An Evening of Spoken Word & Dub Poetry, Plus a Special Panel Discussion
Friday, October 3rd, 2025
5 pm to 9 pm
City of Toronto Archives
255 Spadina Road
Performers include Lillian Allen, Dwayne Morgan, Andrea Thompson, Desiree McKenzie, Britta “Bee” Badour, and Mathew-Ray “Testament” Jones, poet laureate for the Province of Ontario
On the evening of October 3rd, join us for a remarkable celebration of dub poetry, featuring a special panel discussion and captivating performances by an esteemed lineup of poets. This event pays tribute to the trailblazing legacy of Lillian Allen, often hailed as the “Godmother of Dub Poetry in Canada.” As the Poet Laureate of the City of Toronto, a multiple JUNO award winner, a professor at OCAD and an arts activist, Lillian has profoundly influenced Canada’s poetry scene with her spellbinding performances and powerful messages, and her mentorship of dozens of young poets and musicians.
In the mid to late ’70s Lillian emerged as a distinct voice on the Canadian poetry scene and later alongside fellow poets Clifton Joseph, Afua Cooper, Ahdri Zhina Mandiela, and others, has brought the vibrant art of dub poetry to life through live performances, recordings, publications, films, festivals, and education. Deeply influenced by the ethos of Miss Lou’s poetry and Jamaican vernacular-speak underscoring the rhythms and liberating impulse of reggae music & its DJ culture, dub poetry addresses themes of social injustice, racism, the struggles of working-class peoples, resistance, and empowerment. Its stylized vocal delivery, set to music, conveys messages of resistance, hope, and upliftment, resonating with audiences far beyond Jamaica, particularly within diasporic Caribbean communities in Canada, the United Kingdom, Africa, the US, Barbados, and Trinidad, and opens new possibilities for poetry.
Toronto has emerged as a significant hub for this dynamic art form, with Lillian Allen remaining a constant and leading force in its evolution. Today, she stands among international dub poetry icons, including Linton Kwesi Johnson, Oku Onuora, Anthony Joseph, the late Jean “Binta” Breeze, and late Benjamin Zephania.
The evening will commence with a special panel titled Perspectives on Dub Poetry’s History in Toronto, featuring academics, spoken-word artists, and culture critics who will share their insights on the development, influence, and impact of dub poetry and spoken word in Toronto and beyond. Panelists include Professor Michael Bucknor from the University of Alberta, Toronto music historian Klive Walker, Canadian spoken word artist and Order of Ontario recipient Dwayne Morgan, and award-winning author and professor Natalee Caple of Brock university. The panel will be expertly hosted by former radio CIUT FM personality and educator Thando Hyman.
Following the panel, attendees will be treated to performances by a stellar lineup of poets, including Dwayne Morgan, Andrea Thompson, Desiree McKenzie, Britta “Bee” Badour, and Mathew-Ray “Testament” Jones, the poet laureate for the Province of Ontario. The evening will culminate with a special performance by Lillian Allen herself, hosted by Toronto’s Youth Poet Laureate, Shahaddah Jack. Music will be provided by the legendary DJ, Carl Allen.
This event is produced by the Canada Black Music Archives (CBMA). It is made possible in part by the City of Toronto Department of Economic Development and Culture and the City of Toronto Archives. Admission is free, with tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserve your spot today on Eventbrite.