This year’s African Heritage Month provincial theme is “Legacy in Action: Celebrating Black Brilliance.” This theme highlights the living legacy of Black Nova Scotians, honouring the impact and perseverance of the long-standing community. It highlights the greatness we hold, the paths we lead through our deep connection with our elders, storytelling, the rhythms of change, and the ability to look back to move forward.
For the last two years, DHBC has created light shows to celebrate this special month through our DELIGHTFUL DOWNTOWN lighting program. Even though we don't have a show this year, we wanted to share our show from 2023 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQvZ02FbMgM
The History
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“African Heritage Month is an opportunity for all Nova Scotians to deepen their understanding of the rich history and celebrate the enduring contributions of African Nova Scotians. This year’s theme reflects the brilliance and legacy of our communities and their essential role in shaping Nova Scotia,” — Twila Grosse, Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs
Nova Scotia has 52 historic African Nova Scotian communities with a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 200 years. African Heritage Month allows us to celebrate our culture, legacy, achievements, and contributions of our people – past and present.
- The first Black History Month in Nova Scotia was observed in 1988 and renamed African Heritage Month in 1996.
- The African Heritage Month Information Network at the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia collaborates with African Nova Scotian organizations to plan and promote events.
- African Nova Scotians represent 2.4 per cent of the provincial population, with 71.8 per cent tracing their roots back three generations or more in Nova Scotia.
- In December, Canada committed to adopting a second International Decade for People of African Descent.
Things To See & Do
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Month Long Events
City Hall will be lit in Pan-African Colors Throughout the whole month of February.
- In the Sunroom: Faces of the Diaspora
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (each day) at the Halifax Central Library, Spring Garden Road.
Faces of the Diaspora is a deeply personal exhibition by Daramfon Morgan, a Canadian Nigerian artist, and the founder of DCM ART CREATIONS. The collection is a vibrant celebration of identity, culture, and the rich tapestry of experiences gained from a life lived across multiple continents.
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Saturday, February 8
Afro House Party
9:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. at Lot Six Restaurant & Bar, 1685 Argyle Street
Get ready to dance the night away as DJ Evren Baser takes over the decks, bringing you the most vibrant and electrifying Afro House beats!
George Elliott Clarke, D.D. Jackson & Halifax Public Libraries Present: 5 Poets Breaking into Song
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Halifax Central Library, Spring Garden Road.
Halifax native and Toronto Poet Laureate George Elliott Clarke will host a delightful afternoon of original poetry and music. Poets Delvina Bernard, El Jones, Reed “iZrEAL” Jones, Salima Tourkmani-MacDonald, Stedmond Pardy and George Elliott Clarke will recite original poetic works.
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Sunday, February 9
Make Day! Felt Projects
Sunday, February 9, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.
Join us in the Studio this Sunday to honour African Heritage Month! Create your own felt portraits using bright colours and different shapes, while thinking about memory, legacy, identity, and community.
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Wednesday, February 12
We Are Country: Julian Taylor
7:00 p.m. at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.
From the formative rock of Staggered Crossing to the genre fusion of Julian Taylor Band, and now his revered work as a solo singer-songwriter, Julian Taylor owns the right to it all and it couldn’t have happened at a better time.
Black History & International Networking
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Halifax Central Library, Spring Garden Road.
Our event is a celebration of culture, history, and the power of global connections. Please join us to network, create connections, and celebrate.
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Thursday, February 13
Screening of KiKi (2016 Documentary)
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.
KIKI explores the lives of LGBTQ+ youth-of-colour in New York City’s underground Ballroom scene. It celebrates the histories and present experiences of Black Queer communities, whose legacies continue to echo in contemporary artistic practices
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Josephine: A Musical Cabaret - February 13 – 16
Josephine: A Musical Cabaret
Thursday, February 13 – Sunday, February, 16
7:30 p.m. & 2:00 p.m. at Neptune Theatre.
Tymisha Harris stars in this dazzling retelling of Josephine Baker’s revolutionary life as a singer, movie star, WWII spy, civil rights activist, and cultural icon.
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Tuesday, February 18
Screening of The Colour Purple
2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Halifax Central Library, Spring Garden Road.
Movie Night for Crafters: Screening of STEP
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Halifax Central Library, Spring Garden Road.
Join us for a craft-friendly movie night, where we leave the lights on so you can see your work in progress. STEP documents the senior year of a girls' high-school step dance team against the background of inner-city Baltimore.
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Wednesday, February 19
A Mother Apart: Documentary
Wednesday, February 19, 7:00 p.m., FREE
@ Pier 21
To celebrate African Heritage Month, Pier 21 is pleased to invite you to a FREE screening of the documentary: A Mother Apart.
An emotionally sweeping tale of healing and forgiveness, A Mother Apart accompanies powerhouse Jamaican-American poet and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chin as she re-imagines the essential art of mothering—having been abandoned by her own mother.
For more information and to register for your free ticket, click here.
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Saturday, February 22
African Heritage Month Dinner & Gala
Saturday, February 22
5:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. at the Halifax Convention Centre 1650 Argyle Street.
Black Cultural Centre’s African Heritage Month Dinner & Gala featuring Reeny Smith.
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Monday, February 24
Free public talk: CBC's Elamin Abdelmahmoud, two acclaimed authors and a lively house band.
Feb 24, Halifax Central Library: How to communicate better with the people closest to you and be heard.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/community/hear-me-out-elamin-abdelmahmoud-1.7444802
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Thursday, February 27
Eat Plantain with Mary
Thursday, February 27
6:00m p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Halifax Central Library, Spring Garden Road.
In commemoration of African History Month, chef Mary Nkrumah from Mary’s African Cuisine will be cooking up something special. (Registration opens February 13 at 9:00 a.m.)