Students, staff, faculty and other McMaster community members are invited to join launch events on Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 to celebrate the start of Black History Month at McMaster.
This year’s theme for BHM at McMaster is Rooted: Our Legacy, Our Strength, Our Future.
Five ways you can use the new Black History Month resource guide
The Feb. 3 opening celebration, Rooted in Community, will showcase live performances by Akilah Walcott, Landry Kalembo and Monae Mackenzie, as well as student art and reflections from McMaster leaders and student representatives. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Nest atrium of the MSU Hub.
The following day, community members can join a celebration of Black excellence and entrepreneurship at a vibrant vendor market. In collaboration with BLK OWNED Hamilton, the Black-Owned market will showcase local Black entrepreneurs, artists and organizations.
The Feb. 4 marketplace will be held in the atrium of MUSC from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and everyone is welcome to stop by, connect and support Black-owned businesses.
Overwhelming interest
Black History Month is not only a time to celebrate the contributions and achievements of Black, Caribbean and African diasporic peoples, but also an opportunity to reflect on how everyone at McMaster can support and uplift members of Black communities.
The two launch events are just the beginning of a month-long slate of programming and events.
In just a few years, interest in the BHM at Mac — in the launch event as well as broader programming — has grown tremendously, says Eve Nyambiya from the Equity and Inclusion Office, which is organizing the launch events in collaboration with the Black Student Success Centre and the MSU Diversity and Equity Network. Even after doubling the number of launch celebrations, they received an “overwhelming” response to calls for participants.
Community interest in engaging with Black history year-round also led Nyambiya to lead the creation of a new resource guide, with practical tips to meaningfully learn during and beyond Black History Month.
Jean Augustine in conversation with Nicholas Brathwaite
BHM at Mac organizers are also planning a closing event on Feb. 25, highlighting the life and work of trailblazing advocate and former MP Jean Augustine, who will join Chancellor Nicholas Brathwaite for a fireside chat.
Rooted Together: Celebrating Our Collective Legacy will also feature a screening of Steadfast: Messenger and the Message, a documentary about Augustine’s work and her pivotal role in establishing Black History Month in Canada 30 years ago.
Many of the events and initiatives this year reflect the theme of being rooted in resilience, strength and joy. For a full, week-by-week event listing, visit the BHM at Mac website (scroll down on this page).
Black History Month basketball games| Wednesday, Feb. 4
The Black Student-Athlete Council, with Athletics & Recreation, is hosting the annual Black History Month Games, and will have special anthem performances, halftime dance shows by MAC-Africans, themed trivia, fan games, prizes and giveaways, local Black-owned vendors, and a curated game-day playlist during both the women’s and men’s basketball games.
6 p.m. (Women’s game vs. Laurier) and 8 p.m. (Men’s game vs. Laurier)
Engineering Design graduate and Faculty of Engineering staff member Omoseke Fowode designed
Rooted Beings, an artistic and informational print and digital showcase that highlights the experiences of Black engineers.
Rooted Beings: A Faculty of Engineering exhibition | Opening Tuesday, Feb. 10, JHE lobby
Rooted Beings is an artistic and informational print and digital showcase created for the Faculty of Engineering. Designed by Omoseke Fowode, Master of Engineering Design graduate and creative lead in Engineering communications, the exhibition explores what it means to be rooted within the Black community.
Through the perspectives of six inspiring voices, Rooted Beings highlights the experiences of Black engineers who are advancing in their fields while creating meaningful impact within their communities. This exhibition invites viewers to reflect on identity, belonging and the power of being grounded in one’s heritage while shaping the future of engineering.
Catch the traveling display in JHE, ETB and ITB throughout February.
Elevate & Empower: Beyond the Degree Black Alumni Networking Event for Students | Feb. 23
The Black Student Association, in collaboration with the Black Student Success Centre and the Office of Alumni Engagement, is hosting an alumni networking event tailored for Black students to foster a sense of unity, celebrate Black excellence, and provide a valuable learning experience for all participants.
Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: The Great Hall, Alumni Hall
Afro Beats and Soca dance class | Wednesday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Pulse Fitness Centre is hosting a special Afro Beats and Soca dance class in the Fitzhenry Studio. There will be two sessions:
- Kelachi Nsitem will lead an approximately 30-minute Afro Beats dance session
- Marlice Simon will lead an approximately 30-minute Soca Dance session
Visit the BHM at Mac website (scroll down on this page) for a week-by-week event listing, starting with the Jan. 30 City of Hamilton launch.
Follow BHM at Mac on Instagram for more information and to stay up to date. And if you post about Black History Month events at McMaster, don’t forget to use the hashtag #BHMMac2026.