 PM – 1:00 AM

Location Fleetwood Community Centre

15996 84th Avenue Surrey, BC

Cost Only $15 !

Entertainment •DJ Daddy Mikey of Lovers Choice Supreme Sounds

• DJ Kizum

Delicious Caribbean food on sale

Celebrating Black History Month

The National Congress of Black Women, The City of Vancouver

and The Vancity Theatre present

The Godmother of Rock & Roll: Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Vancity Theatre, Thursday, February 9, 2012, 7pm

This exciting evening will include live music from electrifying Vancouver blues and gospel guitarist

Chelsea D.E. Johnson.

Thurs. Feb 9 Doors at 6:30 show at 7:00pm

Tickets: $20.00 (incl light appetizers)

For more information and tickets visit www.viff.org

Hallelujah Praise! Gospel Music Workshop:

Sat Feb 25, 2012 at Ryerson United Church, Vancouver

Email info@goodnoisevgc.com for Workshop Registration information

Hallelujah Praise! Gala Gospel Music Concert:

Sun Feb 26, 2012 at 3:30pm, Ryerson United Church, 2195 W.45th Ave, Vancouver

Tickets $15 ($10 for 12 yrs and under)

Visit www.brownpapertickets.com or call 1-800-838-3006

Jamaica’s 50th Year of Independence

Commemorative Gospel Celebration

Saturday, Feb. 18th, 2012

Hilton Metrotown

6083 McKay Avenue,

Burnaby, BC

7pm-9pm

COME CELEBRATE WITH US!

• Free Admission, All donations appreciated

• Performances by local groups

Under the patronage of the Honorary Consul, Wilma King-Bennett

Free Admission

CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL

TROPICAL RYTHMS FASHION & TALENT SHOW

Games, History, Storytelling ,Face Painting, Music, Live Performances

Open MIC – Lots of Fun for the entire family

Bonsor Community Center Saturday February 25, 2012,1:00

Children & Youth Ages 5 – 17

Please Register before – February 15, 2012

Hot Dogs Caribbean Food On Sale

Adults $5.00 – Children $2.00

For more information contact us at: 604 605 – 0124

Programs sponsored by National Congress of Black Women Foundation and it’s partners

Toronto Around the town

by michelle-lee

Feb. 2-4 Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre at The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. Tickets: 1.647.438.5559 or 1.866.447.7849. Prices from $25.00 – $100.00

Some Upcoming Events in Ontario

February 3-5

Kuumba – Honey Jam: Then & Now – Harborfront Centre. 16th anniversary celebration. Host Michie Mee, DJ Mel Boogie – $10 / Canada vs US Comedy Clash / Legendary music producer Clive Chin presents an exclusive DJ workshop. Full Schedule: visit Harbourfrontcentre.com or call 415.973.4002-4

February 2-4

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater -Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. Info 1.855.872.7669

February 4

Ravi Coltrane Quartet – 8 PM Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W.

February 4

16th anniversary Rev. John C. Holland Awards Gala. Michelangelo’s Banwuet Centre, 1555 Upper Ottawa St., Hamilton, Ont.. Info: 9095.527.5651

February 10

Sweet Honey in the Rock 8 PM – Koerner Hall

February 12th: Caroline or Change, a play by Tony Kushner starring Arlene Duncan. The play tells the story of a struggling African-American maid (Duncan) in a Jewish household in Lake Charles, Louisianna while the family’s young son deals with the death of his mother. The story begins on the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Caroline or Change runs to Feb. 12th at The Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley St., Toronto. For info: 416.367.8243

January 24-25

Soweto Gospel Choir at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. Tickets: 1.647.438.5559 or 1.866.447.7849. Prices from $35.00-$90.00.

10 March

Angelique Kidjo – 8 PM, Koerner Hal

March 17

International Women Achievers’ Awards. 6 PM – Speranza Banquet Hall, 510 Deerhurst Dr., Brampton, Ont. Host: Tonya Lee Williams – Performers include Reggae legend Marcia Griffiths who will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award., Joel & His band – African Cultural Dancers, The IJO Vudu Troupe. Tickets $75. Ceremony $65. For info. www.iwaawards.com or call 1.647.618.8596. Presented by Princess Promotion.

CEO Mitzie Hunter

The Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance, formerly the Toronto City Summit Alliance, has appointed Mitzie Hunter as their CEO.  Hunter, former CEO of Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) takes over from outgoing CEO Julia Deans on January 9^th.  Chair John Tory announced her appointment recently.  The organization had conducted an extensive recruitment process in which over 200 candidates were considered. Continue Reading

Former Governor-General Michaelle Jean has been named Chancellor of the University of Ottawa.

Former Governor-General Michaelle Jean has been named Chancellor of the University of Ottawa.  Jean succeeds Huguette Labelle who has held the position for 17 years and whose mandate ends January 31, 2012.  Jean, who became the 13^th Chancellor in the university’s history, says she’s “very excited” about the appointment.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada Continue Reading

Seun Oryinsen, a native Nigerian and Rita Brown his White partner

Seun Oryinsen, a native Nigerian and Rita Brown his White partner have experienced blatant racial attacks on their home and vehicles that have shocked them and disgusted their neighbors. The couple moved into their home last summer on the normally quiet suburban Hodgson Drive in Newmarket (just North of Toronto). Continue Reading

Lenny Kravitz: More Than Music

Seven-time Grammy Award winner Lenny Kravitz founded an interior design firm in 2005 and has now received his first Canadian assignment.  Kravitz will design a 10,000 square foot floor at Toronto’s Bisha Hotel and Residences in the city’s entertainment district. Continue Reading

Ontario Court of Justice

Aston Hall, 52, is one of five new judges appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice.  Hall, who was born in Jamaica, came to Canada in 1983 and earned his BA (Honours) in political science and labor studies from York University in 1990.  He then began studies for a Law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School, graduating in 1993.  He was called to the Bar in 1995. Continue Reading

Africentric elementary school

By michelle-lee : Well it’s finally happened.  After much discussion, protests and meetings, school Trustees voted 14-6 in favor of the “concept of continuing an elementary-to-secondary Africentric school pathway for students”.  The approval was met with loud applause from supporters in the public gallery. Continue Reading

Prince Performing

By michelle-lee : Prince wowed audiences in his two sold out shows at the Air Canada Centre.  The age-defying 53-year old superstar of entertainment hardly stopped for a breath as he pounded out hit after hit, all newly re-worked to perfection, for more than three hours.  Backed by his band The New Power Generation that included three powerful female singers and saxophonist Maceo Parker, Prince keeps the music fresh with old favorites (i.e. “When Doves Cry”, I Would Die 4 U”, etc). sounding like new as he played encore after encore.  He has lost absolutely none of the mesmerizing stage presence that began 30 years ago and will probably go on for another 30.  The ACC gig was the first stop on his Cross-Canada Tour.  Although he has released several albums since his monster “Purple Rain” hit it was the “oldies” that the crowd reacted to as they rocked the ACC in every corner including the balconies.

Prince Performing

Dwayne De Rosario # 7

Soccer: Scarborough’s Dwayne De Rosario is on track for being named MLS MVP.  In this the 11^th year of his spectacular career, De Rosario was traded twice.  The first only 29 days into the season with Toronto saw him in New York in exchange for Tony Tchani and Danleigh Borman.  The trade was as a result of a contract dispute.  Continue Reading