Iqaluit’s black community celebrates civil rights, diverse cultures

Lekan Thomas created this logo for Iqaluit’s Black History Month celebrations. The design includes elements related to Nunavut, Canada and Africa, which could “inspire people to be inclusive and recognize each other,” he said. (IMAGE COURTESY OF IQALUIT BLACK HISTORY MONTH GROUP)

Black History Month organizers in Iqaluit are putting on a celebration and variety show at the cadet hall Feb. 22 between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. (FACEBOOK IMAGE)

Iqaluit Black History Month organizers Adrian Allder and Lekan Thomas at Astro Theatre for the Feb, 17 screening of the movie Selma, which they hosted as part of the month’s slate of events. (PHOTO BY PETER VARGA)

Little more than a decade ago, it was unusual to see many black people in Iqaluit but today, more than 150 residents who identify with the black community reside in the Nunavut capital.

“When I first came to Iqaluit in 2003, you could count the amount of black people on both hands,” said Adrian Allder, who helped organize Iqaluit’s second annual Black History Month events.

“Now, the population has exploded,” he said, pointing out that it includes residents who hail from Ethiopia, Nigeria, the Caribbean, as well as the United States and other parts of Canada.

Black History Month provides an opportunity to celebrate their diverse heritage, which draws from various countries and regions in Africa and the Americas.

This month’s events are a chance to share that kaleidoscope of cultures with the broader community of Iqaluit, he said, “who have had a limited exposure to us, to begin with.”

“The important thing for us is the sharing of aspects of our culture — our food or dance, storytelling, art, or films, music — everything.” Allder said.

The community is doing just that with a series of events this month.

They include film screenings, arts and cultural exhibits, and festive celebrations.

The group officially kicked off its slate of Black History Month events Feb. 13.

Topping the list was the screening of the movie Selma, at the Astro Theatre, Feb. 17, which tells part of the story of Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight for the civil rights of black Americans in the 1960s.

King’s ideas are at the root of the celebration of Black History Month, said Lekan Thomas, co-organizer of the Iqaluit events.

“When Dr. Martin Luther King spoke, he did say that he had a dream for everybody,” Thomas said.

“It wasn’t just black people. And I think we need to remind ourselves of that, that the entire civil rights movement is recognized properly.

“It’s a civil rights movement for everybody. Which means some of the things that have happened in Nunavut, that sort of support and benefit Inuit people, that’s also part of it.”

This year marks the second year of the celebration in Iqaluit which started with what was supposed to be a small celebration at the Francophone Centre last year. The centre quickly filled to capacity.

Iqalungmiut were drawn to an afternoon of festivities featuring foods from sub-Saharan African countries, dance performances, storytelling and trivia games about black history.

“It was a huge success. It was the genesis of everything that we’re doing now,” Allder said.

This year’s equivalent to that event will be a similar “Celebration and Variety Show” at the Cadet Hall on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 22.

The larger venue will provide more space for an expanded offering of traditional food from black cultures, performances, guest speakers, trivia, and prizes — all free of charge.

“It’s going to be a day of family fun,” Allder said.

For those more interested in artwork and cultural artifacts from Africa, the Hotel Arctic will host an African arts exhibition Sat., Feb. 28.

“That’s going to be unique custom artwork inspired by, and from, Africa,” Allder said. “It’s going to be available for viewing and purchase.

“I know I’m looking forward to getting a nice mask or shield,” he laughed. “We’ll see.”

Elsewhere in the city, Iqaluit Centennial Library is hosting a smaller exhibit of traditional Nigerian clothing, artwork and tools, all month long.

Events close Feb. 28 in the evening, with a “jabula,” as the Zulu people of southeastern Africa call it, at the Royal Canadian Legion. Jabula is a celebration of dance, translated as “have fun” or “rejoice.” But the final event won’t just be about the Zulu dancing, Allder said.

“You’re going to hear calypso, soca music – which is indigenous to the Caribbean,” Allder said, as well as reggae.

“You’re going to hear hip-hop rap music, which has its origins in the U.S.A., as well as R&B music.”

The list is long, he said, underlining that a huge share of the music that we enjoy today “derives, or originally had its roots in black culture.”

Iqaluit’s black community reflects the city’s growing diversity of peoples, much like in the rest of Canada.

Even though they self-identify as “people of colour,” with early African lineage, “it’s important to keep those definitions open,” Thomas said.

“It’s not meant to be exclusive in any way.”

Thomas created a distinctive logo for Black History Month in Nunavut this year. The African continent features prominently but it includes other elements to honour Nunavut such as a brilliant “midnight sun” with outreaching kakivak fishing spears, he said.

A woman with recognizably black African features at the centre of the image also wears an earring in the shape of a maple seed — which refers to Canada, he said.

“I really wanted to make sure I created a logo that was appropriate for Nunavut, appropriate for Canada, and that would inspire people to be inclusive and recognize each other,” Thomas said.

“We’re a growing population here” in Iqaluit, Allder said. “There’s different aspects to our culture that we can share and enjoy amongst each other, and that we would just like to share with the wider community as well.”

See the “Iqaluit Black History Month” Facebook page for more information on this month’s events.