Black History Month celebrations came to a close together with the end of February, but this did not keep participants from going out with style.
On February 26, the Black History Month closing ceremony: Black Rhythm show took centre stage at the Blind Duck. The event was a collaboration between the Erindale African Association and Caribbean Connections, with help from UTMSU VP equity Vickita Bhatt.
The event was intended to run from six to eight that night, but was delayed, running later into the night.
The free event, hosted and performed by UTM students, included entertainment, fun times and free food at intermission. With Masters of Ceremonies Rissey Joseph, Gilbert Delphino and Tony Oyedepo moving things along, students paraded on stage—and off it—and played their parts, each participant obviously enjoying themselves.
The first performance, “Stepping to the Beat,” captured the audiences’ attention, and the closing with a homage to Haiti served as a classy ending to Black History Month.
The fashion show was one of the more noticeable events, with models dressed in both modern and traditional wear. Models strutted up and down the aisle, a refreshing break away from the West. Black Modern Mix and beat boxing were also impressive. One depicted how black culture has influenced modern dance and the other showed how that same culture has helped influenced music. These performances provided were followed by the Dub Poet and the Monologue of Oppression by Marcus Mayor and Rissey Joseph respectively.
At the end of the day, ECASA president Adekunle Ajisebutu ended the proceedings by thanking everyone for coming out and the performers for their effort. He expressed the hope that everyone would come back again next year before “Empowerment: A Celebration of Black History”
officially ended.
