Afri-Vibe Festival Draws Stony Plain Residents Into African and Caribbean Music
STONY PLAIN, Alta., Sept. 23, 2026 — Africentric Arts brought African and Caribbean music and dance to Red Brick Common on Sept. 19 for its first Melanin Melody Arts Collective: Afri-Vibe Festival.
Presented in collaboration with Red Brick Common for Alberta Culture Days, the festival gave residents a chance to experience a range of musical traditions at one community celebration.
“Africentric Arts invites audiences of all ages to engage with African heritage in a way that is dynamic, welcoming and unforgettable,” said Phyllis Kobasiuk, Red Brick Common’s board president and chair, at the start of the event.
Tomitope Adefenwa opened the festival with djembe drumming. Marimba Power played familiar songs, including “Jamming” and “La Bamba,” on marimbas accompanied by conga and bongo drums and chimes. Echo & Flow brought Caribbean steel pan and vocals. Jalimadi, an artist from The Gambia, performed Afro-Mandinka music, while young dancers from UCAS/ADPA shared Ugandan and Afrobeat dance. DJ Yomi kept the music going between performances.
Artists invited the audience to take part. One attendee, who said she came to Canada from South Africa 50 years ago, joined performers onstage. She told the crowd the music moved her and made her feel as though she were in Africa.
For some guests, the festival was their first visit to both Stony Plain and Red Brick Common. The venue has preserved and promoted the history and culture of Stony Plain and the surrounding area for more than 50 years.
Emcee Acacia Kabba, 17, has been involved with Africentric Arts since its founding in 2017. Now a first-year University of Alberta student, program coordinator and volunteer, she guided the audience through the performances.
“The first Melanin Melody Arts Collective: Afri-Vibe Festival was a great success. Thank you to everyone that participated and shared their talents,” said Stony Plain Mayor William Choy, who attended and met with guests and youth.
The festival was supported by the Government of Alberta through Alberta Culture Days, the Town of Stony Plain and Green Bloom Media.
About Africentric Arts
Africentric Arts is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering children and youth through arts, wellness, and leadership programs rooted in African culture. The organization delivers year-round initiatives across the Tri-Municipal region and Edmonton with programs that build confidence, creativity, and cultural pride while fostering community connection.
- 30 -
Media contact:
Francess Cowan, Founder and Executive Director, Africentric Arts
info@africentricarts.com | 647 694 4493 | www.africentricarts.com
Photos Link
