AFRICAN HERITAGE MONTH 2009
February 2009 will mark the 25th year Nova Scotians have celebrated African Heritage Month in this province.
Click to view copy of provincial proclamation
Black History Month was founded in 1926 by Harvard educated Black historian, Carter G. Woodson. It started as a “week” in February to celebrate the history, contributions and culture of African-Americans.
Woodson chose the second week in February for the newly formed Negro History Week to coincide with the birth dates of Black activist Frederick Douglas (Feb. 14, 1817) and President Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12, 1809).
In the 1970s, several Black organizations and community leaders banded together to promoted the concept of Black History Month. In 1976, as part of the American bi-centennial celebration in 1976, the week was expanded to a month, becoming National Black History Month.
In Nova Scotia, the celebration of Black History Month was initiated in the early 1980s through the efforts of the Black History Month Association. It is now in its second decade and is known as African Heritage Month.
Read News Releases on launches
African Heritage Month Launches |
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| Halifax Provincial Launch Red Room, Province House January 27, 2009 |
Wolfville Regional Launch - Valley Fountain Common, Acadia University January 27, 2009 |
 Minister Barry Barnet and Joan Jones |
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| Cape Breton Regional Launch Municipal Building January 30, 2009 |
Amherst Regional Launch - Central / Strait Cumberland Co. Municipal Office February 2, 2009 |
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 Theresa Halfkenny; Bill Casey; Rev. Veronica Mercury-Crichton; and Elizabeth Cooke-Sumbu |
African Heritage Month Poster
The Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs has again produced an events brochure, and a commemorative poster.
Click here to view the poster
The African Heritage Month Information Network includes: African Nova Scotian Affairs (ANSA), African Nova Scotian Music Association (ANSMA), African Heritage Month Southwest Network, Black History Month Association (BHMA), Cumberland African Nova Scotian Association (CANSA), Cape Breton Service Providers, and the Valley African Nova Scotian Development
Association (VANSDA).
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Heritage Links
The African Burial Ground
African Masks Design Lesson
Black History Canada
Nova Scotia Archives Heritage Exhibit
