Muhtadi International Drumming Festival

Specialties

Please note we have moved to Woodbine Park since 2012, Toronto, ON Canada and have requested the address change.

The 14^th Annual Muhtadi International Drumming Festival takes place on June, 8, 9 2013 at Woodbine Park, Toronto, ON Canada and promises to be a 2 day family-​friendly celebration full of multicultural performances and passionate, artistic people. This is a free festival that is gaining additional recognition year after year and this year we expect an audience in excess of 20,000 people. The Festival has 2 stages and over 50 performers.

Adding to the experience, MIDF hosts a wide variety of vendors with an array of cultural garbs, jewelry, and ethnic foods. Our celebration of multiculturalism culminates on the two large stages, where all cultures come together, drumming and dancing to one beat!

History

Established in 1999.

Drumming from over thirty different countries is celebrated at our festival, in Woodbine Park and it has been recognized as one of Canada’s premier annual multicultural events that pay tribute to the Drum. Each year it is held at the same location and has grown in attendance and particiaption from 8,000 in 1999 to over 20,000 in 2010.

Muhtadi International Drumming is an art and culture not-​for-​profit organization that hosts a three-​day annual free event held in Toronto in June and the annual Drum Beats program celebrating Black History Month. The festival celebrates the drum, its universality as an art form, and its presence in all cultures around the world.

Meet the Manager

Muhtadi T.

Manager

Muhtadi has been performing professionally for over 30 years, both nationally and internationally, as well as devoting much time to community arts programs in schools and community centres. Trinidad-​born, he immigrated to Canada in 1974. In 2000, he founded the Muhtadi International Drumming Festival and has been artistic director from its inception. As one of Canada’s premier percussionists, Muhtadi plays djembe, bongos, congas, timbales, steel pan, and a wide assortment of other percussion instruments. He has worked with such renowned performers as Mary Wilson from The Supremes; award-​winning percussionist and composer Ralph MacDonald (‘Where Is The Love”, «Mister Magic»); calypsonians Lord Kitchener, Duke, Sparrow, Super Blue and Baron; and many more. The International Drumming Festival has completed twelve successful years supported by a community members, groups, and organizations with whom Muhtadi has collaborated in a variety of year-​round, community-​based activities.

Muhtadi International Drumming Festival also recommends

Woodbine Park

7

reviews

Parks

Muhtadi T. says,

«Great location for our Festival!»