We are so excited to announce that DBDLI is hosting the Africentric Conference 2023!
Join us for our 2nd Africentric Conference at St. Francis Xavier University, from 25th May – 27th May 2023.
Click the button below to visit the conference website for more details and registration.
Conference Details & Registration
A Thank You Message from DBDLI’s CEO
“Sawa bona” says the first “– I see you”.
“Sikhona”, replies the second – “I am here”.
I begin with acknowledging our ancestors and the wisdom they have laid before us and our opportunity to learn from the paths they have trod. I acknowledge our elders.
I convey thanks to the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, The Honourable Becky Druhan; Antigonish Mayor, Laurie Boucher; and Antigonish Warden, Owen McCarro, for their words of congratulations and affirmation.
I extend appreciation for the Banquet hosted by St. Francis Xavier University, University of Venda and Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute (DBDLI). The messages from President Hakin (St. F.X.), and Professor Kanyane (University of Venda), conveyed the value of partnership to achieve the conference theme of transformation of systems, structures and policies through living the values and actioning Africentricity and Ubuntu. The message from youth voice provided by Marcel Desmond gave us pause for reflection and inspiration for action.
DBDLI in its current structure had a 10th anniversary celebration event in November 2022. We have committed to an all-year celebration which culminates in November 2023. This conference, Transformation Through Ubuntu: An Africentric Perspective, is a milestone event in our anniversary year. We are so appreciative of the African Canadian Services Branch, Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development for its funding support and endorsement of DBDLI in our community work, particularly Africentric research and education.
Within DBDLI, we have various departments. This models collective approach and creates space for people to lead from strengths. As a provincial 3-B organization (Black-led, Black-mandated, and Black-run), all of us have the privilege of servant leadership, serving first before leading. Community is our workspace, and our workspace is community. And as such, we are aware that DBDLI is our community, and we need each other.
Msila notes – Ubuntu thrives when there is consensus, democracy, and dependence on one another. The in-Nova Scotia conference planning committee was co-chaired by Lisa Lunney Borden and Randy Headley. The in-South Africa conference planning committee was led by Rachel Lebese and Lufuno Makhado.
The voices from the University of Venda, South Africa, and from St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, have generously supported the centering of community voices by supporting DBDLI. Through our various departments (research, finance, operations, youth, and communications/community engagement), our team members have worked in collaboration with our scholar universities.
To support your reflections on this time and your growth forward, additional to the content in your print program you will find the full abstracts on the conference website.
Your conference program content and flow were facilitated by Kay-Ann Scott, George Frempong, Raavee Kadam, and Rachel Lebese.
Your conference explicit intergenerational experience was facilitated by Robert Upshaw, Wendy Mackey, Lisa Lunney Borden, and Randy Headley.
Your registration experience was facilitated by Randy Headley, Jones Awe, Brittany Oakley, and Lilian Fernandes.
Your online conference attendance and participation was facilitated by Raavee Kadam and Ryan Gannon.
Your conference program book (online and print) was facilitated by Kay-Ann Scott and Raavee Kadam.
Your conference logos (designed by DW Creativ), swag bags, social media, and online website (developed by Vinay Govindan) was facilitated by Brittany Oakley, Trevor Silver, Raavee Kadam, and Lindsay Ruck.
Your conference international travel and related logistics and social experience in Halifax were facilitated by Ramona Hill, Rachel Lebese, Mc’Edward Jones, and Brittany Oakley.
Your conference on-campus logistics (meals, accommodations, volunteer support) were facilitated by Wendy Mackey and Lisa Lunney Borden.
Your conference program community tour was facilitated by Robert Upshaw and local community leaders.
Your conference interns and volunteers, onsite and virtual, were facilitated by Lisa Lunney Borden, Wendy Mackey, Raavee Kadam, Kay-Ann Scott, and Brittany Oakley.
Your assurance of growth and learning was facilitated by each of you – conference participants.
I want to remind us that the conference themes under the conference program were:
- Africentric education
- System transformation
- Africentric cultural restoration
- Africentric innovation, community engagement, and advocacy
- Intersectionality and Africentricity
- Africentric evaluation, evidence, and social impact
These themes showed up through our keynote and featured speakers, panelists, and workshops. This conveying of learning was facilitated by those volunteers who chaired and moderated sessions, introduced speakers, and supported movement and transitions. Acting with Ubuntu was our foundation.
Much appreciation to the staff onsite at our conference venue in the food services hall, the accommodation residents, and throughout the campus for always being pleasant and welcoming.
We are going forward carrying a quote from Dr. Molefi Asante: “Afrocentricity is about embracing humanity.”
Sylvia V Parris-Drummond, CEO
Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute
