canadian black literary festival
origins of the Festival
The foundation for the Canadian Black Literary Festival (CBLF) was built through BlackLit Durham, a bimonthly literary reading series held in Ajax’s historic Pickering Village.
Presented by AfriCANthology Canada (now the Canadian Black Literature Institute) in partnership with What’s Your Story Author Services, St. Francis Centre (now Ajax Centre for the Arts), and Ajax Public Library, BlackLit Durham has showcased, highlighted, amplified, and celebrated Black Canadian literary voices of all genres in their full splendour and diversity since June 2022.
Over four years later, it is the only recurring literary series of its kind in the eastern GTA, drawing hundreds of audience members from the Region and neighbouring communities each year.
Building upon the success of BlackLit Durham, the inaugural Canadian Black Literary Festival launched on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
CBLF
CBLF is a uniquely conceived celebration of African-Canadian literature of all genres that takes place in Ajax on the last weekend in August before Labour Day weekend every year.
This timing closely aligns with commemorations for Emancipation Day on August 1 and the International Day for People of African Descent on August 31 each year. August is also Emancipation Month in Ontario.
#CBLF2026
The Canadian Black Literary Festival 2026 was a one-day exposition of Black literary artistry, creativity, and performance hosted in partnership at two of Ajax’s most important public facilities: the McLean Community Centre and the St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture. The theme of the festival was Voices of Freedom.
CBLF 2027
Future festivals will be multi-day events, beginning with the two-day #CBLF2027 on August 27-28, 2027. Visit this page for more info over the coming months.
CBLF holds significance as the only Black-led, Black-serving, literature-only, multi-genre, annual festival amplifying Afrodescendent literary voices found anywhere in Canada.
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