Africa and The World 2026
Jennifer E. Brant – Yakothehtón:ni, presented a beautiful set of songs as one of the night’s opening acts. Jennifer sits with the Bear Clan in Kenhté:ke, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Ontario, and is a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. She is an Educator, Singer-songwriter, Artist, and Farmer. Jennifer’s work reflects her connection to her Kanyen’kéha (Mohawk) culture, and the people and places that surround her. She has played music throughout Eastern Ontario at numerous festivals and events over the past 25 years as a single, duo with her husband Kieran Edwards, or with her former band Mustang. Jennifer independently released 3 albums, her most recent album is Resilience in December 2023. “Resilience”– is inspired by Kanyen’kéha (Mohawk) language and culture. Three of the songs are bilingual Kanyen’kéha and English. https://jenniferbrantmusic.com
ISABELLA Drummers are made up of some of the community members who attend a community drop-in drumming class every Friday night at Quinte Arts Council in Belleville, led by Isaac Akrong. They played some of the songs they’ve learned, and had the audience participatng!
Duo Ruth Mathiang and Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison lit up the stage with their electric sound. Ruth Mathiang was born in South Sudan. She uses her voice and talent to advocate for important social issues through original songs expressing longing for the importance of social justice, the timeless fight for equality, and the dream of world peace. She sings in Arabic and Kiswahili as well as English. Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison is an accomplished Ghanaian-Bermudian performer, producer, composer and storyteller. He has won several Dora, June, Chalmers Foundation and other awards for his prolific work in music, media, film, television, dance, theatre, and opera. @paapakobe
WON’MA AFRICA was the title of the show that headlined the evening; a show by Yamoussa Bangoura, founder of Cirque Kalabanté, and inspired by daily life in Guinea. This performance shared the beauty, youth, and artistry of African culture. A colourful show vibrating with high energy, it represents strength, agility, and life’s joys of young Africans. The audience saw acrobats execute gravity-defying moves, breathtaking contortion, brilliant dance choreographies and human pyramids, all to the traditionally-inspired West African rhythms. We were welcomed into the universe of Kalabanté Productions, an unforgettable journey.
The MC for the night was poet, author, and educator Nana Yaa Yeboaa.
African Arts Institute would like extend a huge thank you to all of the volunteers and friends who came out to play different roles in this presentation!
We are grateful for the support of the government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, the City of Belleville, the ALCDSB, and the HPEDSB.
