Series Season: 2023

Catch Toronto’s best comedians take the stage at TAIWANfest for a hilarious night of standup comedy, featuring comics seen on Just For Laughs, CBC, Roast Battle Canada, SiriusXM and more!

The famous Canadian painter Emily Carr once said, “The better a portrait, the more indecent and naked the sitter must feel.” How fascinating, the idea that the subject of a portrait could feel so seen, and yet so exposed. For many immigrants, this is not the reality. They often face the conflict of a double […]

“What does my inner self look like?” “Are you curious about what secrets I’ve hidden inside my self-portrait?” The relationship between children and their environment— The world we live in has given the youth a pandemic to survive through; how do they respond? In these self-portraits, the children hide their favourite things and symbols for […]

In GEN U, There makes NO DIFFERENCE Here We See More Than A Segment But All Of You 35 years ago, in 1987, a group of people took action and protested the US government’s ignoring of HIV, just because of the government’s stigma and discrimination of the LGBTQ+ community, with The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial […]

Toronto artist and singer-songwriter Chynna Lewis is joined by producer/guitarist Tom Hanley for their first TAIWANfest Performance. The acoustic duo will be performing a set of Lewis’s originals from her EP ‘What are Friends For’, released just last year along with new material which will be featured on her debut full-length record.

Amely Zhou, Ginalina, and Roa HY Lee are three established and award-winning artists from different cultural and musical paths merging their creative journeys to present fusion folk sounds with West Coast and Far East strings. Their songs and music are inspired by the theme of Belonging, and they invite the audience to experience the emotions […]

Whether you’re a seasoned fan of Cantopop or discovering its magical allure for the first time, CCT Music guarantees an unforgettable experience! Let their enchanting melodies transport you to a world of fond memories, where oldie Cantopop reigns supreme, and the timeless classics find new life through their passionate performances. Get ready to be captivated […]

For the topic immigration identity of Dutch Colonial Effect, after four hundred years, from his perspective and voice, Kerr has been trying to transfer the history into melody by many ways. In this performance, Kerr will bring a few songs he wrote relativity to this event. He hopes Taiwanese people will never forget their own […]

How does Eastern orchestral music, with its long history, cultivate a unique identity in Taiwan? How does traditional Chinese music break stereotypes by re-interpreting Western-style compositions? Putting their faith in using Chinese orchestral music to tell Taiwan’s most beautiful stories, the National Chinese Orchestra of Taiwan (NCO) prides itself on its roots in Taiwan’s local […]

“No one is an outsider” is a song by Taiwanese Amis musician Panai Kusui, meaning everyone lives together on this land. The lyrics have been widely quoted in advocacy for various public issues. DJ Dungi Sapor, as an Indigenous musician, has always remained true to her own identity throughout her life journey. She combines electronic […]

The partnership with Maestro Ken Hsieh and TAIWANfest Orchestra has over the years evolved into an important platform for more than 40 local classical music artists.  Voyage Across the Pacific will consist of music from both local and international composers, inviting the audience to relive the rigorous journeys across the oceans during the Era of […]

Born in Senegal to a family of musicians, story tellers, historians, singers and dancers, collectively known as griots, Sadio Sissokho’s roots are richly embedded in the Mandingue culture. The kora has deep roots as an instrument of storytelling and folklore in West Africa.  

With simple rhythmic and melodic exercises, Adama Daou will introduce you to the balafon, an African wooden xylophone, UNESCO named as a masterpiece of intangible heritage. Balafon is a soothing instrument allowing a distinctive musical journey. Grab your sticks and create your own sound, inspired by your inner soul!  

Kando is a professional visual artist, living in Montreal. He was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kinshasa and Environmental Design at UQAM in Montreal. For ten years, Kando has been developing his work, exploring themes of individuality and identity as a way to express […]

This is an interactive fun children’s workshop to learn about the traditional Cameroonian Kalimba and bring traditional music to life.  Come play & create your own sounds! Njacko Backo will also share The Lion and the Zebra tale in this workshop.  

Born in Ivory Coast, Kady is a storyteller of modern times, the tales she shares create a connection between tradition and modernity. Kady was introduced to stories, proverbs and songs from a young age by her great-grandmother. Very early on, she understood the importance of oral tradition in traditional African society in general. 

Sadakah means to give. Inviting our divine deities to give us the energy to spread blessings. Alubarika! Sadaka was created by Nigerian dance educator, performer and choreographer, Sani Abu Mohammed Allen of Ijovudu Dance International. Join master drummer Amadou Kienou and friends in a parade to the heart of Habari Africa. Everybody is welcome to […]

Abe African Circus features incredible balancing acts, mesmerizing juggling displays and acrobatic feats at the Habari Africa Festival! Born in Ethiopia, Abebe Atlebachew is a circus performer, dancer, choreographer and director, and has performed all over the world. He shares the struggle of migration through his art of circus. 

The founder of Alpha Rhythm Roots, Alpha, is from Guinea, West Africa, and is based in Toronto. He provides professional West African musical instruments, as well as offers concerts, workshops and percussion classes with the goal to bring the music, dance, traditions and culture of Guinea and West Africa to Canada. 

Fusing traditional East African dance moves and rhythms with modern concepts and high-energy Hip Hop grooves. Your body and mind will find a rhythm to move, groove, slide, jump and shout with instructor Beekaa Abraham.

Juno-nominated Njacko Backo and Kalimbas At Work weave together the sweet sounds of kalimba (African piano) and ngoni (African harp) in unique configurations anchored in traditional Cameroonian rhythms. Njacko has a lifetime of practice in capturing the subtlety of storytelling and dance with his music.  

Lorraine Klaasen, performer extraordinaire, is the daughter of the jazz singer Thandie Klaasen, one of Nelson Mandela’s favourite singers and an indisputable South African legend. Lorraine Klaasen is one of the few artists who have preserved the classic sound of Township music, which continues to be the most distinctive sound to come out of South […]

Abdel Wahab a.k.a. Haiba, is an accomplished oud player, singer and composer from El Obeid city in Western Sudan. Haiba is inspired by the musical heritage of his homeland and he performs folk and popular songs that share the Sudanese tradition of lyrical music that utilizes oblique metaphors. 

The Indaga dancers perform traditional dances from Burundi in order to showcase their heritage. In order to contribute to their civic involvement and foster understanding of the richness of Canadian society, the Indaga dancers seek to serve as a model for sharing the cultural pride of an entire people with young and old.