Manifesto is proud to co-present a pre-festival launch party for the Toronto Palestine Film Festival, which featured a headlining performance by Syrian born rapper Omar Offendum.

The TPFF which happens later this year, welcomes now Los Angeles based Offendum, as an official kick-off to their 2011 season.  Also performing is Toronto group Men Seeking Prophets, and host DJ Leila P.

The Rivol
Doors @ 9:30pm
Cover Charge: $10
19+

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Performers:

Omar Offendum is a Syrian-American Hip-Hop Artist - born in Saudi Arabia, raised in Washington DC and living in Los Angeles. Known for taking audiences on a lyrical journey from the jasmine-tree-lined courtyards of Nizar Qabbani's Damascene homes, to the flooded riverbanks of Langston Hughes' Harlem Renaissance poems - Offendum has been featured on several major news outlets (BBC/ Yahoo/ ABC News/ Aljazeera/ Reuters/ Vibe), helped raise thousands of dollars for various humanitarian relief organizations (PCRF/ Islamic Relief/ ANERA/ Kinder), and toured the world to perform his ground-breaking music. He is currently hard at work promoting his debut solo release, affectionately dubbed "SyrianamericanA". For more information, please visit: www.offendum.com

Toronto’s “Men Seeking Prophets” is made up of Egyptian-Canadian rappers 4.an.i and AS-IS. Focused on delivering a conscious and positive message, the group’s spiritual background and political sensibilities make for music that seeks to both educate and inspire. Being Canadian-raised, the group shares their experiences of being Middle-Eastern in a post-9/11 Western World. Coupled with both literary and musical backing, 'Men Seeking Prophets' thought provoking lyrics are a breath of fresh air in an industry fixated on seeking profits.

Leila P. is the co-organizer and DJ of Gayfinity Fridays, a monthly queer dance party at Naco Gallery.