On January 29, the Saint Mary’s University community gathered to officially name a dedicated Black student space established in spring 2025. Students, staff, faculty and alumni marked the opening of African Heritage Month by honouring the advocacy, collective care and generations of leadership that shaped the space and brought the community to this moment.
“Sankofa, an African word rooted in Adinkra principles, means ‘go back and get it,’” explained Ebun Oladele MA’21, Black Student Advisor. “It reminds us that we draw strength from our histories and our ancestral wisdom as we move forward. Sankofa: Black Excellence Commons (BEC) is a space rooted in memory, in community, and in possibility. Not just for today but for generations to come.”
The naming of the space was student-informed and guided by the Naming Committee, which included Black student leaders alongside representatives from Student Affairs and Services and the Diversity, Inclusion and Wellness team. More than a title, the name reflects both the journey that led to the creation of the space and the responsibility that continues beyond its opening.
The journey to Sankofa: Black Excellence Commons
The Black Excellence Commons did not emerge overnight. It was shaped through years of Black student leadership.
Throughout the ceremony, student leaders spoke candidly about the emotional labour and determination required to bring this vision to life, naming both the barriers they faced and the collective strength that sustained them.
“This space is a result of advocacy, persistence and care. From students speaking up, to people who listened, and from community members who believed that Black students deserve spaces that reflect their identities and their experiences.”
Ebun Oladele MA’21
SMUSA President Augustina Tucker framed the naming ceremony as a moment of recognition that honours those who drove this effort.
“This ceremony is more than just a naming,” Tucker said. “It is a recognition of the voices that refused to be quiet. That fight took courage, and it took an unshakeable belief that belonging should never have to be negotiated.”
As Saint Mary’s enters African Heritage Month, Tucker connected the moment to this year’s provincial theme, Strength and Unity: Moving Forward with Purpose, Prosperity, Power, and Progress, noting that Sankofa: Black Excellence Commons embodies these values through collective action.
“This space is a reminder that when students organize with purpose, real change follows,” she added. “But let us also be clear that this space is not the end of the work. It is a foundation.”
Former Black Student Society President Jaiden Kariuki-MacDonald was one of the early student leaders to formally represent the interests of Black students at the university, helping to shape not only the foundation of the Sankofa: Black Excellence Commons but also broader progress in Black student support through her advocacy for the Black Student Advisor role.
Kariuki-MacDonald reflected on the depth of her experience in Black student leadership, describing the role as one that demanded constant advocacy and persistence to ensure Black student needs remained visible and prioritized.
Photo gallery of speakers
“It was an incredibly difficult role, and it took a lot from me and my experience at SMU,” Kariuki-Macdonald shared. “It makes me want to talk about the institutional barriers that tried to tear me down, to tear our community down. It makes me want to talk about the times people said our goals were impossible, that they were too big or not worth it.”
Despite the weight of that experience, she emphasized it was “an honour to dedicate myself to advocating for Black students at SMU,” reflecting on the work to help ensure consistent Black student advising supports, strengthen Black student community, and contribute to the creation of the university’s first dedicated Black student space.
Former African Student Society President Topaz Nnani reflected on the deep cultural context that shaped his experience at Saint Mary’s, particularly the grounding influence of African Nova Scotian history and community.
In the absence of a Black Student Advisor at the time, Nnani acknowledged that he and other Black student leaders often carried significant emotional responsibility for their peers.
“This was a group effort – things like this always are,” Nnani shared. “We did what we could to support one another, but the emotional toll was real.”
Nnani credited the strength to persist to African Nova Scotian stories of resilience, culture and joy, as well as to moments of allyship and institutional listening. Instances, he noted, where administrators like Tom Brophy showed up, listened without defensiveness and took meaningful action.
Creating a legacy for SMU students
For Ramon Stultz, President of the Caribbean Society, establishing the BEC represents not a conclusion, but a continuation.
He emphasized that the BEC exists because students organized together, building community with intention, refusing to be pushed to the margins, and asserting not just the right to exist, but the right to thrive.
“This room, these walls, the opening of this space… it is the continuation of a story Black students have been working toward for generations. It is a story of presence, persistence, and power.”
“This is their legacy,” Stultz continued. “But a legacy is not a museum piece; it is a responsibility. Because the real work isn’t just in opening doors, it’s in changing the culture.”
Former SMUSA President Simbarashe Chiunda also spoke to the shaping of this legacy, acknowledging the efforts of those who came before and underscoring the role of the present generation to carry and lead the responsibility of those who come after.
“Let us open this space with new commitments to our history and our future,” Chiunda said. “Because Black history is not history, it is here, and it is us.”
Deborah Brothers-Scott, Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellness, reflected on the deeper meaning of the moment, as a member of both the Saint Mary’s and African Nova Scotian communities.
“Today, we didn’t just open a room,” Brothers-Scott said. “We affirmed a legacy. This space will be shaped by the laughter, the Black brilliance, the creativity, and the care of the Black students who occupy it daily.”
Commitment to Black Excellence at SMU
President Dr. Michael Khan emphasized that the creation of the Black Excellence Commons reflects both learning and responsibility.
“The creation of this space matters,” Dr. Khan said. “Students thrive when they can bring their whole selves to campus, and institutions grow stronger when we listen deeply to our students and respond with meaningful action.”
He also underscored that the BEC is not an endpoint. “Space is powerful, but it is only the beginning,” Dr. Khan asserted. “We must continue to support Black students through programs, resources, pathways and partnerships that enable you to thrive long after you leave this campus.”
That responsibility was echoed by Tom Brophy, Associate Vice-President, Student Affairs and Services, who reflected on the significance of the moment.
“To have my name included on this plaque alongside these Black student leaders is not something I take lightly,” Brophy shared. “This space exists because of their courage, persistence and refusal to accept less than belonging. My role was to listen, to learn, and to act, and I am deeply honoured to stand in support of the students who led this change.”
Dr. Michael Khan, Tom Brophy, Ramon Stultz, Jaiden Kariuki-MacDonald, Danae Conrad, Ebun Oladele, Dr. Shannon Dea and Simbarashe Chiunda at the BEC opening ceremony
A plaque unveiled during the ceremony bears an African proverb: “However long the night, the dawn will break.” Beneath it, the dedication reads:
Established to honour the voices, histories and lived experiences of the Black students of Saint Mary's University. This space affirms joy, culture, learning and community today and for generations to come.
We acknowledge and thank those whose commitment and collaboration brought this space to life.
With recognition to:
Jaiden Kariuki-MacDonald, President, Black Student Society (2023-2025);
Topaz Nnani, President, African Student Society (2023-2025);
Ramon Stultz, President, Caribbean Society (2024-2026);
Simbarashe Chiunda, President, Saint Mary's University Students’ Association (2024-2025);
Ebun Oladele, Black Student Advisor;
Tom Brophy, Associate Vice-President, Student Affairs and Services
As African Heritage Month events continue through February, Sankofa: Black Excellence Commons serves as both a reflection of how far the community has come and a call to move forward, inviting continued learning, accountability, celebration, and collective care. Learn more about accessing the space on campus.
Explore the African Heritage Month Splash Page to view the full schedule of events and ways to engage throughout the month.
