All posts on August, 2016

  Young Anthony Maxwell is a phenom with lots of potential Egbert Gaye Down at the third floor gym of James Lyng High School, a group of young, aspiring ballplayers are going through their drills, first conditioning then working with the ball: dribbling, control and techniques. For the young players it’s the usual course of action at this summer basketball camp, as they eagerly go through their paces following the urgings of the athletic therapists, trainers and coaches that are in their midst, looking at their every move. Even to the untrained eyes it seems obvious that the campers know …

Contact Staff This year, the best option for anyone considering the reggae fest might be to get a weekend pass. Such is the power of the line-up over the three days, August 26, 27 and 28. With the irrepressible Cocoa Tea on the bill, Friday night is a must for reggae lovers. Ammoye, Mel Dube and Chelsea Stewart will support him. Then Saturday night, dancehall and soca fans will run amok in the presence of Movado, Vershon, Elephant Man, Spragga Benz, Sielle, Romie Se7en, 2i and coming directly from T&T, Olatunji. No music loving Montrealer should miss the Sunday line-up …

As usual Trini Day in the Park was the flavor of the summer.  And party –hungry Montrealers couldn’t get enough of the calypso and soca music served  by an hyped line-up of local performers including  Pufty, Flash, Loveman Kent and Sweetz, Soca Kid, The Revellers Dance Crew and Ezra Lewis The day was boosted by appearances some heavy hitters out of T.O: The  2016 Canada Calypso Monarch Connector who had the crowd going with some soca and chutney hits and  the popular Destiny Band that kept the flags in the air all evening

IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE Yes it is. And sometimes it “makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under.” The words of preeminent rappers Grandmaster Flash at the dawn of the 1980s continue to resonate. But make no mistake about it, despite incremental, perceptible change, the institutional forces remain steadfast, a firm grip on the levers of power—the status quo—as evidenced by the historic social inequity. Hence, Grandmaster Flash’s [The] Message, which continues to resonate. Which is why a colleague recently spoke those words “It’s a jungle…” as he trolled the Internet for some specific information, coming upon copious …

In keeping with the title of her second collection of poetry, ICONS, Shirley Small conjures memories of some of Africa’s children, the seeds and fruits dispersed across the Diaspora, and pays tribute, posthumously and in ‘real time’, to borrow 21st Century vernacular. Icons all, the list of titles the Montreal poet, retired educator and co-founder of the local literary publication, Kola Magazine expounds, includes tributes to many of the who-is-who of Black people—historic figures and others—some better known than others, who have made their mark in the annals of Black peoples’ history in big or small ways, but all meaningful …

On Sunday July 17, Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau made a surprise visit to the home of David and Madge Bailey in Cote St. Luc. The occasion was a special BBQ to celebrate the birthday of David, whom much of Montreal know as Mr. Patty. Garneau, Member of Parliament for Notre Dame de Grace-Westmont  built a spectacular career as Canada’s first Astronaut in Space and a naval  engineer before being elected to office. He was named to the transportation portfolio by Prime Minister Justine Trudeau after the Liberal swept into office last year. He used the occasion to share in …

Opinion Some form of government-initiated intervention will not only be appropriate but timely and rewarding  By Bongs Lainjo I like to perceive slavery as the “incarceration” of human beings (men, Women and children).  A process during which the perpetrators use the victims as maids, farmers, laborers and yes, mistresses. There is of course the traditional definition of slavery where people are confined as legal property. And thankfully, this has since been outlawed. In this report, slavery and slave trade are used interchangeably. One of the first things that comes my mind when I think about slavery is to highlight perpetrating …

Reggae music is always going to be the main part of the Caribbean musical output, but there is an argument to be made that for Caribbean people who live across the world it is now their time to share the spotlight. If you attend any major Caribbean carnival or listen to Caribbean music stations, you will find soca music playing in the biggest parties and major events. That’s the reason I created the  #SocaMatters Hashtag movement for the Montreal International Reggae Festival. On Saturday, August 27, International Soca artist Olatunji, Montreal’s own Daddy Ghost and yours truly, Dj Production Sounds, …

As violence begets violence, what kind of notes are they taking… America has always been regarded as the world’s television. No matter what time you tune in, or on what channel, she always has something going on that will seize your attention and unravel your moral fiber and cause you to question your very being. Be it lynching, hangings, segregation, water-hosing, police attack dogs, marches, protests, bombings, sit-ins, walk-outs, space try-outs, debates, updates, marching bands or angry Klans, lootings or shootings in churches, cinemas or schools…there’s never a shortage of activity on the screen. Now that there is some semblance …

It was another hot summer’s day in Montreal, tourists walking the streets of downtown Montreal. God Bless America and the Benjamins! Down at the barbershop the air conditioner was working overtime. Midnight was in town, just back from the Caribana extravaganza in Toronto, so he stopped by for a visit. He couldn’t stop talking about how successful it was. “Even the mayor of Toronto was dancing on a float,” he said. “The whole city was behind Caribana. It generated over $400 million, more than the Formula 1 (Grand Prix) and the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Singularly or combined, none of …