James Brown’s classic 1969 song Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud could be the theme song for the 14 Quebecers nominated at this weekend’s Canadian National Griot Awards, celebrating and honouring black achievement in Canada.
"Griot [pronounced Gree-oh] is a West African term for those individuals who told the story of his tribe," says CNGA Quebec regional co-ordinator Shirlette Wint. "They usually were part of the royal court and at official events would tell stories about the king’s exploits. This is an oral tradition that’s been going on for generations."
The first annual Griots – originally the Black Achievement Awards when it was first launched in Alberta in 1995 – aims to do the same: canonize the achievements of contemporary African-Canadians.
Of the 14 Quebecers nominated, many are from Montreal, including Shirley Anne Gyles, president of the Coloured Women’s Club (nominated for volunteerism); 18-year-old Akil Allenye (for scholastic achievement), who represented Canada at the World High School Debating Championships in Peru and is now attending Princeton; and Violet Grant States (community service), a piano teacher who taught thousands of children, played Carnegie Hall with the Montreal Women’s Symphony in 1947, and was an organist and choir director at Union United Church.
"It’s important to make visible the accomplishments of black Canadians so that they can become role models," Winte says. "We need to open the imaginations of young blacks because the impression [in the wider community] is that there is little that is positive in the black community."
Winte says, "There are lots of black recognition awards but the Griots are the first national awards that will connect blacks across Canada."
Over 2,000 people will attend the ceremony at Edmonton’s Jubilee Auditorium on October 4. Then the annual awards will travel across Canada. Says Winte, "We could see Montreal host the awards in two years."
Richard Burnett
2 comments
Not surprisingly, I’ve never heard about Canadian National Griot Awards.
Not surprisingly?
Well, no…first off, I’m not black and secondly, this thing was promoted with the underachieving ambition of sleeping mime. I’m not sure how many people ever even heard of this thing but I’ll take a wild shot and guess that those that did DIDN’T because of the lacklustre promototional machine behind it. No, I’m guessing word of mouth and community leaders are more responsible for the Griot achieving any sort of buzz.
Frankly, the Black Canadian Achievement Awards would have been a better title for it. Ok, maybe not culturally but I’m talking about a nation full of people who still can’t tell the difference between a Genie and a Juno award. In any event, there is no doubt that this is a step in the right direction for all Black Canadians but I’m still confused by Shirlette Winte’s comment that “There are lots of black recognition awards but the Griots are the first national awards that will connect blacks across Canada.”
Really?
I’m barely aware of this one and I’m pretty sure that I’m not alone in being in the dark here. No, that’s not what bothered me about her comment, no, it was her claim that the Griots are the first national awards that will connect blacks across Canada.
Again, really? How?
I’ve read and re-read the article and in no place does it indicate that the Griots are being televised by either Global, CTV or the CBC. And frankly, if you want to unify a people or just get their attention you get a national broadcast. Otherwise you’re whispering in the wind.
She is the CNGA Quebec regional co-ordinator so it’s entirely possible that she knows something that we don’t. Maybe it was televised but if it was the HOUR’s article fails to give the details. Either way, this grand connection she speaks of seems lofty at best.
No one disputes the merits or importance of the award ceremony…just the range of the impact.
There are some blacks of pure ancestry with very dark skin and there are others as the product of interracial marriages who are actually whiter than some white people of only Caucasian ancestry. At what point does the dilution of black genes prevent the individual from calling himself black? Does the winner of the award have to submit to a DNA test to prove he is black according to this definition? These light-skinned individuals are at a distinct advantage over their darker brethren because they did not have to overcome the obstacle of racial discrimination in all facets of life such as housing, school, sports and work. For example, the native people of Canada have certain blood line purity guidelines to decide who can live on a reservation as an Indian and take advantage of ancestral treaty rights. In any case blacks should also compete in non-racial specific contests. Anyway in basketball they are at the top in a white man’s game. They just have to try harder in other disciplines!