Saint Mary’s celebrates African Heritage Month, honouring the achievements and contributions of Black and African Nova Scotian members of our community. The theme for 2025 is “Legacy in Action: Celebrating Black Brilliance.” During February, the 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.
Did you know? Nova Scotia has 52 historic African Nova Scotian communities with a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 200 years. Learn more from the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia.
You’re invited to join us this February for events hosted by faculty, students and departments, including an inaugural opening ceremony with special guest speakers on January 31. Learn about African Nova Scotian experiences with the Loyalist Connections Creative Society, support Black-owned businesses at the SMU Huskies vendor market, and meet new friends at fun events hosted by the African Student Society. Read more about events and campus resources below.
African Heritage Month Opening Ceremony
Friday, January 31, 2025
3-5 p.m.
Loyola Conference Hall (LA 290)
This event is Saint Mary's University's first African Heritage Month Opening Ceremony! The event will celebrate and honour the rich contributions and the living legacies of Black Nova Scotians, honouring the impact and perseverance of the long-standing community and the African culture. It is an opportunity to reflect, learn and look back to move forward.
Highlights of the event will include African Drumming, Spoken Words and Remarks from Colin Campbell, Director, Government and Community Relations, African Nova Scotian Affairs and David Woods, founder/organizer of the Inaugural African Heritage Month Celebrations in Nova Scotia (1984-1991).
SMU Huskies Black Heritage Night
Saturday, February 1, 2025
The SMU Huskies are celebrating African Heritage Month at the Homburg Centre with special performances before and during Saturday’s games! A vendor market featuring Black Nova Scotian-owned businesses will be held in the concourse of the Homburg Centre in partnership with the Black Business Initiative.
Women’s Volleyball vs. UNB at 1 p.m.
Basketball doubleheader: SMU vs. CBU
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
Women's hockey vs. DAL
Puck-drop 7 p.m.
Tribe Scholars: Scholarship Recipient Announcement
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
5-7:30 p.m.
Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, Inspiration Studio (SH212)
Join Tribe and Saint Mary's University for an exciting event where we will reveal this year's recipients for our Undergraduate Tribe Network Award and our Tribe Network Graduate Scholarship and Internship. Get ready to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our talented scholars. Don't miss out on this special occasion to honour their achievements and meet the next generation of professionals.
Writing Ourselves: Voice & Power with El Jones
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
4-5 p.m.
Loyola Academic LA178
Join former Halifax Poet Laureate El Jones and The Counselling Centre for a writing workshop. El will discuss finding our voice, writing for justice, and self-empowerment during African Heritage Month. You do not have to be an experienced writer to attend; all are welcome!
Black Entrepreneurship Showcase
Thursday, February 6, 2025
11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Loyola Colonnade
Meet organizations that support Black students in entrepreneurship. Speak with representatives from Black Girls Gather, Tribe Network, and Business is Jammin’ to learn how they can help support you in your entrepreneurial goals!
A live podcast recording: Exploring African Nova Scotian Identity
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
5-6:30 p.m.
The Podcast Studio
Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre (Sobey Hub 210)
Explore the meaning and significance of African Nova Scotian identity, its historical roots, lived experiences and evolving nature today. This live podcast recording will celebrate African Nova Scotian heritage and identity through storytelling and dialogue, offering a platform for community voices and shared knowledge. The intent is to foster interactive discussions and questions from the audience at the event, and with the broader community once the podcast is available online.
This event is hosted by the Loyalist Connections Creative Society in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts and the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. The podcast recording will take place in the Podcast Studio (Sobey Hub 210) from 5–6 pm, with an audience Q&A to follow in the adjacent room SH 211. Food and refreshment provided.
Register here to reserve your spot and submit your questions in advance. Here are just a few questions we'll be exploring: What does defining a group do? Does it exclude individuals from the conversation? Can a definition include everyone? Or does it ask us collectively what a definition does to make us move forward?
Saint Mary’s African Student Society events
Soccer match: SMU vs. DAL
Friday, February 21, 2025
1-2:00 p.m.
BMO Soccer Centre
Join the Saint Mary’s African Student Society (SMASS) for a soccer match vs Dalhousie on February 21 at the BMO Soccer Centre on Thomas Raddall Drive.
Contact safricanstudentsociety@gmail.com for more information.
Aunties & Uncles Game Night
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Sobey Hub 324
$10 entry free
Get together with friends for a fun night of games, food and prizes! Dress up in your favourite auntie or uncle attire.
Reading materials and resources in the Patrick Power Library
A portion of the books and items featured in the Patrick Power Library African Heritage Month collection
Throughout February, the Patrick Power Library will display a collection of library resources for African Heritage Month on the ground floor. Book recommendations will also be shared online on our social channels (@smuhfxlibrary). All books can be borrowed with your SMU ID card. Browse the full African Heritage Month collection online.
Saint Mary’s University, in cooperation with Dr. Lynn Jones (C.M.), African Nova Scotian leader and activist, proudly houses The Lynn Jones African Canadian & Diaspora Heritage Collection in the University Archives. The Collection documents the lives of Lynn, her family, and over 50 years of African, African Diasporic and African Nova Scotian heritage and history. Key parts of the collection include materials on:
civil rights and social justice struggles in Halifax, Canada and beyond
Lynn’s career as an athlete, politician, union activist, and work as an election observer for the 1994 South African Presidential election of Nelson Mandela
the activism of Lynn’s brother, Burnley “Rocky” Jones and many others
thousands of news clippings, programs, reports and other material documenting Black life (e.g. the histories of local Black communities and institutions, an obituary collection, news coverage of local and international racial segregation and apartheid, clippings on famous athletes and environmental racism).
Researchers, community members, educators and students, community organizers, and others are all welcome to visit the collection. It can be viewed in person at the Saint Mary's University Archives. Parts of the collection, including samples of archival material from Lynn's personal collection and a small example of the newspaper clipping collection, have been digitized and are available on the library's digital repository. A more detailed finding aid and collection inventory are also available.
African Descended/Black Student online hub
Find SMU resources on our online hub for Black and African Nova Scotian students. Find out how to connect with the Black Student Advisor, learn about awards and bursaries, see news and more!
Visit smu.ca/blackstudent to be connected