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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Black History Month celebrations in Yellowknife are already forming for February, 2010.

Members of the African Canadian Caribbean Association of the Northwest Territories are inspired to organize early following last weekend's successful community feast in celebration of African and Caribbean heritage.

Lemlem Girmatsion, originally from Eritrea, was one of the many organizers of last weekend's feast in Yellowknife. - Daron Letts/NNSL photo

Held Saturday night at Northern United Place, the feast filled the auditorium with families of African descent and dozens of their friends and neighbours.

"The energy was amazing," said association executive member, Lemlem Girmatsion.

"Everyone was able to come together and share a part of our culture and celebrate our past and our present. Particularly in the North, I think it's important for us to come together to celebrate our own struggles, resistance and our own survival and to share our history and who we are with the rest of the community. We do it for solidarity - to support each other – and to share our commonalities."

The evening began with a luscious spread of food representing flavours from various regions of Africa. Girmatsion, originally from Eritrea, contributed several items to the meal. Metslal Mesgun, also from Eritrea, provided a spiced brown bread called himbasha. Aminata Maiga cooked a peanut, chicken and vegetable dish from Ivory Coast and Kay Naidoo of South Africa made a chicken curry. Luyeye Muyembe reflected Zambia in her dishes.

"It's really fun to see where the different people come from and what they do in their country," said Defny Torindo, who moved to Canada from Zimbabwe.

Members of Yellowknife's capoeira group kicked off the night's entertainment with a graceful performance. Developed for self-defense by Africans held in slavery, capoeira blends African and Brazilian martial arts in the guise of a dance. Instructor Meta Antolin accompanied the dancers on a traditional Afro-Brazilian string instrument called a berimbau.

DJ Chaka Rukobo, who came to Canada from Zimbabwe, screened a detailed PowerPoint presentation that included an overview of the scientific and cultural contributions made by Africans and Caribbeans throughout history. He also spun a diverse array of contemporary music from Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, South Africa, Trinidad and Jamaica, among other countries.

Soila Tessema, born in Kenya, sang two songs in her mother tongue in the middle of the evening.

Daniel Christensen, who lived in Burundi, Zaire, Zimbabwe and Haiti before moving to Yellowknife, led a drum circle on stage. The intense rhythms drew a crowd onto the dance floor. Several women and girls took turns singing on the mic after Christensen introduced a popular song from Zimbabwe.

Dene songwriter Stephen Kakfwi performed music off his two albums, providing a personal account of the history of Canada's residential school system between songs.

"A large number of First Nations people attended," said association chair, MS Naidoo. "Their presence was appreciated."

The association formed 18 months ago and has since held a cultural display at Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre for Black History Month 2008, as well as numerous private events in members' homes. Last weekend's feast was the association's first public event.

"We were pleased with the turnout and want to continue," Naidoo said. "We're constantly looking for people to take on positions in the executive."

In addition to further sharing African and Caribbean culture, the executive plans to conduct informal surveys of the membership to help understand common local experiences in the workplace and in the community.