Ugandan dance troupe shines at Kanata Multicultural Festival

Ugandan Cultural dance troupe

Saturday 12 September 2026

Ugandan dance troupe shines at Kanata Multicultural Festival

By Tom Malaba Local Journalism Initiative reporter

The Uganda Cultural Performers, a cultural troop based in Ottawa brought life to first day of the two-day 4th edition of the Kanata Multi Cultural Dance, Music and Food festival that kicked off in Kanata on September 12.

The multicultural dance, music and food festival is an annual event that pulls together residents of Ottawa to show case their rich cultural heritage on a single platform. During the festival participants carry messages through songs, dances or by display their rich food aroma fresh out of their kitchen prepared food for people of Ottawa to appreciate.

Composed of three men and three women, the Uganda Cultural Performers took to the raised platform hitting their drums with sticks and hands accompanied with shakers to create a synchronized rhythm. The African drum beat accompanied by rhythmic dancing tore through the air throwing the hundreds of revelers into life with some attempting the Gishu circumcision dance, when young boys are initiated into adulthood.

As the nice evening sun started its descent, families of lovers of art sat who had enjoyed the sumptuous meals from the stales, sat on the lawn of the Tony Graham Park in Kanata with eyes glued to the stage enjoying classic performances like Anjali Patil dance creations from India.

That was followed by the Brazily Dance class from Brazil a graceful dance with body moves accompanying pre-recorded Brazilian music.

The Xochilt El Salvador group of six young ladies and a man from El Salvador in colored velvet dresses took to the stage with dance moves using their exaggerated dresses to dodge an enraged bull in a part played by the young-man with a head costume mimicking the charging bull.

The evening also had a performance from Vietnam with the Vietnamese Culture dance.

However, there was no exhibitor of African descent in place to bring to the fore the African or the Carribeans art works or the rich aroma from their kitchens.

At the exhibition, most of the exhibitors carried the Persian or the Asian theme.

Susanne Fulong from Filipino Flavourites were on ground with their Pansit a kind of stir-fried noodles, Lumpia a type of spring roll and Pork Adabo which is pork dish.

From Taiwan, Jackie Wei had shave ice which is a special mango treat that could pass for ice cream and is good for cooling the body in hot summer weather. Operating as Gubahmi in Westboro Farmers market, Jackie also boasts of other Taiwanese flavors like the Mango sauce that are also common in Malaysia.

Another firm Khatoon Catering specializing in service at seminars, weddings and luxurious parties were in place with their Persian cuisine. One of their dish featured a special dish of liver served with bread. They also had the Persian meat balls and spicy sausages and chicken kebab.

Farzaneh Sharhmohammedi from Iran too had on display a special kind of ear rings shaped out of polymer clay, which is baked in an oven at 250degrees to make them long lasting. “Even when you drop them on the ground, they can not break,” the youthful Sharhmohammedi boasts of her ornaments.

Ms. Carling Connor, the Principal of Stage Coach also showed her craft where she teaches children aged 4-16years to sing, dance and stage craft. “Children learn to be brave, strong and confident,” says Ms. Connor calling on parents to entrust her with their children for grooming.

One exhibitor Golita Pastry show cased a traditional desert from North of Iran in the Guilan Province of Iran. This is a sun-dried tomato that are then emersed in olive-oil and it’s eaten as a salad.

Sapan Patel from Craving Coffee Company exhibited his business where he rents out coffee machines to companies and at special occasions like seminars. His machines can dispense Ube, Latte and Ocean Latte these special coffees. To widen his businesses, Mr. Patel recently a line of cold drinks that are fruit and mango based.

While Ms. Anahita Dorood, through her Drowning in Art, had on display special jewelry holders, key holders in mouth form and letters, they were also incenses holders all art creation with resin.

Ms. Raziyeh Javannard of Razi Gallery with her origins in Iran had art pieces written in Persian calligraphy.

The organizes commended the exhibitors that turned up for the event saying this was the story of Ottawa, now that its marking two hundred. “The cultural identity, the art, the music and the various kitchen aroma speak a lot about the different cultures as a City,”

“We are lucky to live in Ottawa and we must continue to celebrate our culture thank you for being the Multi Culture of our city,” Ottawa Mayor, Mr Mark Sutcliffe who was in Kanata and spoke at for the Multi Cultural dance, music and food festival said when he got chance to address diverse global cultural audience.

“It’s not only looking back but the City we are building. Every song, dance is part of the story of our city. We are here to celebrate what Ottawa is becoming,” Mr. Sutcliffe who was accompanied by Councillor Carthy Curry (Kanata North) and Councillor Allan Hubley (Kanata South) observed.

He commended the organizes for supporting local businesses by organizing the festival when exhibitors sold their pieces to members of the public.

Councilors Curry and Hubley together with Ottawa 200 are some of the sponsors of the festival alongside Ottawa Tourism and HamAfra.

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