Mayor's remarks spark boycott by black troupe

Mayor's remarks spark boycott by black troupeFestival shunned to protest Lastman's gaffeFederico Barahona
STAFF REPORTER

There will be rock and salsa bands, Celtic and Caribbean dancers, but one group of black performers is boycotting the Celebrate Toronto street festival in protest against the mayor's recent gaffe about Africa.

A co-founder of the Collective of Black Artists said his 16 musicians and dancers could not go on stage this weekend after Mayor Mel Lastman perpetuated some of the same stereotypes they combat with their performances.

``Our members felt very uncomfortable participating in the festival in light of the fact that we were going to be performing a traditional West African work,'' Eddison B. Lindsay said yesterday.

``We felt that if that was the view of a high-ranking official of what Africa represents, then what are the rest of the people thinking while we are up on stage?''

Before going to Mombasa, Kenya, along with Toronto 2008 bidders, to lobby African IOC delegates gathered for the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, Lastman jokingly said: ``What the hell do I want to go to a place like Mombasa. Snakes just scare the hell out of me. I'm sort of scared about going there, but the wife is really nervous. I just see myself in a pot of boiling water with all these natives dancing around me.''

Lindsay said the group considered participating in the festival and issuing a public statement before their performance but decided against it because it would have made the family event too political.

`Had we not pulled out, no one would have known the way we felt, and how strongly we felt'

``Had we not pulled out, no one would have known the way we felt, and how strongly we felt about it.''

Other black groups due to perform on the Journeys in Dance stage at Yonge and Bloor - like the Canboulay Dance Theatre - have opted to go on with the show.

``That is not my position,'' said a representative of the Caribbean group. ``I signed a contract stating that I would perform at the festival . . . whether Mel Lastman says what he says, and I will uphold my end of the contract.''

Elaine Thompson, executive director of the Jamaican Canadian Association, said she understands and respects COBA's decision not to perform.

``The mayor's comments were hurtful, they were racist. I think it's important for us in the black community to make him and others understand just how unacceptable his remarks were,'' she said.

Councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, chair of special events, said he was upset at the group's decision. ``The mayor has taken the opportunity to respond in regards to that comment that he made, and apologized for it,'' he said. ``I can only say that it's really unfortunate. It's a good group but the festival will go on.''

COBA, which has performed at three previous Celebrate Toronto street festivals, has opted to perform on Saturday afternoon at the 13-year-old AfroFest music festival at Queen's Park.

At AfroFest, Lindsay said, ``people will get a positive notion of what Africa is about.''

Lastman was out of town and could not be reached for comment.