Roger Gibbs, Calypso and Caribbean Acoustic singer/guitarist and recording artist originally from Barbados, settled in Toronto in 1986. Roger was a performing member of COBA (Collective of Black Artists) from 1995 to 2013. In 2009 and 2012 he was Musical Director of Theatre Archipelago’s production of I, Marcus Garvey, directed by
Rhoma Spencer. Roger served from 2006-2019 on the board of Festival Management Committee (FMC), producer of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival.
He has several album recordings, including two with his classic calypso band Shak Shak titled ‘Hot So’ (2012) and ‘Shak Shak Party’ (2017). Roger received a special award from the Toronto Caribbean Carnival for his outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Calypso in Canada. Roger currently leads a Caribbean Acoustic Caribbean ensemble at the Canadian-Caribbean Association of Halton (Oakville)
Program
Opening Weekend Performance: Konvwa libèté by Raphaël Barontini
Artist Raphaël Barontini brings a celebratory, carnival-style street parade to the University of Toronto campus, in collaboration with artists from Toronto-based Bongo & B Entertainment and Ballet Creole. Blending percussion, indigo costumes, banners, and flags, this parade honours historical figures of anti-enslavement resistance while celebrating contemporary Caribbean traditions of emancipation. The parade takes place – […]
September 26, 2026
2:00pm – 3:00pm
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