Celebrating African Heritage Month 2023

**** HRM Media Release

Celebrating African Heritage Month 2023

February is African Heritage Month. This year’s theme, Seas of struggle – African Peoples from Shore to Shore, outlines the struggles that people of African Decent faced from the shores of Africa to the shores of Nova Scotia. This theme explores the adversity that was overcome and examines the effects of slavery and sea faring of African Nova Scotians.

The municipality is holding a variety of events to celebrate the legacy, achievements, and contributions of people of African descent as part of our collective Nova Scotia heritage.

African Heritage Month Provincial Launch

The Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia will launch African Heritage Month 2023. The annual Opening Night Celebration will stream live on Facebook or YouTube.

Monday, January 23 | 10 a.m.

Virtual – YouTube

African Heritage Month Opening Night

In partnership with the Halifax Public Libraries and the African History Month Association, the municipality’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion/ANSAIO welcomes residents to kick-off African Heritage Month at the Halifax North Memorial Public Library, as Opening Night returns to an in-person format this year.

Enjoy musical performances by Jah’Mila and Marko Simmonds; special words from the Africville Genealogy Society’s Beatrice Wilkins on their 40th anniversary and a proclamation reading by Mayor Savage. This event will also be live streamed on the YouTube.

Thursday, January 26 | 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Flag Raising

Attend an African Heritage Month flag raising and a special performance by Owen “O’Sound” Lee at Grande Parade (weather permitting) before moving indoors to Halifax Hall for a proclamation reading by Deputy Mayor Austin and light refreshments.

The flag raising will also be live streamed on YouTube.

Cultural District Panel

The municipality is commemorating the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church that once stood at the corner of Gottingen and Falkland streets in Halifax, by creating a historic panel at the site and revamping the plaza space.

Artist Charlie Marvin has been hired to create an art piece to be displayed on the panel. The artwork will be unveiled during African Heritage Month.

Wednesday, February 8 | 11 a.m. to 12 noon.

For more information, visit our website.

Other Events

Residents are also encouraged to take part in other events throughout the municipality celebrating African Heritage Month:

• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​City Hall will be illuminated in black, green, red and yellow in honour of African Heritage Month, from January 23 to 27, February 18 to 21 and February 23 to 28.
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Throughout February, the Pan-African flag will be displayed on Halifax Transit ferries and at both transit garages in honour of African Heritage Month.
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Throughout February, the Downtown Halifax Business Commission will project theDelightful Downtown Light Show, a show of light displays on the former Halifax Memorial Library Building at Grafton Park in celebration of African Heritage Month.
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Explore the Halifax Public Libraries African Heritage Monthvirtual portal, featuring programs that celebrate African heritage in Nova Scotia.

For more information, visit the municipality’s African Heritage Month website.