Celebrating A Century Of Black Music In Canada

Canada Black Music Archives (CBMA) has announced its official launch as a digital repository dedicated to preserving and celebrating the musical heritage of Black Canadians.

CBMA

CBMA was founded in 2020 as a testament to the enduring contributions of Black musicians to Canada’s cultural landscape over the past 100 years.

The story of the CMBA began with the history of WORD – Toronto’s award-winning Black Culture Magazine co-founded by Phil Vassell and Donna McCurivin in 1991.

The first issue of WORD was published in March 1992, distributed free across the Greater Toronto Area, and shared nationally and internationally.

The Black Arts and Culture magazine captured a loyal, multi-ethnic, multi-racial leadership and diverse contributors, becoming the primary platform showing Toronto’s creatives.

WORD became an online platform in 2013, committed to providing education and upskilling opportunities,  including media and digital literacy training, utilizing music and the arts.

The CBMA Archive 

The CBMA Archive provides essential evidence of past and continuing contributions of Black Canadian musicians such as Drake, The Weeknd, Oliver Jones, and Four The Moment.

A key objective of the platform is to increase the sense of identity and belonging in a place where Black Canadians have lived and contributed to furthering Canada’s development for over 400 years.

The archive will contain a variety of Black music genres and artists, collectively and individually, stretching from the 19th century to the 21st century.

It aims to fill a gap in Canada’s historical narrative by providing a digital platform accessible to all, highlighting Black musicians’ contributions, stories, and legacies across various genres.

“The CBMA stands as a testament to resilience, creativity, and cultural richness, amplifying the voices of Black musicians and redressing historical underrepresentation,” said Executive Director Phil Vassell of the Canada Black Music Archives.

The CBMA will include music, photographs, interviews, and historical documents.

The launch

In celebration of its launch, the organization invited the public to explore its digital archive and engage with Canadian history.

The launch included live performances by Liberty Silver, the first Black Juno Award winner in the R&B category, and other guests.

“The power of music can help bring people together, share stories of lived experiences, and spark meaningful conversations about the past, present, and future,” said Robyn Small, Senior Manager, Philanthropy, Sustainability, and Corporate Citizenship of TD Bank Group.

TD Bank Group, Ontario Creates, Canada Summer Jobs, Ontario Skills Development Fund, and Public Address supported CBMA’s launch.