The Nova Scotia African Heritage Month for 2024 is billed to be full of excitement and education, as organisers have lined up a tall list of programmes for the event, entering the final eight days of the month.
With the theme “Our Smiles, Our Joy, Our Resilience as African Nova Scotians”, the celebration aims to celebrate and recognize the history and culture of people of African descent.
Dozens of events have been planned across Nova Scotia to mark African Heritage Month this February as the month provides an opportunity to celebrate and promote the culture, achievements and contributions of people of African descent in Nova Scotia – past and present.
Nova Scotia has more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities with a long, deep and complex history dating back more than 400 years. African Heritage Month.
From film screenings to gala dinners, concerts, worship services, receptions, and more, this year’s lineup promises fun as well as opportunities for learning. Participants can gain knowledge of black history and culture while also sharing in the resilient and joyful spirit of Nova Scotians of African descent.
The month’s theme, “Our Smiles, Our Joy, Our Resilience as African Nova Scotians,” sets an upbeat tone. But organisers have also made sure to include events that educate about the struggles, discrimination, and racism that are part of the community’s past and present.
African Heritage Month includes both commemoration of the past struggles and tragedies that have faced the African Nova Scotian community and celebration of African Nova Scotians’ unique and enduring contributions to the province to this day, authorities have said.
The official proclamation for the event was held at Province House on January 23, with Lt.-Gov. Arthur J. LeBlanc and African Nova Scotian Affairs Minister Twila Grosse. However the last eight days of the month of February will see a list of exciting and educative programme slated to mark the celebration
The festivities kick off on February 21st with a jazz music film screening of “Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes” at Jazz Labs. This will be followed by an African Heritage Month Lunch & Learn on February 23rd at the Northwood Halifax Campus.
The same day, Halifax musicians Cedric, Marty, and Dave will perform a live concert at the Business Innovation Centre in Amherst. On February 24th, Halifax Convention Centre will host the annual African Heritage Month Gala, this year with the theme “A Celebration of Black Art and Culture.”
Later that night, boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard will give a Black History Month speakout at the Light House Arts Centre, along with musical guests JRDN and Jupiter Reign. The next morning, February 25th, New Horizons Baptist Church will hold its annual African Heritage Month worship service, highlighting black history, culture, and the arts.
The exciting month of programming will wrap up on February 28th as the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service hosts a reception at the Black Cultural Centre. There, they will introduce a new policy aimed at fair treatment of African Nova Scotians in criminal prosecutions.
With this dynamic lineup, African Heritage Month 2024 is shaping up to honour the past and present contributions of African Nova Scotians. The variety of events will educate residents about black history while also celebrating the resilient spirit of local African Canadian culture.
As Nova Scotia prepares to mark this African Heritage Month, the province can look forward to 31 days of celebration, community, solidarity, and pride. Excitement is building for what’s sure to be an engaging, enlightening, and entertaining series of events.
