By: Al Muktadir Munam, MSc Student, CH&E and Outreach Assistant, Office of Community Engagement
The flagship African Heritage Month event at Dalhousie University from last Wednesday was a vibrant and unforgettable opening event that pulsed with energy, pride, and purpose. Lively drumming filled the air as speakers from the community, staff, learners, and university leadership shared moving stories and vital reminders of history, stirring a powerful mix of emotions – from reflection to resolve. This celebration of resilience doubled as a stirring call to action, inspiring all present to champion equity and justice in our shared journey forward.
The event opened with warm remarks from Dr. Barb Hamilton-Hinch, setting a tone of respect, reflection, and shared purpose. Throughout the event, the program flowed through talks, music, and moments of collective pause that made the space feel both celebratory and grounded.
Said Msabaha and Aaliyah Arab-Smith
Among the keynote voices was Said Msabaha, Co-Director of the Office of Community Engagement, who spoke to the long arc of Black advocacy and the importance of community-rooted work within institutions. Another keynote speaker was Aaliyah Arab-Smith, a first-year medical student, who shared reflections shaped by family, history, and her journey into medicine. Aaliyah reframed health as something larger than clinics or classrooms, describing it as deeply connected to culture, creativity, and everyday community spaces. She offered a broader understanding of healthcare, noting that
medicine is not just about treating disease. It is also about prevention, early detection, holistic wellness, and understanding the social circumstances that shape our health long before someone ever becomes a patient.
She further emphasized that
health does not exist only in clinics or hospitals. It lives in our spaces, our art, our culture, and our communities
highlighting the importance of creative, Black-led approaches to health advocacy and trust-building.
The theme, Creative Advocacy: Uplifting Black Health, Art, and Community Action, unfolded naturally across the event. By the end, the event felt less like a formal program and more like a shared affirmation. A reminder that representation matters, that community sustains progress, and that advocacy can be both powerful and deeply human.
To read more about this event please see the Dal News story here.