CapU in Photos: Black History Month 2024

Written by Susan Romeo-Gilbert

Published4 April, 2024

Photo credit Patrick Leung

Black History Month 2024 at CapU was a huge success, a testament to the hard work, collaboration and sponsorship of everyone involved.

Historical background banners researched and written by journalist Richard Gilbert

A dance and drumming performance of “The Lion and the Cattle” by two Rwandan dance companies, Mdundo Arts and Indangamirwa Traditional Dance Group.

Angelique, a dancer from the Indangamirwa Traditional Dance Group, performing in the Birch Cafeteria.

Embrace Rwanda International Society craft and fabric sale.

Students playing on a gyil (balafon), a traditional African instrument.

This year’s Black History Month included more than 20 sessions that were presented in person, hybrid, and via Zoom. There were also book displays featuring authors from the African diaspora in the CapU Library.

Highlights included an opening panel discussion featuring Franklin Bouguep, Florence Dent and Grateful Fugar on “Music and Art – to Take Away the Pains of Slavery.”

Another highlight was a performance at the BlueShore Theatre by Theodore “Dutch” Robinson, a former vocalist for the Ohio Players, who sang his song “Human” which takes a magnifying glass to the conditions on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Theodore “Dutch” Robinson performing songs from his new album, “Where are You Mankind?” at the BlueShore Theatre.

Susan Romeo-Gilbert presenting Dutch with gifts and a traditional Indigenous blanket.

CapU staff with attendees from the U.S. Consulate General Vancouver.

Change Education Series

A collection of events uniting the CapU community against hate and racism while embracing understanding and diversity.

Change Education Series

For three Fridays, jazz studies instructor Kofi Gbolongo opened his music and African drumming classes to the CapU community.

Students learning traditional African drumming and songs with instructor Kofi Gbolongo.

Each Monday, there was a lunchtime meet and greet on African diasporic historical perspectives, displayed on banners written and researched by journalist Richard Gilbert on topics including:

African independence and revolutionary leaders;
A brief history of Indigenous and African slavery in Canada;
Origins of white settler colonialism & systemic racism in BC;
George Floyd protest and systemic racism in Vancouver;
Origins of popular entertainment and the jazz scene in Vancouver;
Origins of the African Canadian community in Vancouver; and
Origins of systemic racism in Sports in Canada.

This month, Capilano Students Union (CSU) initiatives included an art contest and unveiling the Black Block Association Mobile Mural in the Black Students Union Lounge.

Instructor Susan Romeo-Gilbert with students from the Black Student Union next to the new Black Block Association mural.

We returned from reading break to two sessions. The first, hosted by CapU instructor Oludamda Durodola, was a fireside chat on “The Afrobeat and African Gospel origins.”

This was followed by a documentary film in the CSU Lounge, titled “A Panoramic View of Ghana, West Africa,” edited into a documentary format by CapU Motion Picture Arts student Sancia Allen.

The CSU hosted a winter festival and a cabaret evening to wrap up February. Performers included Vancouver comedian Kwasi Thomas and student bands Afu Trio and Haleluya Hailu.

The grand finale on March 1 included an evening of Jazz with CapU alumni Dawn Pemberton and CapU Jazz Studies Ensemble students.