The month of February marks the annual celebration of African Heritage Month and the StFX Black Student Advising Office is excited to celebrate with a number of events all month long.
The provincial theme for African Heritage Month this year is ‘Our Smiles, Our Joy, Our Resilience as African Nova Scotians.’
“For this month at StFX, we want to showcase the smiles, joys, and resilience of people of African Descent. We have a range of different events and activities happening on campus throughout the month to provide education and showcase African heritage through events such as African drumming, a film showing, a keynote speaker event about the history of African Nova Scotians, a paint and sip event, a cooking night and much more,” says Black Student Advisor Akua Amankwah-Poku.
“Marcus Garvey once said, ‘A Black skin is not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness.’ There is so much to be proud of and to celebrate as people of African Descent and African Heritage Month is a time to reflect, celebrate, educate, and showcase our culture,” she says.
Events taking place throughout the month include:
January 31 -- Town Flag Raising – @ 10-11a.m., Chisholm Park, Antigonish
Raising high the PAN African Flag in the Town of Antigonish in honour of African Heritage Month.
February 1 -- African Heritage Month Launch @ 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Mackay Room, StFX
The official launch of African Heritage Month in the Town of Antigonish to honour and celebrate the achievements and contributions of African Nova Scotians and to unveil the poster and theme for the month.
February 2 – Film showing - @ 5 p.m., Rm 202, 3rd Floor StFX Library
An opportunity to learn about the resilience of people of African Descent through film.
February 7 -- Keynote speaker - @ 12:30-2:30 p.m., Keating Center Conference Room A
The month’s keynote speaker will be StFX alumna Margaret States, who will speak about her book, Gooseberries Have Thorns. This talk will take the form of a lunch and learn. Ms. States is located in Ontario and will do her talk virtually. The StFX and wider Antigonish community will have the opportunity to come to campus and listen virtually and the event will be open online to surrounding communities. There will also be a Q&A session.
February 8 -- Sodexo Dinner - @ 4:30-7:30 p.m., Morrison Hall, StFX
During the dinner time at Morrison meal hall, foods served will be from various African and Black countries and cultures.
February 10 – Paint & sip/poetry night - @ 4-7 p.m., Bauer Theatre, StFX
Students and community members will be able to express themselves through art and poetry. The paint & sip part of the event will be facilitated by Mauya the Abstract Tribe, a movement for healing through artistic therapy founded by a StFX alumna, allowing people to express themselves through painting.
February 15 -- African drumming night - @ 7-9 p.m., Bloomfield Café, StFX
This event will be an opportunity to teach people how to play the African drum and to learn the history behind it. It will be a time of music, learning and sharing.
February 17 -- Afrobeat dance class - @ 4-5 p.m., Keating Center Dance Studio, StFX
Participants will learn traditional African dances from a drum and dance company; Wontanara Drum and Dance.
February 20 -- Cooking night - @ 6-8 p.m., Human Nutrition Lab
A night of community and learning of foods from across different Black and African countries and communities is planned. Individuals will learn how to make common/traditional meals from different African countries/Black cultures.
February 29 -- Black student gala/banquet – Not open to the public
This black-tie gala will give Black students an opportunity to dress up and attend a banquet that celebrates Black culture and excellence. There will be small activities, educational pieces, music, and culturally relevant food.
