400 years
and counting

>> Along with its annual offering of music,
arts, food and more, Black History Month
2008 examines the role of Samuel de
Champlain’s African-born translator

INSPIRATION FROM RWANDA:
“Order and Chaos” by Veronika Szkudlarek

by TRACEY LINDEMAN

Get ready, ’cause here Black History Month comes. This year’s BHM events are taking over art galleries, concert halls, libraries, cultural centres and churches across the city, and a number of them are asking the same question: who was Mathieu Da Costa?

Answer: He was an African-born ex-slave and later an interpreter instrumental to Samuel de Champlain’s expeditions, and the Roundtable on Black History Month has bestowed upon this February’s events the theme of “Celebrating Our Presence and Recognizing Our Contributions: 1608–2008” in his honour.

Here are but a handful of events taking place this Black History Month. Drumroll, please!

Lectures & community outreach

McGill’s Black Students Network is planning a conference series on topics including Zimbabwe’s media ban (Jan. 31), black artists and social activism (Feb. 6) and the place and relevance of black schools in Quebec (Feb. 13). The BSN has a number of events planned throughout the month of February. For more info, call (514) 398-3001 ext. 09974.

The Jamaican Canadian Community Women’s League is launching a new seniors’ program on Feb. 16 that promotes computer and financial literacy, health and wellness and civic participation. (6767 Côte-des-Neiges, 1st floor, 1–3 p.m.)

Towards the end of the month, noted broadcast journalism producer and professor Rita Shelton Deverell will lead this year’s annual discussion on diversity in Canadian media at Concordia (Feb. 28, 1590 Dr. Penfield, 6 p.m. Info: (514) 939-3342).

Arts & culture

Veronika Szkudlarek will be showcasing her Rwanda-inspired paintings at her show Une Chèvre pour Charlotte. Upon returning from a trip to the capital Kigali, she began work on a series of paintings dealing with the Rwandan genocide and the country’s history. Proceeds from sold work will go towards mosquito nets and livestock for communities she encountered in Rwanda. The vernissage is tonight, Thursday, Jan. 31 at 5:30 p.m. and the exhibit will run until Feb. 24 at Galerie Quartier Libre (4289 Notre-Dame W.).

Once again, the 100-year-old Union United Church (3007 Delisle) in Little Burgundy is rife with Black History Month activity, starting with Saturday, Feb. 2’s Nostalgia Food Fair featuring delectable morsels of African and Caribbean culture, from 2–6 p.m. On Feb. 10, the church will hold a memorial mass for the late Oscar Peterson, a Little Burgundy native, and on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m., there will be a free gospel choir concert.

NDG’s Oscar Peterson Concert Hall will play host to the annual Young, Gifted & Black concert, with this year’s theme touching on ancient African royalty. (Saturday, Feb. 2, 7141 Sherbrooke W., 8 p.m. $20. Info: (514) 918-3352.)

For theatre lovers, the Black Theatre Workshop will present Come Good Rain by George Bwanika Seremba on Saturday, Feb. 16 (3680 Jeanne-Mance room 460, 2 p.m., $5).

The Montreal School of Performing Arts will once again put on Sounds of Colour. The educational production will look at historical and modern black trailblazers, from Mathieu Da Costa to Harriet Tubman to Barack Obama. It takes place Feb. 23 and 24 at 11 a.m. at the MSOPA (3975 Notre-Dame W.), $8 entrance with coffee and cake.

Party time!

HOORAY FOR THE ETHNIC HERITAGE ENSEMBLE:
Kalmunity Vibe Collective

The African and Caribbean Students’ Network of Montreal (ACSioN) are celebrating their common roots with Together We Shine, a mixer to kick off Black History Month. Profound verses are promised, as are “fly riddims that will keep you vibin’ til the early a.m.,” according to their Web site. But whether you come for the prose or the party, you can stay for the tasty Caribbean treats and drink specials. It’s all happening Friday, Feb. 1 at le Social (1445 Bishop, 9 p.m., $10).

If you’d rather groove than vibe, you can always check out Bob Marley’s 63rd birthday bash, also on Feb. 1. A dozen Toronto and Montreal DJs and musical guests will pay tribute to Marley by pumping out roots, rock reggae and dancehall. A portion of the proceeds will go to SOS Children’s Village in Jamaica, and there will be a food drive for the NDG Food Depot and the Mile End Mission. Bring 10 bucks and a non-perishable food item to Club Lambi. (4465 St-Laurent, 10 p.m.)

After your liver and muscles have recovered, head down to the Red & White Affair on Saturday, Feb. 16 for a night of dancing and the crowning of the dancehall diva. See www.mawgaksmashdown.com for more info. (The Ultimate Spot, 5345 de Maisonneuve W.)

Kalmunity Vibe Collective will help the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble celebrate 35 years on Wednesday, Feb. 13, and the next day the Ensemble will host a BHM workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both events are at Sala Rosa (4848 St-Laurent).

Finally, as all good things must come to an end, so shall Black History Month with a closing gala scheduled for March 1 at the Hilton Bonaventure. By invitation—call (514) 282-3443.

There are a lot more BHM 2008 events in
the greater Montreal region going on all month.
For more information, visit www.mhnbhm.ca.