Omoluabi News

The Black Canadians for Cultural, Educational and Economic Progress (BCCEEP) were honoured to host the first ever African Village.  As visionaries and leaders in the Windsor community, BCCEEP was proud to join the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County to promote acceptance and diversity in the community.

The goal was to create a welcoming environment where people felt free to explore and enjoy African culture and over the course of three days, attendees had the opportunity to relish in food, fashion, music and entertainment from across Africa.  Food was a main attraction and even though many people were not familiar with the dishes, a surprisingly large number of people were excited and open to try a variety of the African foods.

Attendees also had the opportunity to learn about African traditions through informative, “Did you Know” sessions, head wrap tutorials and African Moonlight Stories, which tells tales of morality through traditional fables.   Other activities included: African face painting and games, dance lessons, fashion shows, dance performances and a special guest appearance from the Bangladesh Tribal Dance Group.

February 21st recognizes the rare instance in history when people sacrificed their lives for the right to speak in their mother tongue. This year, Harmony, Cultural Research and Exchange Forum, chose to celebrate International Mother Language Day with the 2019, “Multinational Mother Language Fest” (MMLF).

Including 20 countries and more than 25 mother languages, countries from across the world gathered in Windsor’s Caboto Club. The Nigerian Canadians for Cultural, Educational and Economic Progress (NCCEEP) and Omoluabi Newspaper were proud to be one of the sponsors for the event and had the opportunity to showcase Nigeria with a performance.

A ‘Nigerian Moon Light Story’, was presented first in English by Abiola Afolabi and followed in Yoruba by Pastor O. Afolabi. The iridescent background set the stage visually and the crowd was encouraged to sing along to the beat of the drums played by Kolawole Akinbinu. NCCEEP offered a variety of traditional food for sale including puff puff, jollof rice, pepper soup and zobo drink.

Countries including Poland, Nepal, China, and the Philippines displayed their cultures through a variety of art forms such as song, dance and storytelling. Attendees can look forward to enjoying the festivities again as Harmony plans on celebrating MMLF every year in Windsor!

Mehari Hagos founder of the MH 100 Teen Program welcomed guests to view the redesigned, state of the art, work out facility at an Open House event at Windsor’s Water World. The facility which bolstered a new training area specifically for football drills, a boxing area and new workout equipment, was funded through the provinces’ Ontario Black Youth Action Plan.

Dico Angelo, who assists with program operations, said they planned the grand re-opening to take place during Black history month in part to showcase the new murals from artist, David Derkatz. Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali and Serena Williams now grace the walls of the top floor of Water World where the MH100 program takes place, no doubt inspiring the youth that if they believe it they can achieve it.

The program offers a space where youth can do their homework and provides access to exercise and training equipment. They offer healthy snacks and a variety of complimentary programs such as their ‘Black Girls Rock’ program, ‘Money Mondays’, a financial literacy class and a new partnership with the ‘Rise Up Basketball’, 8-week program.

For more information about the program visit: the100program.com

On February 16th, 2019 the Omoluabi Newspaper presented Principles in Black History at the WFCU Center. People from all walks of the community were in attendance including Lana Talbot and Brenda Travis, performers Teajai Travis and Leslie McCurdy, Sergeant Ed Armstrong and Constable S. Gill of the Windsor Police Services, and local Historian Irene Moore-Davis.

The importance of celebrating black history is unquestionably necessary but the idea that it is limited to the shortest month of the year was a factor observed by Historian Irene Moore-Davis. She encouraged the audience to take note that Black history month should be a time to remember not only those who are acknowledged in the history books but all the unmentioned, undocumented Africans who helped shape the country.

Leslie McCurdy performed a segment from her one woman play, ‘Things My Fore-Sisters Saw’. Performing as Rose Fortune, she wowed the audience as she relived what a typical day might look like for the first ‘policewoman’ in North America.

Community activist and poet, Teajai Travis welcomed crowd involvement while reciting powerful spoken word. His performance included Police Sergeant Ed Armstrong who assisted him by playing on the African drums.

NCCEEP was proud to receive a certificate from the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County recognising their efforts in honoring the contributions, experiences, and legacies of Black Canadians past and present.

The Omoluabi and ACSOO dance groups performed traditional dances and reminded the audience the importance of passing down Black history to our youth. Copies of the Omoluabi Newspaper were distributed along with pins and pens and the night concluded with a variety of refreshments including traditional African treats like plantain chips, puff puff and meat pies. The goal of the night was to continue the hard work of previous generations, so the next generation can progress even further and also share this ingenuity well past the month of February.

Unifor Local 444 presented “The Unity of Our Community” Black History Month Fundraiser Dinner on Saturday February 16th, 2019.

Events highlighting the many great accomplishments of the black community provide an opportunity to show the public just how important their contributions are to all of society as well as provide a platform for current artists and creators.

Teajai Travis performed spoken word accompanied by his African drums and actress, writer and historian, Leslie McCurdy, performed an excerpt from her one woman play, Things My Fore-Sisters Saw. Performing as Viola Desmond, who was recently named as the new face of the Canadian $10 bill, McCurdy shed light on the impact Desmond made when she challenged racial segregation by refusing to leave a whites only area of a theatre.

“Black history is an integral part of North American history and should be celebrated all year round and interwoven with the history we give to the country.” -Leslie McCurdy

Attendees were treated to a delicious soul food dinner which included traditional southern dishes such as collard greens and fried chicken. Copies of the Omoluabi Newspaper and pins were distributed and there was an opportunity to win a variety of prizes through their silent auction, 50/50 draw and raffle.