MuslimFest
Encyclopedia
MuslimFest is an annual two-day festival
organized by DawaNet, Young Muslims Canada, and Sound Vision Canada. The event showcases Muslim
artists, musician
s and comedian
s, and takes place every summer at the Living Arts Centre
in Mississauga, Ontario
. The 2010 edition of the event took place at the Living Arts Centre
on July 31st and August 1st.
General features of the event include several educational workshops, a variety show
, puppet show, programs geared towards women, and an international bazaar
. Programs held during the day have typically consisted of an international art exhibit, film
competition, and fashion show
. A performance finale at the end of the final day typically includes spoken word artists
, Muslim musicians and nasheed
artists, and a stand-up comedy
show. MuslimFest organizers claim that the event has attracted over 10,000 visitors over the course of a day.
.
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
organized by DawaNet, Young Muslims Canada, and Sound Vision Canada. The event showcases Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
artists, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
s, and takes place every summer at the Living Arts Centre
Living Arts Centre
The Living Arts Centre is a 225,000 square foot multi-use facility which opened in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada in 1997. The Centre is visited by over 300,000 visitors annually, who come to view performing and visual arts programs, attend corporate meetings/conventions, or participate in a variety...
in Mississauga, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The 2010 edition of the event took place at the Living Arts Centre
Living Arts Centre
The Living Arts Centre is a 225,000 square foot multi-use facility which opened in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada in 1997. The Centre is visited by over 300,000 visitors annually, who come to view performing and visual arts programs, attend corporate meetings/conventions, or participate in a variety...
on July 31st and August 1st.
General features of the event include several educational workshops, a variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
, puppet show, programs geared towards women, and an international bazaar
Bazaar
A bazaar , Cypriot Greek: pantopoula) is a permanent merchandising area, marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold. The term is sometimes also used to refer to the "network of merchants, bankers and craftsmen" who work that area...
. Programs held during the day have typically consisted of an international art exhibit, film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
competition, and fashion show
Fashion show
A fashion show is an event put on by a fashion designer to showcase his or her upcoming line of clothing during Fashion Week. Fashion shows debut every season, particularly the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons. This is where the latest fashion trends are made...
. A performance finale at the end of the final day typically includes spoken word artists
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
, Muslim musicians and nasheed
Anasheed
Anasheed , is Islamic vocal music that is either sung a cappella or accompanied by percussion instruments such as the daff...
artists, and a stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
show. MuslimFest organizers claim that the event has attracted over 10,000 visitors over the course of a day.
History
Launched in 2004, MuslimFest is a joint initiative of DawaNet, Young Muslims Canada, and Sound Vision. The three organizations brought together a pool of professionals, entrepreneurs, leaders, activists, and volunteers to craft the first Muslim-oriented festival in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Performers & Artists
- Dawud Wharnsby
- Idris PhillipsIdris PhillipsIdris Phillips is a musician, composer, songwriter, and music producer based in Nashville Tennessee, U.S..In recent years, he is best recognized for his work as a pianist, guitarist and producer for Canadian singer-songwriter Dawud Wharnsby, co-writing the songs "War", "Eight Years Old" and "Let...
- Zain BhikhaZain BhikhaZain Bhikha is an Indian South African singer-songwriter, who has achieved success as a performer of Islamic nasheed songs. Associated with prominent Muslim personalities, including Yusuf Islam and Dawud Wharnsby, Bhikha has collaborated on albums and also released several solo albums...
- Khaleel Muhammad
- The Fletcher Valve Drummers
- Irfan Makki
- Preacher MossPreacher MossPreacher Moss is an American comedian and writer.-Background and education:Born Bryant Moss in Washington, D.C., United States. He began practicing comedy at the age of seven, when he earned the nickname "Preacher" for his imitations of the pastor at his family's church...
, of Allah Made Me FunnyAllah Made Me FunnyAllah Made Me Funny is a documentary film directed by Andrea Kalin, an independent filmmaker , and produced by . This live concert features three Muslim Americans Mohammed "Mo" Amer, Bryant "Preacher" Moss and Azhar Usman....
fame - Amir Sulaiman
- Native DeenNative DeenNative Deen is an Islamic musical group from the Washington, D.C. area. Native Deen's music combines a hip-hop style with lyrical themes grounded in Islam.The group uses percussion instruments and synthetic sounds...
- seven8six (786 Boyz)
- Baba AliBaba AliBaba Ali is the co-founder of UmmahFilms, a Muslim film company that has produced a web series including the "Reminder" series and "Ask Baba Ali" series...
- Aman Ali
- The Sound of Reason
- Sofia Baig
- Azhar UsmanAzhar UsmanAzhar Usman is a Indian American Muslim comedian and actor born in Chicago, Illinois, United States.He is a former lecturer, community activist and lawyer and is often referred to as the 'Ayatollah of Comedy' and 'Bin Laughin'.-Background and education:...
of Allah Made Me FunnyAllah Made Me FunnyAllah Made Me Funny is a documentary film directed by Andrea Kalin, an independent filmmaker , and produced by . This live concert features three Muslim Americans Mohammed "Mo" Amer, Bryant "Preacher" Moss and Azhar Usman....
fame - Rasul Somji
- Ibrahim Shalaby
- Mo AmerMohammed Amer-Background:Mohammed Amer is originally of Palestinian decent, and the youngest of six children. He and his family fled his birth country of Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War when he was 9 years old...
, of Allah Made Me FunnyAllah Made Me FunnyAllah Made Me Funny is a documentary film directed by Andrea Kalin, an independent filmmaker , and produced by . This live concert features three Muslim Americans Mohammed "Mo" Amer, Bryant "Preacher" Moss and Azhar Usman....
fame - Azeem Muhammad, formerly of Allah Made Me FunnyAllah Made Me FunnyAllah Made Me Funny is a documentary film directed by Andrea Kalin, an independent filmmaker , and produced by . This live concert features three Muslim Americans Mohammed "Mo" Amer, Bryant "Preacher" Moss and Azhar Usman....
fame - Brother DashBrother DashBrother Dash is an American Muslim spoken word artist, essayist and photographer.-Career:...