Join Us to Celebration and Experience World Wide Afrocentric Culture in Toronto!
Welcome to The International Junkanoo Festival of Tourism and Culture, where the heart of African Culture beats in the heart of Toronto! On May 21-26, 2024 get ready to immerse yourself in a journey of African culture, heritage, music, dance, and art. The Junkanoo festival originated in Africa, depicting Slaves hiding their faces under a flour paste during its celebration.
Street Parade in Toronto
The IJFTC, May 21-26, 2024, is one of the Caribbean’s street parades with music and is often celebrated with colorful costumes to exuberant dance routines. Participants spend months preparing for the pageantry of this street parade accompanied by the steady beat of whistles, cowbells, horns, and drums.
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WJFTC Affiliates
We invite like-minded organizations and businesses to join as affiliates and partners.
Attending Visitors
Embrace the spirit of Toronto’s diverse cultural landscape and the vibrant traditions of Africa.
Cultural Village
A vibrant and immersive space that encapsulates the essence of Africa’s diverse heritage.
Entertainment
The IJFTC promises to be an enriching & unforgettable experience for all!
Artists
The IJFTC is proud to host a diverse array of performing artists.
Speakers
Speakers from various industries and Geographical locations will greatly impact the IJFCT.
Plan Your Visit
Planning your visit an exciting endeavour that promises an unforgettable experience!
About the IJFTC
Festival History: Share the origins of the event, the purpose behind its creation, and how it has evolved over the years.
The event is built on traditions 1700s passed on from Slavery to the New Worlds of the Caribbean and Southern America. The masquerades, drumming, and dancing were all cultural forms that were taken from mainland Africa to the Southern United States, Bahamas, Jamaica, Belize, etc.
Myths have it that, the slaves went to beg for a special day of celebration and they were given Boxing Day, the 26th of December for this celebration.
The African slaves then used the event to mimic their slave masters by assigning characters and dress forms. Aside from this, it was the only day in the year when the slaves would not be forced to work.
Cultural Significance
The festival is a bridge between mainland Africa, the Caribbean, and all the Afro-descendants in the Diaspora, from Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and South America. It’s a means to bring us together to celebrate our cultural heritage, entertain ourselves, and use the platform to educate the current generations of the age-long tradition making them understand the history behind the celebrations.
The Event has been chosen to take place in Canada because it’s the most multicultural country in the world and over the years there has been a spring up of Black Empowerment Organizations both social and economic ones.
Canada’s second capital Toronto is a commercial center, multicultural, and a perfect blend of a bigger city built on harmony, peace, and a sustainable environment. Toronto Pearson and Billy Bishop Airports contribute significantly to international arrivals in Canada.
The strategic location of Canada also makes it accessible to Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and South America.
Mission and Vision
The mission of this event is to consolidate the gains made by the other Afro, Caribbean, and Afro Caribbean Festivals and add a significant historic perspective.
The Event will be aimed at giving intellectual platform to the academia and researchers to display and present their years of research in Areas like Heritage Tourism, Culture, Afro descendants, multiculralism and also Tourism development between Africa and the Caribbean.
The event will also offer people in the tourism sector, tourism operators, industry players and tourism administrative formulators to align with the Tourism Development Agenda of Canada specially building ties for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026.
IJFTC Volunteers
IJFTC Vendors
Become a part of the vibrant Vendor Marketplace at the IFTC 2024. Showcase your unique products and services to an estimated 50,000 attendees and connect with a diverse audience of culture enthusiasts. Register by January 1st, 2024.
IJFTC Partners
Affiliates & Partners
WJFTC Affiliates
Visiting the IJFTC
Attending Visitors
Musical Presence
Performing Artists
Cultural Exchange
Speakers Platform
Some IJFTC 2024 Partnering Companies
