The African Nova Scotian Flag being raised at the Black Cultural Centre in Cherry Brooke, NS. Photo: BCC Youtube
The Black Cultural Centre in Cherry Brooke, Nova Scotia held a ceremony last week unveiling the official African Nova Scotian flag.
The new flag is red, gold, and green with a black symbol called a Sankofa in its centre.
Visual artist Wendie Wilson who designed the flag explained its’ meaning, ” The red symbolizes blood and sacrifice, the gold represents cultural richness, green for fertility and growth, with black representing the people.”
“The Sankofa symbol expresses the importance of reaching back to knowledge gained in the past and bringing it to the present in order to make positive progress.”
Wilsons’ interpretation of the Sankofa includes a wave, representing the ocean and her ancestors’ journey across the middle passage. She also included a heart with a yin yang symbol, which symbolizes “heartbreak balanced with awareness.”
While designing the flag Wilson made a point to reach out to members of the Nova Scotian black community for input so that it could be officially designated as the Nova Scotian African flag.
It has since received that designation and as such, it is now being flown in many government buildings.
However, with the flag being unveiled halfway through African Heritage Month, many flagpoles are flying the Pan-African flag as a sign of their support for African heritage.
Next year it is likely the new flag will replace the Pan-African flag or it is possible both will be flown together in some cases.
Flags of various sizes, lapel pins, and other memorabilia featuring the new flag are now available at the Africentric Learning Institute and the Black Cultural Centre.
