KONGAMANO YA TORONTO SWAHILI FESTIVAL JUL 11, 2026
The Toronto Swahili festival, endearingly referred to as a "Kongamano", was held for the second year at the Pam O'Connell Recreation Centre in the Regent Park area of the city of Toronto. The organizers and participants were equally blessed with an amazing outdoor weather day underneath blue sunny skies of the month of July within the park facilities!
This event was well attended by many participants, delegates and dignitaries including global visitors. The Hon Joseph Sokoine, Ambassador of Tanzania based in Ottawa, Salim Kikeke, the former main anchor and broadcaster of Idhaa ya Kiswahili broadcasting out of BBC London England, reporters and delegates from Crown Media based in Tanzania, the mayor of Toronto H.E. Olivia Chow, MPP for Toronto Centre Ms. Kristyn Wong-Tam, executive leadership for TCA including Shabani Mbandu and Rama Ponda, delegates from FOCD (Foundation for Outreach on Culture and Development), government delegates from BAKITA (Baraza la Kiswahili la Taifa) and other organizations including Sauti za Africa, this radio broadcaster.
There was an increased emphasis and a loud calling to repeat these events with a focused approach to increase the turnout and event participation, in innovating in many areas including creating an inviting atmosphere for the younger members of the participant group to engage in bouncy balloons and other fun children's activities and also engaging the more elder members of the crowd with traditional games such as Bao, karata and Bawa especially underneath the pleasant setting sun of maghribi in the evening. These are very strong underpinnings to the pure traditional African culture as it is!
The event was indeed a resounding success!
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Delegates enjoying various vendor selections and food concessions on site
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MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam for Toronto Centre, Khalid Magram editor and founder of Msimulizi Community News (seated) and Yasin Mohamed, Founder of Sauti za Africa radio.
An indescribable moment of pride and honour.
With Salim Kikeke, former main anchor for Idhaa ya Kiswahili broadcasting out of BBC London England.
After conducting several interview ad-hoc and on site with the management of TCA and with the other international organizations and delegates in attendance, it was clearly being communicated that establishing a Swahili Cultural Centre would naturally be in good order and a needful infrastructure acting reasonably and with a high priority in light of the increased awareness among the diaspora community participating in these cultural events. The population of African diaspora continues to increase as migration into the boundaries of the City of Toronto and the province of Ontario in general have gained momentum. TCA, as one of the founding partners for Toronto Swahili Festival stated that they are aware that many similar organizations currently existing but they are working collaboratively to establish similar cultural exhibits and events in other provinces in conjunction with their sister partners all within the ambit of promoting African culture, traditions and the language of Kiswahili. Many partner organizations have naturally organized themselves well in their specific provincial and municipal jurisdictions.
Please listen to the sound clips below.
