February marks our annual celebration of African Heritage Month at Acadia and across Nova Scotia. For 2025, the provincial and Acadia theme is “Legacy in Action: Celebrating Black Brilliance.” This theme emphasizes the living legacy of Black Nova Scotians and celebrates their resilience, impact, and vibrant communities. It highlights the community’s greatness, leadership through deep connection with elders, storytelling, the rhythms of change, and the ability to look back to move forward.

A portrait of Lerato Chondoma smiling in front of a wall of greenery

A Message from Lerato Chondoma

Associate Vice-President, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism

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What does building a legacy or Black Brilliance mean to you?

Our community proudly shares their perspectives on Black Brilliance, emphasizing resilience, excellence, and authenticity. They highlight the significance of building a legacy through creating opportunities, advocating for justice, and ensuring inclusivity for future generations. Explore the insights of our community members as they reflect on what Black Brilliance means to them.

TaNyah Gibson
Vice President of The Acadia Caribbean Union, Business Student


Black brilliance is the excellence, resilience, and creativity that shine through despite adversity, found in the leaders who inspire change, the ancestors who paved the way, and the everyday moments where we uplift and empower each other. Building a legacy means creating opportunities for those who come after us, ensuring that our stories are told, our voices are heard, and our impact is felt long after we are gone.

Megan Glasgow
President of The Acadia Caribbean Union, Psychology Student


Building legacy to me means speaking out against injustices and working towards solutions that will ensure that those who come behind me are able to fully be themselves. Black Brilliance to me means showing up as yourself fully and engaging in activities that you find fulfilling.

Taya Lucas-Desmond
Earth and Environmental Science Student


To me, Black Brilliance means being my authentic self and showcasing my hard work and determination as a Black student. Building a legacy means ensuring that Acadia is a more inclusive space for future Black students and staff.  

Ariel Evans
SOC President, Theatre Student


To me, building a legacy begins with acknowledging the struggles of our ancestors. Only when we recognize their hardships can we change the narrative of what it means to be Black and create a new legacy of excellence, community, and collaboration.

Shirley Chibouke
SOC VP of Communications, Business Student


To me, Black brilliance means embodying resilience, excellence, and leadership—thriving despite adversity and paving the way for future generations to succeed with fewer barriers. It’s about turning challenges into opportunities, uplifting our community, and ensuring that those who come after us can flourish with greater ease.

Saheed Akande
Business Student


Creating spaces for future generations to live unabashedly, empowered by the successes and perseverance of those who came before them, is what it means to leave a legacy of Black Brilliance. It is about leading with purpose, breaking down boundaries, and ensuring that our contributions have a long-term influence in our communities and beyond.

Treyvon Nicolls
ASU Councillor at Large, Computer Science Student


Building a legacy of Black Brilliance means striving for excellence with integrity, creating opportunities for future generations, and uplifting my community through knowledge, resilience, and leadership. It's about honoring the past, shaping the present, and inspiring the future by embodying the values of discipline, honesty, and innovation in everything I do.

Jaiana M. J. Sharpe (she/her)
BSA President & SoC VP of Events, BSc Psychology


For me it means to encourage fellow black students and myself to be the best that we can be in the hope that our successes will be repeated by future generations.  

Mickey Russell (she/her)
Human Rights Education and Response Advocate


To me, creating a legacy is about doing something or creating something that will cause change and impact generations. It is about who we choose to be and the waves we choose to make to better the future past our days at Acadia.

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Resources

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Scarborough Charter

Acadia joined 40 post-secondary institutions across Canada in November 2021 to sign the Scarborough Charter on anti-Black racism and Black inclusion in Canadian higher education: Principles, Actions, and Accountabilities. As of May 2022, there have been 53 post-secondary institutions to sign the charter, with more to come. Those who have signed the Charter have committed to addressing and redressing the anti-Black racism in universities and colleges across Canada and fostering Black inclusion on those campuses.

As we celebrate African Heritage Month at Acadia University, it is a time to take pause and reflect on where we have come from and where we are going as a campus community that affirms Black excellence, Black brilliance and Black thriving as well as our collective accountability for a more inclusive, equitable, and anti-racist Acadia.

The 2025 provincial and Acadia theme is “Legacy in Action: Celebrating Black Brilliance.” The theme celebrates the enduring legacy of Black Nova Scotians, paying tribute to the community’s resilience, achievements, and impact throughout history. It reflects the brilliance within the community: the stories we share, the lessons passed down by our elders, the rhythms that drive progress, and the powerful ability to honor the past while shaping the future.

The theme also aligns with the culmination of the second United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent (2025–2034). Over the past decade, this global initiative has emphasized empowerment, leadership, and increased awareness of the contributions of people of African descent worldwide. The decade’s focus on justice, recognition, and development mirrors the progress and presence of Black Nova Scotians in all facets of society.

Nova Scotia is home to 52 historic African Nova Scotian communities, with a rich and complex history that spans more than 200 years. African Heritage Month is a time to honor this heritage and celebrate the culture, achievements, and contributions of Black Nova Scotians—both past and present. It is a moment to recognize the strength of our shared legacy and the brilliance that continues to inspire future generations.

Throughout the month and year, it is essential to recognize the profound contributions that Black individuals have made to Acadia University, the Town of Wolfville, the Annapolis Valley, as well as Canadian society, culture, and economy. This month provides an opportunity to reflect on the past while acknowledging the ongoing challenges and achievements of Black communities across Nova Scotia.

Current Statistics Canada data reveals notable disparities in education and employment within Black communities. According to the 2021 Census, Black individuals represent approximately 3.5% of Canada’s population. While educational attainment rates among Black Canadians have improved significantly, there remains work to be done to close the gaps. In Nova Scotia, the high school graduation rate for Black students has seen recent progress but still lags behind the provincial average.

In terms of employment, Black Canadians experience higher unemployment rates compared to their white counterparts. The 2021 Canadian Community Health Survey indicated that Black Canadians had an unemployment rate of around 12.1%, compared to a national average of 5.9%. In Nova Scotia, these disparities echo the national trends, with Black communities facing continued barriers in accessing quality employment opportunities, earning less on average than non-Black employees.

As we honor African Heritage Month, let us reaffirm our commitment to promoting equity, inclusion, and social justice for Black Nova Scotians. It is crucial to support policies and initiatives aimed at increasing access to education and employment opportunities for Black communities. Together, we can create a more inclusive Acadia University that values diversity and supports the empowerment of all individuals that walk through our halls.

Let this month inspire us to further educate ourselves about the rich history and contributions of Black Nova Scotians and individuals of African descent, to take action towards building a brighter, more equitable future for all.