African Nova Scotian Music Association (ANSMA)

Africa Festival of Arts and Culture Society

The mission of AFACS is to encourage and foster successful exposure and community awareness of African arts and culture in Nova Scotia. AFACS is a cultural society that strives to provide enabling environment that will encourage the promotion of African arts and culture for all people of African descent residing in Nova Scotia. Source: afacs.org

MARITIME CENTRE FOR AFRICAN DANCE (MCAD INC.)

The Maritime Centre for African Dance (MCAD), most recently noted for performing at President Obama’s African Inaugural Ball, was formed in 2005, is an organization dedicated to teaching, sharing and promoting African Culture though the art of dance, to youth and adults across Nova Scotia and Canada. To date, MCAD has taught well over 600,0000 children and adults in schools, community centres, camps and programs. This number is ever increasing. This organization was formed out of a necessity for lack of cultural representation in the form of traditional dance in Canada, UK and the US. It is a collective of different individuals from Africa who have are trained in traditional dance and ranges from the South, North, West and East of Africa. As of 2009, MCAD began expanding not only within Canada but also in the US and Zimbabwe. In 2011, MCAD launched in the UK. Every year, MCAD holds Afro Dance Camps, (trademarked) for children/youth ages 8-Adults, which features cultural dance from areas such as Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia and South Africa to learning to play traditional instruments such as Marimba, (xylophone), jembe (drum), and mbira (thumb piano). ANYONE of any background, with or without dance experience is encouraged to come to this camp. MCAD also has resource material that is available for schools, communities and individuals. The resource material includes dvds, books and powerpoint presentations. For information on this email, admin@mcafricancamps.com. MCAD also hosts workshops and classes at various times all across the Canada. As well as two hip hop dance competitions, The Dance Off each year, one in Halifax and one in Toronto. The Dance Off is quickly growing and is now one of the largest Hip Hop dance competitions in the Maritimes. This years Halifax finalists competed for both prize money, as well as a chance to perform live at this summer rush, which has previously featured performers such as Rhianna, Akon, Girlicious, and Jesse McCartney, as well as ABDC winners Supercrew. MCAD’s adult troupe was the only Canadian dance troupe invited to perform last year for President Barrack Obama’s presidential inauguration.

Black Artists' Network of Nova Scotia (BANNS)

A non-profit, professional artist association seeking to develop African-Nova Scotian artists, and increase their representation in Canada's mainstream arts & culture.

Award Winning Nova Scotian Author, Gloria Ann Wesley

An avid writer, her interest in the origins of Blacks in Nova Scotia led to producing two booklets, Searching for An Identity (1979) and The Black Loyalists of Little Tracadie (2004). Her first book of poetry, To My Someday Child, published in 1975, enabled her to hold the distinction of being the first published Black Nova Scotian poet. Her poetry appears in three Canadian anthologies. Her novels include Chasing Freedom (2011), short-listed for the Ann Connor Brimer Award for Young Adult Fiction. If This Is Freedom (2013) was the winner of One Book Nova Scotia in 2016. Her other books include Abigail’s Wish (2016) and Righting Canada’s Wrongs - Africville (2019) . A current novel about a member of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, an all-Black military battalion in the First World War, will be released in the fall of 2019.

Mireka Starr

I am an artist specializing in abstract and portrait painting. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. I was raised in the small community of East Preston, and I am currently still living there. ...

Count It All Joy: By George Borden

Welcome to a domain unlike any that you have to date encountered. Count It All Joy! contains: Cultural history; religious observations, experiences and gospel songs; military triumphs and tributes; childhood musings and memories; life’s ebb and flow of happiness and sadness; sports and athletic achievements; a capsule account of notable black achievers and a potpourri of wisdom words, phrases and narratives. This eclectic volume of largely poetic content, encompasses the total range of involuntary ideas, thoughts, images, reflections and outright “anointings” of the author (an almost biographical account) over a lifetime period of 80 years … plus. You will be surprised by a poetic account of the black experience from “mother” Africa to seaside Nova Scotia, mainly via the United States of America, and as well The Caribbean, but as well recent generations of direct immigrants. Your religious insight will be dramatically enhanced by totally evolutionary approaches to telling “The Old Old Story.” Poems of tribute to Canada’s long military history, with emphasis on the little known Black Battalion (army) of World War One, will prove most enlightening as regards untold accounts of black men’s metal under fire … both military and civilian. You will be transported back to your years of youth and childhood, through the eyes and memories of yesteryear, when underprivileged black children sought fun and pleasure from the most unlikely adventures, and young black boys struggled to “be someone,” in a most inhospitable white world. Memorable occasions of love, romance, flowers and chocolates, aging and death, are all unveiled in imagined and actual experiential accounts. The profound impact of black participation in Sports and athletics will astonish even those who consider themselves well-versed in both recreational and professional stats and standings. A short list of accomplished blacks might astonish you to know how far they’ve come and how much push-back they have endured, to become legitimate success stories, through their personal determination. Under the broad title “Words of Wisdom,” you will find a compilation of expressions (long and short) reflecting the inner thoughts and deep-seeded feelings regarding a long life of experiences. May you find meaning and confirmation, education and perhaps some measure of enlightenment as you negotiate your way through this intriguing domain. ----------------------------- Additional Information Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia Profile - https://www.writers.ns.ca/members/profile/37 INTERNATIONAL WAR VETERANS POETRY ARCHIVES - https://iwvpa.net/borden_ga/index.php

The Nova Scotia Mass Choir

The Nova Scotia Mass Choir was founded in 1992. It is a choral ensemble based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Mass Choir is a two-time ECMA Award winning multicultural gospel choir based in Halifax, Nova Scotia,Canada. Through both its music and its very composition, the choir actively spreads its message of racial harmony. The choir has performed locally, nationally and internationally, bringing their music and message to concert halls, theatres, churches, schools, and community centers. Through its performances, the choir often reaches audiences that would not normally be exposed to the genre of black gospel music, thereby raising awareness of some of the cultural contributions of African Nova Scotians to the fabric of the province. Since its inception in 1992, the Nova Scotia Mass Choir has collaborated with an impressive list of musical talent – one that could be considered a “who’s who” of music in Nova Scotia. The choir’s repertoire has consistently featured compositions by well-known local composers and musical directors as well as choir members themselves, all of which has contributed to the group’s distinctive sound. Several times a year, the Mass Choir gives benefit concerts in support of racial harmony and to assist various charitable causes.

Teens Now Talk

Finally teens have a chance to express themselves and be published, filling a very real need in Atlantic Canada. A curious facilitator discovered throughout the years of working with youth that “Teens ask the same questions today that where asked years ago”. Although the times have changed – teens are in a much faster era, with technology at their fingertips – they’re still asking the questions. No one seems to be listening to them. From the powerful suggestions given by teens, to help the facilitator on her journey to show the world just what makes teens tick, Teens Now Talk was born. Teens Now Talk is an explosive literary vehicle responding to the needs and wants of today’s teens in the HRM and Atlantic Canada. We are committed to raising teen awareness, confidence, self- esteem and motivation to a level where teens will discover tools and resourceful outlets through creative writing, expression and art. What are the bigest issues affecting teens today? Written by teens, for teens; Atlantic Canadian teen issues, viewpoints and concerns will ignite and educated the writer and reader. Their teen voices will generate interest, stimulate creativity and provide the creation of content. TNT platform involves teens addressing teens key issues of today, on social, physical, mental, educational, spiritual, and emotional struggles. Our platform will provide teens with oppuntunities to showcase and express their dynamic creative abilities in the form of… poetry, short stories, art, spoken word or song while receiving DaBomb Braggin’ Rights. T.N.T. understands that teens are the future leaders and developers of our community, and we also believe that it takes a village to raise a child. Therefore, we operate as a movement on a grass-roots community level, igniting and empowering teens of the ages 13-19 to Be Seen, Be Heard and Be the Teen VOICE of the future, as they Write Their World. Shout out to all Teens We invite you to become a part of the experience you’ve been waiting for – a chance to have your creativity seen and your voices heard. Thousands of teens are listening and thousands more silently feel the same way as you. Submit your original short stories, spoken word, life articles, poetry, song lyrics, art and more… Get it off your chest…Write your world – send them all in!

Aquakultre

Aquakultre is a surprising musical expression that ways up from the underground - Vish Khanna

Alphv In The Room

Welcome to AlphV In The Room, the place for your entertainment. On this channel I "@RobtheAlphV" will be hosting guest to discuss how they maneuver throughout life, as a AlphV (Male/Female/Other). Breaking down life lessons, teachings, experiences, trying to motivate and also inspiring individuals to become their ultimate self. I will be getting guest to also join me with video reactions, reviews, challenges, tips, mental health, food and also laughter, because JOY is important. I will also do a lot of solo acts on this channel, so be prepared to see a lot of Me. If you made it this far with my description, I ask that you simply subscribe to my page, leave a like and comment if you can. I hope to spread Joy, peace, Self-Love and awareness to everyone that engages. Rob The Alphv Out! Be Bless and be Ready.