ROM Friday Night Live Event is Back #FNLROM: Afro Fête celebrates Black History Month

TORONTO, January 26, 2017 –With the start of a new year, ROM Friday Night Live is back. On February 3. #FNLROM: Afro Fête, presented by Ford Canada, celebrates Black History Month with a jam-packed night of vibrant music, food and activations. Featuring live entertainment, DJs and special performances in the Museum’s stunning galleries, #FNLROM has become one of Toronto’s favourite social destinations.

#FNLROM: Afro Fête Performances

Exco Levi & High Priest
Jamaican/Canadian musician Exco Levi pays tribute to the founders of reggae music with a modern twist of poetry and sound. This four-time Juno award winner has performed in multiple tours and reggae festivals around the world.

Ammoye
Rooted in the reggae music of her native Jamaica, Ammoye effortlessly glides from reggae and dancehall to gospel, soul and R&B. Over the years, Ammoye has been performing at events and festivals around the globe, and has shared the stage with Ziggy Marley, Freddie McGregor, Romain Virgo and Beenie Man.

Additional performers include: Lucas DiPasquale, named one of Spotify’s spotlight artists for 2016; reggae entertainer Eyesus; reggae dancehall deejay Al-Beeno; and singer songwriter Alexi Couto. Hosted by personality Femi Lawson.

DJ: Matthew Romeo 

Program Partnership with the producers of JAMBANA™ One World Festival.

ROM Gallery Activities

The Afro Lounge:
Designer Chinedu Ukabam invites you to the coolest new spot in town: The Afro Lounge. Order some West African street eats, grab a drink, and play a game of Oware or Ludo. Complete with a dressing room in the back, showcasing exclusive pieces from the Chinedesign summer collection inspired by the Museum’s current Art, Honour, and Ridicule: Asafo Flags from Southern Ghana exhibition.

Artxperiential:
Art comes alive with vibrant cultural flare. Experience live entertainment with a mix of African, Caribbean and North American soulful harmonies and a taste of Avant Garde fashion.

Out of the Vaults:
Experience wild encounters with African animals from the ROM's collections. In Conversation: Explore the narratives of pride, wisdom, and defiance represented in Asafo Flags, with ROM curator Dr. Silvia Forni.

ROM Connects:
Who Killed Colin Roach? Explore the interconnections between race, justice and the state in this film by Isaac Julien. This screening will be followed by remarks from artists and Guggenheim fellow Deanna Bowen, on her research into police violence within her own family history across the US and Canadian border. Click here for programming details in French.

#FNLROM:
Afro Fête Tickets: $5 for ROM Members, $15 for Adults, and $13 for Students. #FNLROM is a specially ticketed event for adults 19+. For information and tickets, visit rom.on.ca.

– 30 –

ABOUT THE ROM

Opened in 1914, the ROM’s collections comprise over six million objects and specimens and its galleries showcase art, culture, and nature. Among the world’s most renowned museums, the ROM is Canada’s largest with the dual mandate of natural history and world cultures. The Renaissance ROM expansion project (2007) retrieved the best of the Museum’s beautiful historic architecture while also merging its iconic heritage building with the Studio Daniel Libeskind-designed Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. The ROM is the country’s largest field research institution and a world leader in areas encompassing biodiversity, palaeontology, and earth sciences to archaeology, ethnology, and visual culture—originating new information towards a global understanding of historical and modern change in the natural and cultural worlds. For tickets and 24-hour information in English and French, visit www.rom.on.ca or call 416.586.8000. For Membership enquiries, please call 416.586.5700

Special thanks to #FNLROM partners

Presenting sponsor: Ford, Supporting sponsor: Peroni Italy, Media partner: Now

SOCIAL

LIKE: ROM Facebook
FOLLOW: Twitter: @ROMToronto
INSTAGRAM: @ROMToronto
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #FNLROM #atROM

CONTACT

Wendy Vincent
Bilingual Publicist
wendyv@rom.on.ca
416.586.5547