It was a defining moment in a scene that's grown exponentially over the last few years.

Despite a torrential downpour, most of the people who'd gathered at Queen's Park July 7 for a day of African music didn't flee the venue. They took cover under trees and the stage, and once the sky cleared, they planted their feet in the muck and partied like nothing had happened.

"In terms of getting a huge crowd, having a downpour and people holding out in the hope it would go away, yeah, it was a significant moment," says Ghanian-born Kobena Acquaah-Harrison, a musician, broadcaster, writer, and 22-year veteran of the scene.

If you're looking for an indicator of African music's new popularity and how it's changed the city's soundscape, look no further than the annual AfroFest In The Park. Since its inception eight years back, the all-day festival of music, food and crafts keeps getting bigger and better. More than 11 local bands -- hailing from South Africa, Oromo, Ghana, and Somalia, to name only four countries -- played this year's blowout, and it's estimated that more than 10,000 people soaked it up.

Shego Band was one of the 11 groups.

Formed three years back, the trio's music reflects founder Shego Said's cosmopolitan background.

African Love Story, the Somali group's independently-produced debut CD, features equal parts African, funk, R&B, dance, and Middle Eastern elements.

"Back home you'd hear Somali music on the radio most of the time, but on Saturdays they'd play Western music," Said says. "I love Bob Marley and Michael Jackson but I also love Indian music. I learned how to sing by watching Indian films."

The Said family moved to Saudi Arabia when he was 13. From there, it was on to Egypt, and various U.S. cities before coming here in '90.

Like some of their local counterparts, Shego Band, who've toured Europe and England, now command a huge following. And with that following has come a responsibility it doesn't shy away from.

"Somali people tell me I'm the only one who cares for them, that I show people we belong here, and that we're good people," Said says. "It's tough making a living doing this, but for me it's about being there for the community."

Observers of the scene attribute its growth to the arrival of high calibre African artists here, clubs like the BamBoo constantly booking local and international acts, and college radio shows like Sounds Of Africa and Karibuni.

Acquaah-Harrison, who co-hosts Sounds Of Africa with Simon Ayume, is one artist who epitomizes this activity.

The multi-instrumentalist plays in three bands -- Jungle Bouti Orchestra, a 15-strong "funky African hiphop-jazz" unit, Afromadjik, and Amiba, a traditional and contemporary African ensemble that backs other artists.

This is radical when you consider that "a few years back, I couldn't find African musicians to play with.

"I used to play with rock, funk and jazz fusion bands while writing my own style of African music," Acquaah-Harrison says. "It's a lot easier now to work with other African artists."

The increasing availability of local African tapes and CDs and their excellent quality are further signs of a vibrant scene, he says.

But while Acquaah-Harrison's excited about this buzz, he feels musicians and the industry should cast off their insular attitudes.

"A lot of groups are selling their stuff in their own communities 'cause they feel HMV or Sam's won't carry it," he says. "Some of them aren't aware of Sounds Of Africa, or that they can send their stuff to us.

"And sure, you can catch a good band every weekend, but they're usually at a small venue like an Ethiopian restaurant," he adds. "They don't promote themselves well and seem content to play a small club."

Acquaah-Harrison echoes Said's sentiment that "if record companies don't care about promoting rap and R&B, they're not gonna bother with African music."

"The industry still figures it's a niche market, but it's not," he says. "And the lack of clubs to play is still a huge problem for us."

Ntsebo, a Tanzanian-born dancer/singer/percussionist and music publicist, offers a different take on a scene she says "is so rich and diverse, it's insane!

"The music's following is making it grow and it'll continue regardless of whether record companies start signing these groups," she says. "Personally, I'd rather the musicians keep things independent because I feel major labels will want to redefine the music and take away its essence.

"African music isn't just about music and business, it's about culture and it's a huge part of African life," says Ntsebo. "I love African music because it's spiritual, it elevates me, and it really transports me.

"I'm from Tanzania, but every time I hear someone from Guinea, I'm immediately taken there."

THE AFRICAN MUSIC FILE

Opio Oloya hosts Karibuni every Saturday from 4-5 p.m. on CIUT (89.5) FM.

NAMES TO WATCH FOR: AfroNubians, Shego Band, Jamisse Jamo, Lizzy Mahashe, Joseph Ashong and Aron Tounga.

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