Other Events
What's happening this month?
Black Resources Collection
This collection was principally funded through a grant awarded by the provincial government in 2021 to Health & Wellness services. The literature is a broad collection of fiction and non-fiction works encompassing the Black diasporic experience, highlighting its rich cultural history and influence. The titles were selected and compiled by Black mental health staff therapists, African Canadian scholars, and students comprising the Black student association (BSA). The collection is located in the D.B. Weldon Library, on the first floor of the Learning Commons.
Visit Western Libraries to view the collection.
Uplifting Blackness: A Showcase of Art by Western's Black Student Community
"Uplifting Blackness: A Showcase of Art by Western's Black Student Community" is an initiative organized by Health and Wellness in Western Student Experience aimed to help build and strengthen connections between the Health and Wellness Team and Black students at Western. The gallery is focused on celebrating Black culture, history, and experiences and uplifting the voices of Western’s Black Student Community.
Students from across campus and disciplines submitted their creative work to the gallery. The digital exhibit features poetry, digital illustration, fiber arts, and more! Check out a few submissions on display in Thames Hall, and view the full exhibit through Western Libraries.
Quentin VerCetty: Artistic Study Celebrating Black Legacies
February 7, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
John Labatt Visual Arts Centre, Digital Creativity Lab, VAC 137E
Biography: The Governor's General Bronze Medal award recipient, Quentin VerCetty is a multi-award-winning interdisciplinary storyteller, educator, artivist, and an ever-growing interstellar tree. Quentin VerCetty is the first artist ever to be commissioned by Carnegie Hall creating art for the 2021-2022 season based on the theme of Afrofuturism. Quentin VerCetty in partnership with Javid JAH is creating Mississauga's first Black and Brown artist collaboration public art piece, a dynamic archway entitled RAYYAN Cosmic Bloom (2023 ), and created Toronto's first monument of a person of African descent, Stepping Forward Into History- the Joshua Glover memorial. Quentin VerCetty's work draws on the use of connecting historical past and symbolism with futuristic elements while exploring cosmic connections which he coined the term for it as " Sankofanology ." As a scholar, he has been published in numerous journals for articles on Afrofuturism and is the co-editor of Canada's first art book on Afrofuturism entitled: Cosmic Underground Northside : An Incantation of Black Canadian Discourse and Innerstandings (2020) and coined the term " Rastafuturism ." Currently, he is the steward of the Black Speculative Arts Movement (BSAM) Canada and is the artist director of AstroSankofa Arts Initiatives, a collective and non-for-profit organization focused on public art production, art exhibitions, and NFTs development and support for Afro-descendant creatives. Quentin VerCetty hopes to use his artistic ability to inspire minds and move hearts to make the world a better place.
Diversity in International Development: Globalization and its Effects on the Global South Home
February 9, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Vitali Student Lounge, Wemple Building, King’s University College
The Diversity in International Development Seminar will explore the conceptualization of international development and globalization and its effects on the global south. It will consist of a diverse group of panelists highlighting their interest and thoughts in the field of international development and globalization, while also speaking on their lived experiences as visible minorities.
Panelists:
- Bridget Ofosu Andam: Year 4, BA (Hons), Social Justice and Peace Studies Honours Specialization. Founder of NPO - Developing Communities Everywhere
- Dr. Anisha Datta: Chair and Associate Professor of Sociology
- Dr. Vida Shehada: Professor and program coordinator for the International Development Program at Centennial College
- Deborah Canales: King's student
Presented by DCE@King's
Fridays at 12:30 Concert Series - The Egbo Trio
February 10, 12:30pm
von Kuster Hall, Music Building
Please join us in person or online via livestream as we continue our proud tradition of sharing music with the community.
The Don Wright Faculty of Music’s Fridays @ 12:30 Concert Series presents The Egbo Trio, led by Thompson Egbo-Egbo, piano, with Randall Hall, bass, and Jeff Halischuk, drums. Blending somethings old and somethings new, this is sure to be a treat for the Series crowd.
Funding for this concert has been generously provided by the Jeffrey Distinguished Visitors Fund.
Admission is free and open to all. No ticket purchase or advance registration required.
To access the livestream visit https://music.uwo.ca/events/livestream
http://www.events.westernu.ca/events/music/2023-02/fridays-2022-egbo-trio.html
Black History Month Movie Night
February 10, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Vitali Student Lounge, Wemple Building, King’s University College
The JMS Careless History Club will be hosting a Black History Month Movie Night. The movie will be The Uncomfortable Truth: The History of Racism in America. The evening will feature free popcorn as well as a brief introduction by Jennifer Slay, King's new Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization. Presented by the JMS Careless History Club
Western University Wind Ensemble: Vignettes
February 10, 7:30pm
Paul Davenport Theatre, Talbot College
Join us for a performance by the Western University Wind Ensemble, including the planned finale of Havana by Black composer Kevin Day. Havana is heavily influenced by Cuban music, rhythms, and percussion.
In the words of the composer: “I wanted to highlight different dance genres such as Salsa, Mambo, and Cha-Cha, while also making the piece in my own voice. I have a strong love for Latin music and so this was incredibly fun to write. I sought to paint a mental picture of the city of Havana, the beautiful landscape, and the culture that it is known and beloved for. There are many “Latin-influenced” pieces for band already and so I wanted to make “Havana” stand out as one that is exciting and memorable. I hope that performers and audiences will tap their fingers, bop their heads, and feel the music.” Kevin Day’s creative endeavors center around his work as a composer, conductor, producer, and pianist specializing in jazz, minimalism, Latin, Blues, Hip-Hop, R&B, fusion, and contemporary classical idioms. The music he writes is often scored for wind bands, orchestras, and a variety of chamber groups, both large and small. Currently, Day is Assistant Professor of Composition at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, and he is pursuing his DMA in Composition from the University of Miami Frost School of Music.
Admission is free and open to all. No ticket purchase or advance registration required.
http://www.events.westernu.ca/events/music/2023-02/wind-ensemble-vinettes.html
Race, Colonialism and the Refugee Crisis: A conversation
February 15, 1 to 2 p . m .
The Write Place , King’s University College
Gabriel Ndayishimiye is a writer based in London, Ontario. His writing focuses on refugee stories and representations of exile experiences. His works critiques the neo-colonial and racialized knowledge structures on which the international refugee system is based.
His first book, Run Elvin! , contains multitudes: it is at once an expertly-crafted history lessons on the causes and consequences of the genocide, an expansive, three-dimensional accounts of one man's refugee experience in all its traumas and triumphs and a love letter from father to son on the power of will, hope and self-examination over the darkest echoes of history.
This talk is open to all. No registration required.
Global Café
February 16, 3 to 5 p.m.
IGAB Atrium
Let’s learn about black history month and celebrate African culture together. We will paint some African paintings, color some masks and play a trivia game through Kahoot. Bring your friends and have a lot of fun!
Cronyn Observatory Public Night: Black Astronomy
Saturday, February 25th, 2023
7:00PM to 9:00PM
Venue: Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory, Western University
We would like to invite everyone to the observatory’s first public night in honour of Black History Month! The event will focus on the history, present, and future of the Black community’s contributions to Astronomy. We will have two amazing speakers: Ashley Walker, a Planetary Science PhD student at Howard University, and Margaret Ikape, a PhD Candidate in Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University of Toronto.
If the weather cooperates, we will set up telescopes and stargaze! Visitors will have a chance to ask questions, participate in Astronomy demonstrations, and learn about the history of the Observatory.
This event is open to everyone and is free of cost. No registration is required. You can come and go as you please. You can find directions to the Observatory and Parking information here: https://cronyn.uwo.ca/visit-the-observatory/directions-maps-and-parking/
The Future We See: Black Excellence in Business
February 27, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Virtual – open to all
Ivey Business School is pleased to host a virtual discussion on the advancements and shortfalls in the move to end anti-Black racism as well as strategies for identifying, valuing, and rewarding Black Excellent. The conversation will begin with a presentation from Nicole Kaniki, Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in Research and Innovation at the University of Toronto. Following her presentation, a panel consisting of Natasha Abayomi, current HBA/Medical Science ’23 candidate, Sakariya Ahmed, HBA ’19, and Ivey Associate Professor Hayden Woodley will expand on the the themes in a discussion moderated by Ivey’s Ladan Mowlid.
The event is open to everyone and is free of cost. Please register in advance:https://ivey-uwo.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEvcOqqrDouGd3aOPMhG7cdjbhpnupTUz4O
Black Culture Celebration
February 28, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Ivey Business School – Grand Hall
Please join the Black Students at Ivey Collective’s inaugural Black History Month Event: Black Culture Celebration. With free Caribbean and Nigerian food from Caribbean Stove and Vas Cuisine, music by DJ Joze, and poetry from Fauzia Agbonhin and current Ivey HBA student, Cordlyne Nwankwo, this event is surely one you don’t want to miss!
