Official Recognition of World Africa Day by the City of Montreal

In an atmosphere filled with emotion and pride, the Montreal City Council adopted, for the first time, an official declaration recognizing May 25 as World Africa Day. This initiative, long championed by the African Federation and the Canada Association, marks a symbolic and political turning point in acknowledging the invaluable contribution of African communities to the metropolis.

The declaration was presented in the presence of several prominent figures from Montreal's African diaspora. Among them were the Honourable Senator Amina Gerba, entrepreneur Guy Épassi, Director General of the African Federation, Armel Bamba, Vice President of the Federation, as well as community leaders such as Cécile Ngol H, Brahim Lem Galette, Walid Zari, and Barou Bouhaid.

Other personalities from the media and artistic world were also present, including Boucar Diouf, Cyril Équala, Jean-Baptiste Nienda, Karine Somba, and Guichigo Moucha Galousa, Director General of the Afromuseum. Their presence highlights the vital role of African communities in the cultural, economic, and social development of Montreal.

May 25 refers to the date of the founding in 1963 of the Organization of African Unity in Addis Ababa, the predecessor of today’s African Union. It was the “African Freedom Day,” a symbol of the struggle against colonial domination and the quest for the African continent’s self-determination.

The municipal declaration praised the diversity and richness of African peoples as well as the indelible mark of their diasporas in Montreal, a city that now hosts one of the most dynamic African communities in Canada.

“These Montrealers of African origin are architects of our present and our future,” declared the councilor, highlighting the presence of more than 1.3 million people of African origin in Canada, the majority of whom reside in Montreal.

The contributions of the African diaspora are evident in all sectors: media, business, culture, sports, and community life.

Journalists such as Azeb Walde Jordice and Rebecca Makonnen, artists like Rachid Badouri, Corneille, or Karim and Sarahmée Ouellet, as well as entrepreneurs and public figures such as Senator Gerba or Makakoto, were honored for their leading roles.

Symbolic places like the Maison de l’Afrique Mandingo, or African restaurants such as Le Nil Bleu, Kauma, or La Belle Afrique – visited by Prime Minister François Legault – embody this everyday cultural richness.

Montreal celebrates Africa through major festivals such as Nuits d’Afrique, Vues d’Afrique, the Festival du monde arabe, and Afromonde. These events, beyond their cultural value, strengthen intercultural dialogue and contribute to the city’s social cohesion.

But the declaration goes further. It paves the way for strengthened partnerships between Montreal and African countries in strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, renewable energies, the circular economy, and the fight against climate change.

“The African continent, rich in biodiversity and ancestral knowledge on sustainability, can count on Montreal as a committed partner,” emphasized the councilor.

The declaration is also part of an international dynamic. It recognizes Africa’s central role in the Francophonie, with more than 167 million speakers, and affirms Montreal’s desire to play an active role in developing sustainable and mutually beneficial projects.

The session concluded with a powerful call for unity, dignity, and collaboration among peoples, in the spirit of the Pan-Africanist pioneers who founded the Organization of African Unity.

“May this gesture be a beacon illuminating the deep ties that unite Montreal with the great African continent and its diasporas,” she declared.