African Day on The Hill 2025: A Decade of Celebrating Culture and Unity
by Obasola Bamigbola, Editorial Associate
Saturday 15 February 15, 2025
The African Canadian Association of Ottawa (ACAO) marked a significant milestone with the 10th anniversary of African Day on The Hill (ADOTH), a grand celebration of culture, heritage, and unity. The event, held at La Cite, Aviation Parkway, Ottawa, drew dignitaries, community leaders, politicians, artists, and cultural enthusiasts from across the city and beyond.
This year’s theme, “Building Bridges, Celebrating Cultures,” highlighted the importance of fostering cross-cultural understanding, inclusion, and collaboration among diverse communities. The gala evening showcased African heritage through music, fashion, spoken word, and culinary delights, reinforcing ADOTH’s role in strengthening Canada’s multicultural fabric.
The evening commenced with a warm welcome and introduction by Masters of Ceremony Adrian Harewood and Peggy Civil. Following Ms. Agnes Affum’s land acknowledgment, the audience stood for the Canadian and African anthems, performed by Claudine Michel.
Several goodwill messages graced the event, including from Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Deputy Mayor Rawlson King. Both acknowledged the invaluable contributions of African Canadians to Ottawa’s social and economic landscape. The African Development Bank also delivered a special message reinforcing the importance of African heritage and development.
One of the evening’s highlights was a documentary presentation, ACAO’s 10 Years of Impact, which reflected on the organisation’s community-driven programs and achievements over the past decade. The ACAO’s Chief Servant Officer, Hector Addison, delivered a heartfelt welcome address, emphasising the association’s commitment to fostering unity.
The keynote address was delivered by Senator Suze Youance, who spoke passionately about the role of African diasporic communities in shaping Canada’s future through leadership, innovation, and cultural influence.
The night was enriched with an array of captivating performances:
- Itetero Group (Rwanda Youth) showcased the vibrancy of Rwandan traditional dance.
- Stefan Keyes enthralled the audience with a soulful vocal performance.
- Héritage Colombien brought Afro-Latin energy to the stage.
- Igbo Church Catholic Women League of Canada (CWL) delivered a moving performance.
- Kamengo Cultural Troupe (Uganda), Bafut Manjong East Canada (Cameroon), and Ngoma of Africa Troupe (Uganda) mesmerized attendees with dynamic drumming and dance sequences.
- Maya Spoken captivated with an empowering spoken-word poetry performance.
A major highlight was the Cultural Fashion Parade of Nations, where vibrant African fashion and traditional attire took centre stage, celebrating the diverse aesthetics of the continent.
The evening also recognized outstanding contributions within the African Canadian community through the ACAO Awards Presentations:
- ACAO Award for Excellence: Prof. Wisdom Tettey (President, Carleton University)
- ACAO Community Impact Award: Ms. Sonia Bizimana (Black Executives Network)
- ACAO Distinguished Partner Award: Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE)
- ACAO Business and Entrepreneurship Award: Obinna Eze (Ostan Engineering)
- Outstanding African Community Association Recognition: Sudanese Canadians Association of Ottawa
- Outstanding Young Leader Recognition: Camile Kamanzi (Burundi We Want)
- Notable Volunteer Recognition: George Njoroge
As the formal proceedings concluded, attendees enjoyed an elegant dinner, followed by an after-party featuring DJ Khaled, ensuring the celebration ended on a high note with music and dance.
African Day on The Hill 2025 reaffirmed its mission of uniting people through culture, dialogue, and shared experiences. As ACAO continues to pave the way for future generations, this 10th-anniversary celebration stands as a testament to the resilience, creativity, and unity of African Canadian communities in Ottawa and beyond.
