This weekend, African and Caribbean cultures will be celebrated at St. Albert’s Afro-Caribbean Festival with authentic food, music, dancing, and market vendors.
Taking place on Sunday, Aug. 24 at Lions Park, the free outdoor event is one of the city’s cultural festivities that promote diversity and community integration.
“We started it as an Evening in the Park in 2019 for African cultures. St. Albert African’s and African descendants met at Lions Park shelter for a potluck. Last year in 2024, we included Caribbean cultures,” said Helen Agbonison, festival director and founder of African and African Descendants Friendship Club of St. Albert.
Every year crowd size has increased and Agbonison credits it to the diversity of vibrant African and Caribbean cultures contributing to the Canadian mosaic.
“The festival gives people new things to see, and it gives people an opportunity to interact with a variety of people. It’s an opportunity to make new friends or get together with old friends you haven’t seen in a while,” Agbonison said.
The 2025 headliner is Aurah Ariko, a singer-songwriter originally from Zimbabwe. A singer since the age of 13, Ariko combines Indigenous African melodies with the more contemporary sounds of R&B, soul and Afrobeats. An inspiration to the next generation of singers, she previously performed at St. Albert’s Plaza Series and Taste of Africa.
“She’s been performing for about five years and has a social media following. She sings soulful melodies that are upbeat and full of energy,” said Agbonison.
Also returning from 2024 is Nkwali, a powerful singer-songwriter on multiple levels who speaks out about gender violence and the importance of freedom.
The Trincan Steel Orchestra with members from Africa, the Caribbean and Canada will perform their bubbly island sound that originated in the Caribbean’s backstreets.
Sangea, a group of half a dozen drummers grounded by the powerful djembe drum, introduce West African beats that are the heart and soul of the continent.
OG Jonah also returns from 2024 with his Afrobeats and hip-hop mashup while Ugandan and Burundi dancers introduce captivating moves from their respective heritages.
Get the tastebuds tingling at on-site food trucks including Irie Food Xpress’s Jamaican cuisine; D4J’s House of Chicken and Kabobs, a fusion of Afro-Canadian Cuisine; and Island Crust and Spice. In addition, Kona Ice and Scoop n Roll Creamery are rolling out their sweetest cold treats.
To complete the cultural showcase, an additional 21 market vendors feature a series of services and products such as take-home foods, clothes, jewelry, handmade accessories and dolls.
“We look forward to the community joining us for a celebration of our culture.”
St. Albert’s Afro-Caribbean Festival runs Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lions Park on Sir Winston Churchill Ave.
