In this installment of Energeticcity Investigates, we speak with a few members of Fort St. John’s Black community to find out about their experiences in the Energetic City and touch on the Black Lives Matter movement in Canada and anti-Black racism in online community-focused spaces.
The Black in British Columbia report, commissioned by the provincial government and undertaken by the African Art and Cultural Community Contributor Society, is a result of a months-long consultation progress with B.C.'s Black community.
Issamba Centre aims to support connection and culture in Victoria’s Black community
Photo of Zal Sissokho, provided by Issamba.
It can be easy to forget how important community is especially in times of duress. But one of the many things the pandemic has shown is that we all need support in some way. The Issamba Centre, an art and cultural centre for the African diaspora, provides one source of that essential connection for the Black community here in Victoria.
The Issamba Centre was officially founded by Pulchérie Mboussi in June of 2020 and is a part of the African Art & Cultural Community Contributor Society (AACCCS). It began as the Issamba Show in 2015. African-born musical artists were brought to perform in Victoria and both well-known and up-and-coming artists would perform together. The Issamba Show was a way to highlight the mosaic culture of Black Canadians, both during Black History Month and throughout the year.