During February, schools and community organizations across Canada present, exhibit and perform artistic experiences to educate Canadians about Black History.
This year's theme is "Canadians of African Descent: Going forward, guided by the past". Across the country, artist-educators and arts organizations are informing and engaging Canadians on this important topic, including Ballet Creole's school tour featuring dance and music of Guinea West Africa entitled “BENKADE”, the Afro Prairie Film Festival in Winnipeg, The Yukon African Music Festival and many more. We’ve listed additional Black History Month themed events, resources and artists in the sections below, and you can find more on our website, as well as in this CBC article.
Do you know of a Black History Month event or featured project offered by a school or arts organization? Let us know, and we'll feature it on our website.
Resources
Artist-Educators
Dwayne Morgan (ON) Spoken word artist available for in-school talks and performances
Garth Prince (AB) Musician offering in-school performances, workshops, and residencies
Glen Marais and the Mojo Train (ON) Performing a Black History program for high schools and elementary schools in the GTA
Just Aïssi (ON) Choreographer and percussionist available for in-school performances through MASC
Just Jamaal the Poet (ON) Spoken word artist available for in-school performances and workshops through MASC
Kellylee Evans (ON) Singer-songwriter available for in-school performances and workshops through MASC
Kunda African Culture Music & Dance (BC) Offering in-school performances, workshops, and residencies
Leslie McCurdy (ON) Performing artist available for in-school performances through MASC
Organizations
African Stages Association of BC (BC) Offering traditional and contemporary African arts to gathering places, festivals, libraries and theatres in the Greater Vancouver area and across the country.
Ballet Creole (Etobicoke, ON) Offering in-school performances and the Black History Month exclusive performance 'Benkade'
Black Theatre Workshop (Montréal, QC) Canada's longest-running Black theater company offering a tour of schools during the month of February, in addition to their 2019-2020 season of productions and events.
Digital Resources
AfriClassical.com - African Heritage in Classical Music
Breaking the Chains - African Canadian Pioneers & Digital Storytelling
NFB Education - The Black Experience in Canada: A Rich History
ON THE ROAD NORTH - Black Canada and Journey to Freedom
Teaching African Canadian History
Events (2020)
Afro Prairie Film Festival (Winnipeg, MB) Feb 19 - 23
Black History Month @ SAMRU (Calgary, AB) Feb 4 - 29
Black History Month Cultural Activities and Dinner (Halifax, NS) Feb 8 @ 6:30pm
Black History Month Storytelling & Cultural Show (Surrey, BC) Feb 15 @ 4pm
Black History Month Closing School Tour (Iqaluit, NU) Feb 24 - 28
Controlled Damage - Neptune Theatre (Halifax, NS) Feb 4 - 23
Decolonizing Voices: A Celebration of Canadian Black HERstory (Vancouver, BC) Feb 6 @ 6pm
Ekow Nimako - Building Black: Civilizations (Toronto, ON) Sep 21 - Feb 23
Flags of Unsung Countries - Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba (Brandon, MB) Jan 16 - Mar 14
Hip-Hop Feminism: The Southern Dance Movement (Vancouver, BC) Feb 24 @ 8pm
Manman la mer - Théâtre Catapulte (Vanier, ON) Feb 8 - 15
Root; an afrocentric art experience for black history month (Vancouver, BC)
Things My Fore Sisters Saw - School Performance (Oakville, ON) Feb 13
Tubman Talks- Winter & Spring 2020 (Toronto, ON) Jan 28 - Apr 2
Yukon African Music Festival (Whitehorse, YT) Feb 7 - 8
Updated March 18, 2020