Kente House
THE AFRICANA INSTITUTE OF CANADA
Dignity. Heritage. Legacy.
Who we are
Kente House is an independent national institute of research, education and community engagement, dedicated to strengthening and empowering Black Canadians and people of African descent, their communities and the organizations that serve them.
We are a federally incorporated nonprofit charity under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act with our registered offices in Calgary, Halifax and Winnipeg, and our services covering all of Canada.
We have a Black communities mandate as defined by Foundation for Black Communities with and proud multicultural orientation and a commitment to building bridges to Indigenous and other cultural communities in Canada.
Kente House is a flagship national hub for mobilizing community knowledge and action in service of Black Canadians and all Canadians who believe in the dignity of all people and support multicultural engagement and Black advancement in Canada.
What we do
Research: We strengthen and empower Black Canadians through mobilizing community-driven and community-based research to inform and influence policy and programs at all orders of government.
Community Engagement: We support the building of ecosystem capacity by providing opportunities to connect, learn, share information, collaborate, and mobilize a strong national voice in engagement with other key stakeholders.
Education: We provide educational resources and opportunities to increase knowledge and awareness of the Afro-Heritage experience, Black history, cultures and legacies. Our education programs include opportunities to build youth confidence and prepare them for leadership opportunities. Our overall education program is part of our contribution to national anti-Black racism efforts.
Awareness: We raise the profile of Black Canadians, showcase the diverse cultures, arts and creativity in Black Canadian communities. We also increase public awareness of the contributions of Black Canadians to Canada’s prosperity.
Why we exist
In 2021, Canada’s Black population reached 1.5 million, accounting for 4.3 percent of the total population of Canada and 16 percent of the racialized population. The Black population continues to grow and is expected to reach more than three million by 2041, according Statistics Canada projections.
Along with the growing population, a burgeoning ecosystem in the Black community has been striving over the years to build resilient communities and facilitate Black advancement. They include Black communities and their organizations, Black-serving organizations, professional associations and networks, business and community leaders and funding partners.
This ecosystem needs a specialized knowledge hub to inform the work of its diverse stakeholders, facilitate strategic alignment and create opportunities for shared learning, capacity building and collaboration. Kente House was founded to address this gap. We are a program learning and research-informed practice hub dedicated to supporting the Black community ecosystem in pursuit of thriving, visible and resilient communities of African descent in Canada.
What we believe
The following core principles inspire and drive the Kente House mission:
- Empowerment through Knowledge: We believe that targeted applied research and results-driven learning equip communities and organizations to address challenges, embrace opportunities, and shape the future.
- Heritage as Strength: We believe that understanding and embracing Afro-heritage and celebrating Black contributions is empowering and helps to strengthen identities and build resilient communities.
- Community Collaboration: We believe progress happens when we work together. By partnering with Black communities, organizations, professionals, and community leaders, we mobilize our collective strengths and amplify our collective impact in driving meaningful change.
- Unity through Diversity
We believe that bridging cultural divides enriches all of us. By fostering dialogue and collaboration among Afro-cultural communities, Indigenous peoples, and other Canadians, we contribute to a more cohesive and prosperous Canada.
Our vision
A prosperous multicultural Canada where Black Canadians and people of African descent are recognized as full contributors to our nation’s shared prosperity and strength. Black communities thrive as resilient, visible, and empowered participants, positively shaping Canada’s present and future.
Proud of their African heritage and deeply rooted in Canadian values, Black Canadians actively engage as equal citizens, fostering meaningful connections with other cultural communities, including Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit peoples, and strengthening the rich fabric of Canada’s multicultural mosaic.
In this future, Kente House stands as Canada’s foremost institution specializing in Black community research and advocacy, serving as a trusted voice of Black community leadership and a beacon for belonging, community, progress and excellence in multicultural collaboration.
Our Team
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Chair
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Our Fellows
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Executive Director
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Director, Finance & Admin
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Director, Research & Partnerships
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Our Board
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Executive Director
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Our Partners
Our Hosts
The principal offices of Kente House are physically located in Treaty 6 and 7 territories, the traditional territories of the Cree, Chipweyan, Stoney, Dakota, Nakota, Saulteaux and Métis. The communities of African descent we serve live in these and other Treaty Territories of Canada. Kente House acknowledges all these ancestral and native lands that we and the communities we serve have come to call home.
As a national institute for people of African descent in Canada, Kente House honors our hosts: First Nations, Métis and Inuit nations. We respect their sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems, and cultures.
As Black Canadians and Canadians of African descent, we relate to their histories of colonization, dispossession and resilience. We stand with them in their quest for justice and dignity. Their stories are an important part of our Canadian story and we see ourselves in them.
TURTLE ISLAND
Turtle Island emoji designed by Anishinaabe artist Nancy King, who goes by the name Chief Lady Bird, from Rama First Nation and Moosedeer Point First Nation. Created in honour of Indigenous History Month 2018.
EAGLE FEATHER TRIBUTE
The Eagle feather is important to many of Canada’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. Kente House places the eagle feather right symbol at the centre of the Kente House Logo, enshrining Kente House’s commitment to earnest and meaningful reconciliation.