African Day on the Hill Celebration
by Olivia Barrett, Editorial Associate
Saturday 10 February 2024
With several cultural performances and speeches from community leaders, the African Canadian Association of Ottawa (ACAO) celebrated Black History Month with “African Day on the Hill”. On February 10, members and leaders from Ottawa’s Black and African communities gathered at Collège La Cité to showcase the beauty and diversity of cultures from across Africa.
The celebration highlighted the theme of sparking hope and making a difference throughout the Black community in Ottawa. ACAO President John Adeyefa emphasized this theme, saying it is not just a celebration but a “vibrant testament to the rich tapestry of Black heritage in Canada.” He added that African Day on the Hill highlights how the contributions of the Black community enrich Canadian society socially, culturally and economically.
While stressing the importance of appreciating the contributions of our ancestors, Adeyefa said the youth are “the beacon of our future,” adding that the community should empower them through the inspiring legacies of past and present heroes, like Speaker of the House, the Honourable Greg Fergus.
Fergus had made history in October 2023, when he became the first Black Speaker of the House of Commons in Canada and in the Group of Seven (G7). While speaking at the celebration, Fergus reflected on being a university student in Ottawa and not seeing many other Black people around the city. “You know, when you walk down the street, you’d see another one,” he said while gesturing giving ‘the nod.’ “If I don’t know you, I’m gonna know you,” Fergus said, adding that the Black community in the Ottawa-Gatineau region has grown significantly.
Fergus also echoed sentiments from Adefeya’s speech earlier in the night, adding that while Black History Month provides the time and space to celebrate the history of the Black community, it also provides the opportunity for working towards the future. “Our job is not only to celebrate during this month, but it’s to always continue to reinforce and to celebrate and to support year along,” he added.
As the celebration continued, the audience was treated to variety of musical and artistic performances from numerous nations, such as Uganda and Rwanda.
From dancing to a fashion show to singing and spoken word poetry, the wide array of talent across the diaspora was on display for the enthusiastic audience all night long. Performers included the Itetero Group, a dance group comprised of Rwandan youth; Deborah Senyange, a spoken word artist; Heritage Colombien, a Colombian dance group, and Vee Leconte, a Haitian singer.
Throughout the night, speakers and performers showed what it meant to spark hope and make a difference within the community by highlighting the richness of the variety of cultures in the diverse Black community and their impact on Canada. With community members, leaders, organizations and allies in the crowd at the 2024 celebration of African Day on the Hill, Adeyefa urged them to continue this celebration beyond this one night. He said, “I invite you to join us, not just tonight, but throughout the year, in a collective journey to honour our past, celebrate our present and shape our future.”
