African Heritage Month in Review!

COAA Hosts a Happy Hour to Kick-Off 
African Heritage Month

On Thursday, August 31, 2017, the Commission on African Affairs and the Mayor's Office on African Affairs hosted a Happy Hour to launch September as the month of celebration of African Heritage in the District. COAA and MOAA took advantage of the opportunity presented by the gathering to interact with members of the community and highlight the services provided by the advisory group and the agency. 

The Mayor's Office on African Affairs and The National Museum of African Art Present African Diaspora Heritage Talk Series 

On Wednesday, September 06, 2017, the Mayor's Office on African Affairs, the National Museum of African Art and members of the African diaspora community hosted the African Diaspora Heritage Talk Series  during the African Heritage Month. Docent-led tours kicked off the evening, followed by a community discussion featuring artists and cultural entrepreneurs. The discussion revolved around the preservation and retention of cultural heritage through arts and crafts, technology, language, visual arts, and creative economies. 

MOAA Attends Ketchan Elementary School's African Pageant Queens Reading Workshop 

On Friday, September 15, 2017, The Deputy Director of the Mayor's Office on African Affairs,  Soro Yah Kignaman, attended the African Pageant Queens Reading Workshop organized by the Division of Early Childhood Education at Ketchan Elementary School in South East, Washington, DC.The event was an opportunity for MOAA to interact with over 100 attendees while promoting its 8th Annual DC Africa Celebration. 

MOAA Leads a Discussion Hosted by the Foreign Service Institute on the State of the African Diaspora and Africa's Youth

The Director of the Mayor's Office on African Affairs, Mamadou Samba, promoted the African Heritage Month in DC by leading a discussion on the state of the African Diaspora and Africa's Youth held by the Foreign Service Institute, an establishment that provides training Africans instructors, to American diplomats prior to taking on an assignment in the Continent. 

The Mayor's Office on African Affairs Attends the 47th Annual Legislative Conference Organized by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

On Thursday, September 21, 2017, the Director of the Mayor's Office on African Affairs, Mamadou Samba, attended the 47th Annual Legislative Conference organized by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Director Samba participated on a panel titled “Empowering the African Diaspora: Black Immigrant Rights”. The panel identified the various issues and challenges faced by black immigrants in America while highlighting ways in which local organizations like MOAA are tackling these issues by way of policies, programs, and initiatives that ensure the physical, social and economic rights of black immigrants.

MOAA Hosts its Awaited 8th Annual DC Africa Celebration 

On Thursday, September 28, 2017, the Mayor's Office on African Affairs hosted the 8th Annual DC Africa Celebration at the University of the District of Columbia Theater of the Arts, to commemorate African Heritage Month in the District of Columbia as part of its multicultural awareness program. Over 450 members of the public attended the event that was designed and organized to showcase the value of multiculturalism, and support community-building