February is celebrated as Black History Month. In Nova Scotia, the month is known as African Heritage Month. This theme for 2024 is Our Smiles, Our Joy, Our Resilience as African Nova Scotians.
Each year at this time, Saint Mary's University acknowledges and celebrates the achievements and contributions of Black and African Nova Scotia members of our community.
To help mark the significance of the month, the tri-colour Pan-African flag will be raised in front of the McNally building. The red, black and green flag was created in 1920 to represent the people of the African Diaspora.
SMU Huskies Black Heritage Night
Friday, February 2, 2024
The SMU Huskies are celebrating African Heritage Month at the Homburg Centre with a vendor market featuring Black Nova Scotian entrepreneurs, performances, displays and more!
Basketball doubleheader: SMU vs. UNB
Women's basketball: tip-off at 6 p.m
Men's basketball: tip-off at 8 p.m.
Half-time performances with the African Dance Society
Men's hockey game: SMU vs. UPEI
Puck-drop 7 p.m.
Dynamic Rural Business Series: Rural Black Businesses
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
5–8 p.m.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport
The Black Business Initiative (BBI) and the Sobey School of Business, in collaboration with the Halifax International Stanfield Airport, proudly present the second annual Dynamic Rural Business Series: Rural Black Businesses. Join us for an insightful session where we spotlight rural black businesses, featuring inspiring discussions with their owners and fostering a supportive network.
Our distinguished panelists include Gem Roberts, Dr. Ernest Asante Korankye and Cedric Smiley.
Cultural Preservation & Community Capacity Building Forum
February 21-22, 2024
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
CLARI (Atrium 340)
This two-day forum is hosted by the Loyalist Connections Creative Society, in collaboration with the Black Cultural Centre and the Faculty of Arts. Students, educators and community members will join together for thought-provoking discussions and podcast recordings on past accomplishments and future opportunities for African Nova Scotian communities.
Kemet Udjat: an African Heritage Month film festival
February 27-28, 2024
Scotiabank Theatre, Sobey School of Business and via Zoom
Join us for two nights of film screenings and discussions, in person and online. Presented by Dr. Jean-Blaise Samou, Francophone and Intercultural Studies, with the support of the Office of the Dean of Arts and Alliance Française Halifax.
Erasing Slavery in Canadian History: A Conversation with Dr. Charmaine Nelson
February 27, 6-7:30 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 870 2835 6414
Canada enjoys the mythic image of a haven where Black slaves could find refuge through the Underground Railroad. However, historians now reveal Slavery as “Canada’s best-kept secret”. What’s the real story of slavery in Canada and why is it important to discuss it today? Join us to learn more.
Dr. Nelson is a Provost Professor of Art History and the founding Director of the Slavery North Initiative at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, which supports research and research-creation on the study of Canadian Slavery and slavery in the US North.
Hidden Figures (2017) Dir: Theodore Melfi
February 28, 6-8:30 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 872 7523 7154
The story of three brilliant African-American women mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.
Patrick Power Library book display
Throughout February, the Patrick Power Library is featuring a collection of library resources for African Heritage Month, on display on the ground floor of the library. Book recommendations will be shared online throughout the month on our social channels (@smuhfxlibrary). All books can be borrowed with your SMU ID card. Browse the full African Heritage Month collection online.
Samples from The Lynn Jones African Canadian & Diaspora Heritage Collection will be available at the Cultural Preservation & Community Capacity Building Forum on February 21 and 22, along with Saint Mary’s archives staff to answer your questions. Shawn Smith and other researchers from the Loyalist Connections Creative Society, and SMU's Dr. Kirrily Freeman, have been using the Lynn Jones Collection to research topics for the forum.