Celebrate Kuumba, Toronto’s longest-running BHM festival, coming to Harbourfront Centre (235 Queen’s Quay W) next month!

Now in its 25th year, Kuumba aims to strengthen Toronto’s Black community by connecting voices beyond borders. This year’s fest is curated by creative director and part-time professor Ashley McKenzie-Barnes, who most recently spearheaded Nuit Blanche in Scarborough and is responsible for introducing internationally acclaimed projects and artists to new audiences in Toronto. And while we think you should check out the full schedule here, you won’t want to miss the following:

Black Girl in Love (with herself): Speaking the Unspeakable Tings: Trey Anthony delivers an uncensored night of true sisterhood and support as she tackles the “taboo” topics of miscarriage, infertility, fibroids and of course, Black women and therapy. She’ll also delve right in and ask the forbidden questions around motherhood, such as “Do you regret having kids? Are you a good mom?” Look forward to a resourceful, fun, engaging expert panelist and real moms sharing their lives. Feb. 7th.

T.W.O.S: The Welcoming of Synergies: Jon Boogz and Lil Buck of Movement Art Is (MAI) lead a showcase of Canadian dance artists that will explore the internal and external constructs we experience from the immediate world around us. Feb. 16th. 

Black Diamond: Jamaican-born artist Krystal Ball’s Black Diamond mural (on display at Bill Boyle Artport) was inspired by a Marcus Garvey quote, “a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” The mural explores the past through the use of patterns on a path to represent pre-colonialism, slavery, segregation and freedom. A female figure is shown in the center, outlined by and reflecting silver to represent strength, beauty, and resistance. Ongoing.

Colin Kaepernick – Know Your Rights Camp Photo Exhibit: Dr. Angela Davis, Indya Moore, Ava Duvernay and others were selected by Colin Kaepernick to represent the Know Your Rights Camp’s 10 principles; inspiring us all to fight for our freedom, by any means necessary. In the spirit of love and courage, these freedom fighters have collectively transformed their cultural power into a non-negotiable demand for Black liberation. All month long.