On behalf of Manifesto Community Projects, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who participated in the 4th Annual Manifesto Festival of Community and Culture. With 9 events, 120+ artists, and 46,000+ attendees – this year has been our most successful to date, a huge testament to the passion, love, and immense talent of Toronto’s youth arts community.
Featuring an array of events, from the Governor General’s ‘Can We Talk’ Youth Dialogue, Made You Look Art Exhibition, Canada Pro Dance Competition, Workshops, Concerts, Film Festival, and more, the Manifesto Festival was able to yet again provide a platform and the resources needed to advance the growth of the arts as a tool for positive change.
Although the Festival was brimming with positivity, Manifesto would like to address the comments made at Yonge-Dundas Square by co-headliner Jay Electronica. We are disappointed and disheartened that someone whose conscious artistry we felt would be worthwhile to share, chose to abuse the platform given to communicate opinions which were extremely hurtful. His remarks – which seemed to legitimize sexualized violence against women – were uncalled for and sadly cast a cloud over an otherwise overwhelmingly positive event. We apologize for enabling that to occur, and are taking steps to ensure that we prevent something like this from ever happening again. We empathize with all who felt injured by his statements – especially those who have fallen victim to gender or sexual violence.
Manifesto as an organization aims to counteract negative messages of glorified violence and misogyny by supporting and promoting equity, fair access, and full participation for all in our programs, projects and partnerships in order to advance the social, political, cultural and economic enrichment of the communities we work in. Manifesto is committed to the elimination of all forms of discrimination and systemic barriers and does not tolerate any forms of discrimination or harassment.
Public feedback has been sent to Jay Electronica’s management, and we are working diligently to receive a public statement from him regarding his performance in Toronto. Manifesto will be including this discussion in a public town hall debrief to address this situation, as well as address any feedback on the Festival overall. Time and place to be announced.
In the meantime, we encourage you to provide feedback on the festival as a whole (as well as any thoughts regarding this issue). What did you love about this year’s festival? What could have done better, differently, or not at all? Please take a few minutes to visit www.themanifesto.ca/2cents and fill out the online survey (made possible by our partners Toronto Culture and Ipsos-Reid). Your responses will help us craft next year's festival and gain a better understanding of our audience. All survey participants will be entered in a draw to win a Sony Playstation PSP.
Thank you again for participating in the Festival and making it such a success. We aimed to put on the best show possible, and feel assured that we accomplished that. Stay tuned for more events throughout the year. We’re looking forward to working together with our community to continue to push the limits of what’s possible for a grassroots festival of community and culture in Toronto!
One love.
Manifesto
this was a very positive event indeed. glad i could experience it
Should of had BLACK MILK, with a few albums out already and one on the way shit would of been hype. This stage should be for accomplished artist not ones with no album and maybe 2 or 3 songs. You guys have not made the right choices as far as headliners go. Even tho BLACK THOUGHT is top ten mc's no doubt, he sounded like a mix tape. And J PERIOD was a weak intro host for him. Sound was crappy, sounded better across the street. And Canada pro had no local talent involved. 4 major crews were missing and seemed only one sided as far as who is involved in the decision making. Even having Q TIP and do a block party type of event to keep it personal. Having a big stage show that no one can hear and appreciate is leaving yourself open for questions, spend more doe on sound. Spend a year surveying Toronto for suggestions of artists. AND MOST OF ALL REACH OUT TO ARTIST BESIDES THE ONES WHO ARE YOUR FRIENDS! WE NEED ARTIST THAT ARE RELEVANT FOR TODAYS SCENE! NOT YOUR ARTIST YOU WANNA KEEP PUSHING AND NO ONE CARES ABOUT OR WANTS TO SEE!!!
You make some points but you completely forget that:
#1 Black Milk was already booked.
#2 Black Thought 'sounded like a mixtape' because...IT WAS THE J-PERIOD MIXTAPE. Make sense?
#3 The Sound is always echo'ey in Dundas SQ. it sounds like that no matter how much you spend on sound...if you've been to DSQ before for shows you would know that.
#4 The B-Boy pro championships are open to ALL crews...they can't be FORCED to enter. Lots of heavyweights ...Dyzee/Pieces etc were otherwise engaged in other parts of the world. Any crew who didn't enter has only themselves to blame.
#5 Who do you suggest is relevant?? You are entitled to your own opinion but you sound like someone who applied as an artist (or friends of yours) and didn't get on...perhaps you need to step your game up? I know as a fan/artist I don't wanna see a bunch of no names on the main event that haven't done anything to deserve it...EARN YOUR STRIPES and then talk.
Finally...don't complain...be proactive and SUGGEST ideas...otherwise you just sound whiney.
Peace.
I was quite excited upon hearing about JE’s signing with JZ (I am no fan of JZ’s music but when he speaks I do enjoy to hear him and knows he exhibits signs of simple brilliance…the dichotomy…hmmm). I thought the signing could be a push for more intelligible music, and interplanetary audible lyrics and images being heard in mainstream airwaves. I was born and grew up alongside hip hop and now that I am an adult I am looking back at not only my development through the years but hip hop’s as well… I am curious…
I have just recently (yesterday) come upon Jay’s comment and have gone through a myriad of emotions and at the very root of it I am confused and concerned at the state of the world especially as it relates to women. My husband and I have been avid appreciators of J.E. and his music, lyrics and overall character (from what we of course are privy to). I too understand we are all human…however, I do find this situation very baffling on many levels but mostly unsettling metaphysically, karmicly (not sure if it’s a word but I hope my gist is gotten;)) spiritually and even generationaly…I digress
My husband and I went to a Mos Def concert in ATL and JE opened for him, we were just as excited to see him perform…his energy was off the charts his flow was fluid and his charisma was aces. After his set he did something very different he led the whole audience in a non religious, universal yet sincere and divine word of non specific prayer. I thought the words he chose were poignant but the whole act quite different we both felt (after discussing on the way home that evening) that that prayer really set another tone for that evening and the crowd seemed more united (maybe it was just us). No one heckled him, told him to shut up…I fact many of us united hands, hearts and spirits. And I am unsure of whether he did it at each and every concert but that is a thought worth pondering. BTW both Mighty mos and JE ROCKED IT that night!!
I feel that had I gone to his concert in Seattle and he began or ended his set with the question he is NOW posing to audiences worldwide, I would have felt entirely different, not to mention the energy of the crowd. I know I would have left the building until Mos came on and then maybe would haven’t even stayed for his concert only feeling he could be “guilty by association” especially if it was polled at every concert…again I digress a bit…
After the concert, a friend of our was good friends with Mos and wanted to introduce us which was an added bonus of the evening so we waited outside and while we were waiting we were graced by JE…he wasn’t talking to everyone either, but he came and spoke to us (a group of sisters and my husband) and we inquired about his daughter and her well-being and he beamed a ray of light and broke out his cell phone and shared pictures and a brief story about Mars. Being a mother of two, a wife, daughter and aunt I felt his joy radiate and was touched to be a part of that moment with him…So fast forward to the present when I heard, read and meditated on the poll/bet he is posing I found my disturbance in these points here…
(Like you I know that consenting adults do what they like when they like and that’s one thing so rough sex, violent sex to each their own) BUT when attending a concert and having the person I am coming to see pose a question of this nature: 1.knowing there are minors present (he make his disclaimer in the video of him in Seattle) 2.knowing women are present and I am assuming this next point (based on the words he prayed at his previous concert) but 3.knowing the seed you are planting by stating a question of this nature in the minds of the public, the universe over and over again really upset me, saddened me and also alarmed me, at the lack of respect and consideration for the women from whence he came from and fathered. It alarmed me also because I had just seen a clip of Kanye’s new video Monster and there are many images just in the 40 second preview of women (mannequins) hanging from ceiling and Kanye kissing dead looking women, while fondling their genitalia, and knowing the connection between KW, JZ and now JE and praying that this is not the next level of abuse on women. I really am not against nor in support of the conspiracy theories but I am aware of my ancestors and spiritual guides and the knowledge of the power of words and ritual and I do stand firm in stating that this is a dangerous thread to “gamble” with…I know for a fact if his under aged daughter went to a concert and this was a topic of discussion AND GODDESS forbid a choking/sex incident like this occurred to his under aged daughter IT WOULD BE NO LAUGHING MATTER.
I am aware as adults we are all given choices and it is up to us as individuals to make our choices (right or wrong) and deal with the outcomes (positive or negative). The reasons as to the “whys” of this question are mute to me…was it a pub stunt, is it an initiation, was it “male” humor, is it really just a bet, is it linked to a song or was it simply a joke. However, the repercussions are what concern me.
I know we all make thoughtless mistakes and because I know of second chances I am prayerful that JE will step up and admit to his irresponsibility of this poll and right the wrongs that he has set into motion…and if he doesn’t I can no longer support this brother based of the fact that I am a woman, daughter, sister, wife, and come from a divine line of women.
I am grateful to you for this blog and posting and making a united stand.
Peace, love and positive motion with the ocean by the light of the moon goddess…
a daughter of Yemonya
Peace to all, based upon the discussions and energy here with this topic (along with other situations of varying degrees) I am putting out a call to all women of all backgrounds, ages etc to join myself and several other women across the world in a very special healing full moon ceremony.
The full Moon is a time when women would come together to celebrate themselves and the Spirit of Great Mother Moon. It is a time to give thanks for lessons and blessings since the last full moon. In this case this being the last moon of this cycle, it is time to reflect and give thanks for things received throughout the year and also to put prayers into the Universe for the upcoming year. Our ancestors new and worked with collective energy doing rituals and prayer circles together to add ashe, Spiritual power to the energy. We have the power to use that same energy to bring balance and harmony to our lives right now.
INVITE YOUR MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS, SISTERS, AUNTS, SISTER FRIENDS AND ALL WOMEN TO COME AND JOIN US
At 11:15 pm EST on December 21, 2010, we would like every woman to go outside, read aloud the group affirmation of unity, wealth, success and prosperity. While facing the moon lift your largest purse up towards the heavens and open it up asking the Moon to please fill up our bags with unity, wealth, success, prosperity and all good things for our collective upliftment While your purses are held high say fill them up 3 times.
Affirmation:
We come to you humble this evening and in prayer for the upliftment of our communities and for our families, children and for our own spiritual preservation. We ask for guidance to help direct our minds, and spirit in reconnecting with our truest selves, to know and to believe that our bodies are sacred vessels, that our wombs are the homes of the souls returning ,that we are not without fault but we must begin to forgive ourselves and others for any transgressions known and unknown. We pray for healing of our bodies, our spirits, and our minds. We pray for the upliftment of the children, that they will be protected, nurtured and loved.
Please fill us up with joy, good health, hope, happiness, peace of mind, good character, gentle character, self love, self determination, moral courage, self-worth,& unity please fill up ours purses with prosperity, wealth, and abundance. Then say: (fill them up, fill them up, fill them up) (your confirmation statement)
LET US UNITE, HEAL AND BRING BALANCE TO SITUATIONS SUCH AS THESE AND MANY MORE USING OUR FEMININE ENERGY, POWER AND CONNECTION TO MOTHER EARTH
peace love and positive motion of the ocean by the light of the moon goddess