Events

A colloquium for the International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM) will be hosted by Centre for Sound Communities, Cape Breton University, October 6-12, 2019. This colloquium follows the theme “Songs and Stories of Migration and Encounter.” 18 international scholars are invited to share their research on this theme and to create dialogue among specialists from … Continue reading Songs and Stories: ICTM Colloquium Public Lecture

According to the national poll, First Nations people and African-Canadians are among those likely to be targets of racism, but 59 per cent of respondents viewed Muslims as the most likely targets. Afua Cooper, a sociology professor at Dalhousie University and a Muslim woman, says this is concerning. “My alert level is quite high with … Continue reading Halifax residents react to Ipsos poll on racism

Halifax’s Poet Laureate, Dr. Afua Cooper, reflects on the meaning of poetry in her life, her love of libraries, and staying inspired. Read the full blog post at Halifax Public Libraries – Halifax Blogs. What I love about libraries Libraries gave me wings to fly. As a young child, I would lose myself in books … Continue reading What I love about libraries..

Halifax Public Libraries guest blog by Halifax’s Poet Laureate, Dr. Afua Cooper (April 30, 2019) Poetry that inspires me In elementary school in Jamaica, my teachers introduced my classmates and I to Caribbean poets. What a gift! We read such poets as Claude McKay, Louise Bennet, and Nicolas Guillen in translation. Claude McKay wrote some … Continue reading Poetry Can Heal The World

Halifax’s Poet Laureate, Afua Cooper shares her aspirations for the role of poet laureate and discusses her poetic interests with fellow poet, Sue Goyette at the Halifax Central Library on January 24th, 2019. Dr. Afua Cooper, cross-appointed to the Departments of History and Sociology & Social Anthropology and the most recent James R. Johnston Chair … Continue reading POET LAUREATE READING – January 24th @ Halifax Central Library

2017’s Black History Month, Historica Canada was proud to host a special evening of storytelling and music in celebration of Canadian Black History: Black Canadian Trailblazers – Then and Now. To ring in Canada’s sesquicentennial year, we celebrated the achievements of historical and contemporary Black Canadians who have made significant contributions to Canada. Some of … Continue reading An Evening Honouring Black Canadian Trailblazers

Soon after arriving at Dalhousie in August 2011, Professor Afua Cooper established a lecture series and invited local lawyer and human rights advocate Burnley Allan “Rocky” Jones to be the first speaker.Now, four years later Dr. Cooper is being recognized for her own leadership and advocacy work with an award named after the late Dr. … Continue reading Afua Cooper wins Nova Scotia Human Rights Award

In 1792, Black Loyalists become the first freed slaves to return to Africa. In January of 1792, 1,100 Black Loyalists sailed in 15 ships from Halifax Harbour to Sierra Leone where they founded Freetown. These people were the first large group of former slaves ever to return to Africa. Many descendants of these families still … Continue reading 15 Ships to Sierra Leone

Highlights of a symposium which took place at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University (November 4-5, 2013): “Maroon and Mi’kmaq: An International Indigenous Exchange.” “Maroon and Mi’kmaq” brought several prestigious speakers (Chief Misel Joe, Colonel Frank Lumsden and Dr. Afua Cooper) to Grenfell Campus, Memorial University, to participate in a symposium about Indigenous issues. “Documenting Presence” boasts … Continue reading Maroon and Mi’kmaq : An International Indigenous Symposium