The Canada Black Music Archives (CBMA) will be hosting the Little Jamaica Music History Walking Tour, an interactive experience showcasing Jamaica’s cultural influence in Canada.
Starting at Dufferin St. and heading to Marlee Ave. the 1.5- 2 hour tour passes historic landmarks including record shops, a music school, and recording studios. Attendees can also explore the Reggae Lane mural by Adrian Hayles, learn about important figures like Jimmy Wisdom, visits the unique shops, and get a taste of the amazing food, music and street art with this comprehensive tour guided by the experts.
Before Toronto became one of the most multicultural and multiracial cities in the world, there were maybe a dozen neighborhoods known for their cultural markets and one was the Little Jamaica strip that held sway on Eglinton West. With its colorful food markets brimming with exotic fruits and spicy pastries, there were also a large number of store-front recording studios and record shops selling hits from the islands (Bahamas, Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica).
In its prime, Eglinton was one of the largest producers of reggae music outside of Jamaica. The strip attracted the biggest names in the genre. Not only was it home for Reggae, but housed calypso, dub, ska, and rocksteady, among other music entities. Behind these genres were community greats like Leroy Sibbles, King Culture, Nana McLean, Jay Douglas, Jackie Mittoo, and more.
The Little Jamaica Music History Walking Tour will take a look behind the scenes at the impact these figures have had on the city and the country’s music landscape. For the remainder of the summer, tours will take place at least twice a month until September.
The Canada Black Music Archives aims to push the stories of black musicians to the forefront. Through an extensive collection of photographs, music, interviews, and other historical documents, they are able to provide invaluable research and insight.”
The project is funded by the City of Toronto’s Main Street Innovation Fund, as part of the Government of Canada support through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
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