I met the mother and father of Jamaica’s Rastafari and Reggae culture in Toronto.
Masani Montague, director and producer of Rastafest, and King Culture (Everett Cooper), long-time Reggae record producer, hosted the launch of Rastafest in Little Jamaica on Friday.
Canada’s largest celebration of Rastafari heritage, Rastafest is a family fun event highlighting the rich and diverse Rastafari lifestyle, culture, and history.
But as Montague told me, it’s a festival with a hard story behind it.
“Why we do Rastafest was that we were persecuted in Toronto in 1975,” said Montague. “Bob Marley came to Toronto and three days afterwards, the media, the police and immigration came down hard.
“There were a handful of Rasta people in Toronto and we started a Rastafari cultural workshop in 1977 in order to educate and inform the public about Rasta culture, because of the persecution.
“We also did the first international Rasta conference in ‘82, again because of what we were going through here. It’s a festival now, but the history goes way beyond that.”
Rastafest in Little Jamaica runs Thursday, August 17 to Sunday, August 20.
“Congratulations to Rastafest on its 30th anniversary! As a longtime fan of reggae music and Rastafarian culture, I am thrilled to see this festival continue to thrive and celebrate the rich history and traditions of Rastafari. I was particularly moved by the story of the festival’s origins, as a response to the persecution faced by the Rastafarian community in Toronto in the 1970s. It is inspiring to see how this festival has evolved into a celebration of culture and heritage, while still acknowledging and honoring its roots. I am looking forward to attending this year’s festival and experiencing the music, food, and community that make Rastafest such a special event. Thank you to Masani Montague, King Culture, and all of the organizers and volunteers who make this festival possible.”