Anansi School of Performing Arts students will be among the many Winnipeg artistic groups Friday celebrating the success of Black Canadians — and acknowledging Emancipation Day.
Emancipation Day is recognized annually in Canada on Aug. 1 to commemorate the Slavery Abolition Act throughout the British colonies in 1834. More than 12 million African people were enslaved and more than two million are estimated to have died en route amid the transatlantic slave trade.
Friday’s event at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, hosted by the Black History Manitoba celebration committee, welcomes 12 Anansi School performers, ages eight and up.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Black History Manitoba focused most of its planning around Black History Month, but is making a conscious effort to take opportunities to educate the community year-round, says treasurer Rhonda Thompson.
The students will dance to Hlohonolofatsa, a South African greeting song sung in the Sesotho language that celebrates the hardships and blessings Black people face.
“The song starts off very sombre, and then it builds up to a very happy ending, and we think that’s a perfect portrayal of Emancipation Day,” said Robin Dwarka, founding member and treasurer of Anansi School.
The event will also feature panelists, a spoken word performance from Bancroft Williams, drumming by Jay Stoller, an art exhibit presented by United Artists of Winnipeg, and special performances by violinist Aanu Adeyemo and reggae artist Lyberal.
Slavery was legalized in early Canada in 1709, and it was practiced for longer than it has been abolished. The transatlantic slave trade was a form of colonialism and white supremacy — the root of systemic racism that still exists today, organizers said.
Canadian textbooks often showcase stories about the Underground Railroad, which offered freedom to slaves from the United States, rather than also acknowledging the nation’s role in enslaving more than 4,000 Black and Indigenous people, said Rhonda Thompson, treasurer for Black History Manitoba.
“We find it so important to have events like this to bring that information to light and fill in the gaps that we’ve seen in history books and ensure that individuals have the information they need to make educated decisions here today, and to have those thought-provoking conversations in a wider space.”
Black History Manitoba focused most of its planning around Black History Month, but is making a conscious effort to take opportunities to educate the community year-round, said Thompson.
The organization advocates for changes within the Manitoba educational curriculum to be more inclusive to Black history and culture, and for communities to learn about the impacts of systemic racism in Canada and ways to provide support.
Thompson said she wants event attendees to feel empowered and encouraged to dig deeper into the true roots of Canadian history, walking away with a greater sense of knowledge and pride of the Black community in Winnipeg.
“We want individuals to feel courageous and be able to step out and advocate for issues that have been swept under the rug for so long,” said Thompson.
“We want to build to the point where having the conversation about advocating for Black history will not have to be a conversation because it will just be a normal part of Canadian history.”
The CMHR shares stories of Black human rights champions from around the world in its galleries and online.
“Our role at the museum is to help people look at the world through the lens of human rights — to reflect on moments where rights haven’t been respected, but also on the courage of those who’ve resisted the violation of their rights to build a better future for everyone,” said Rorie McLeod, CMHR spokesperson.
This is the second year Black History Manitoba has hosted its Emancipation Day event at the Winnipeg-based national museum (6-11 p.m. on the first floor). Guests can also visit the CMHR galleries until 9 p.m. as part of its “Free Friday Nights” promotion.
